Registered Nurse (RN) - Pediatric Unit (0.6 Rotating)

Mercy Cedar Rapids•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

The Registered Staff Nurse supports Mercy’s patient-centered care philosophy by providing safe, competent, respectful, and compassionate nursing care in accordance with organizational standards, policies, and procedures. Working with unit-specific team members, the nurse identifies clinical problems, develops plans of care, and educates patients and families. The position is in the Pediatric Unit and includes cross-training to provide care in the NICU and mother-baby care on Birthplace.

Requirements

Sound background in basic nursing principles and procedures.
Competency in unit-specific skills and ability to provide safe and effective basic nursing care.
Current license to practice as a registered nurse in Iowa or a compact state.
Current Basic Life Support certification in accordance with the American Heart Association.
Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse and Iowa Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter training; certification of completion must be submitted to Human Resources before the start or transfer date.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification within 12 months of hire or transfer.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification within 12 months of hire or transfer.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including lifting and pushing or pulling specified weights and administering CPR.

Nice To Haves

Previous RN experience in an acute care setting.
Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing.

Responsibilities

Communicate accurate, clinically relevant information to patients, families, and coworkers during handoffs and as needed to support patient outcomes.
Assess, plan, intervene, coordinate, and evaluate care based on each patient’s plan of care.
Continuously assess patient and family needs and provide quality, patient-centered care.
Use critical thinking and judgment to implement care plans, nursing interventions, and procedures.
Maintain accurate, real-time documentation of nursing care in accordance with hospital policies and procedures.
Model a healthy work environment and support the department’s goals and objectives.
Treat patients, families, visitors, and coworkers with respect and courtesy.
Direct and delegate care to licensed and non-licensed personnel as assigned.
Communicate in an effective and age-appropriate manner, taking account of nonverbal communication, fears, anxieties, and language or cultural barriers.
Respond to emergencies and life-threatening conditions within the scope of practice.
Promote and adhere to patient safety practices and collaborate effectively with the healthcare team.
Provide ongoing education to patients and families.
Stay current with evidence-based practice, protocols, and procedures.
Follow safety guidelines and promptly report unsafe conditions, incidents, and injuries.
Recognize and address the special needs of pediatric patients; perform treatments and procedures and administer medications with consideration for pediatric physiology and psychological development.
Provide cross-trained NICU care, including newborn assessment and interventions such as resuscitation, oxygen therapy, fluid replacement, TPN, skincare, developmental care, medication administration, NG feedings, admissions, and parent support and teaching.
Provide postpartum care, including assessment and interventions related to pain, fundus, lochial flow, perineum, incision, vital signs, blood loss, teaching needs, bonding, and psychosocial situations.
Provide breastfeeding support, including assessment and interventions related to latch, adequate feedings, sore nipples, and feeding cues.
Provide newborn care, including assessment and interventions related to pain, gestational age, near-term infants, jaundice, temperature instability, respiratory status, hypoglycemia, newborn and hearing screens, Hugs, sepsis signs and symptoms, and abnormalities.