Registered Nurse RN - General Surgical - PRN Plan B

Northeast Georgia Medical Center•Gainesville, GA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides care on a 32-bed General Surgery unit serving patients across bariatric, urology, oncology, gynecology, general, vascular, plastic surgery, podiatry, and other medical-surgical specialties during periods of high census. The unit includes rooms equipped with negative-pressure capabilities and bariatric ceiling lifts. Nurses care for and monitor patients receiving IV patient-controlled analgesia and may provide care involving nephrostomy tubes, continuous bladder irrigations, biliary drains, Jackson Pratt drains, Constavac drains, epidurals, chest tubes, tracheostomy tubes, and peritoneal dialysis. Nurses who have completed required competencies may access and de-access Portacaths and perform negative-pressure wound dressing changes. The RN assesses patients, plans and evaluates care, administers medications, documents in the electronic medical record, coordinates interdisciplinary care and discharge planning, and responds appropriately to changes in patient condition. The role includes patient and family education, effective delegation and supervision of support staff, participation in safety and performance-improvement activities, and contribution to unit goals and shared governance. As needed, the RN may serve as Nurse in Charge, coordinating patient flow and shift resources and escalating concerns through the chain of command.

Requirements

Licensed to practice as an RN in Georgia.
Associate degree.
At least one year of experience as a professional RN; new graduate RNs or those with less than one year of experience will be referred to the RN Residency Program.
Ability to provide safe, effective, efficient care in accordance with population-specific guidelines.
Effective communication, consideration, and respect when working with patients, families, and colleagues.
Ability to prioritize, recognize problems, and use evidence-based practice.
Basic computer skills to operate systems used on the unit.
Reading, writing, reasoning, talking, and keyboarding abilities.
Ability to lift up to 100 pounds occasionally and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally; the role also involves frequent kneeling, stooping, bending, standing, walking, pushing, and pulling.

Nice To Haves

National certification in a clinical specialty.
Bachelor of Nursing degree.
One year of long-term care experience.
Membership in a professional organization.

Responsibilities

Provide safe, effective, efficient care that meets population-specific guidelines.
Assess patients, plan care, and evaluate their responses to interventions; adjust care plans as appropriate.
Administer medications according to the five rights of medication administration.
Manage assigned patients, progressing to care for increasingly complex patients.
Accurately document the nursing process in the electronic medical record as applicable.
Follow policies and comply with DNV standards.
Coordinate interdisciplinary care and discharge planning.
Include patients and families in care and provide education appropriate to their learning needs.
Recognize deteriorating patients and changes in patient status, and take appropriate action or seek support.
Prioritize patient care and manage time effectively.
Use unit resources and evidence-based practice to support care, including for unfamiliar patient populations.
Participate in performance-improvement processes and maintain and monitor a work environment compliant with DNV regulations.
Contribute to a culture of safety and participate in customer-service initiatives.
Support unit goals and shared governance, complete a professional development plan, and work toward personal learning goals.
Delegate appropriately and supervise and ensure completion of tasks assigned to ancillary or support staff.
Consult the interdisciplinary team and contribute to the nursing profession and community.
Serve in unit leadership roles and, when necessary, as Nurse in Charge by coordinating patient flow, matching shift resources to patients, and escalating concerns through the chain of command.
Provide care and monitoring for patients with IV patient-controlled analgesia and patients requiring the listed surgical and medical devices or treatments.
Access and de-access Portacaths and perform negative-pressure wound dressing changes after completing the required competencies.