Registered Nurse, Heywood Emergency Room

Heywood Hospital•Gardner, MA

About The Position

Under the direction of the Nurse Manager, the Registered Nurse performs direct and indirect patient care activities according to Emergency Department standards. The role requires the ability to function independently in the Emergency Department, along with assessment, critical-thinking, and communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team. The nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates patient care; administers medications and intravenous therapy; supports patients and families through education and discharge planning; and documents care and patient responses. Emergency Department duties also include triage, pain assessment, recognizing and responding to changes in patient condition, and providing specialized care for critical patients. The nurse promotes patient safety, responds to risks and ethical issues, and maintains required reporting and forensic evidence procedures. This is a temporary, 36-hour position with evening/night hours from 3:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., including every other weekend and every other holiday. The listed pay range is $39.58–$78.93. The position requires an associate degree in nursing and a current Massachusetts RN license. A bachelor’s degree in nursing and 3–5 years of Emergency Department experience are preferred. ACLS and PALS certifications are required within the stated timelines; TNCC, ENPC, and CEN are preferred.

Requirements

Associate degree in nursing required.
Current Massachusetts Registered Nurse license required.
ACLS upon hire, or an active BLS card with AHA ACLS obtained within 60 days of hire.
AHA PALS within six months of hire.
Ability to function independently in the Emergency Department.
Assessment, critical-thinking, and communication skills, and ability to work as a team player.
Physical ability to exert 20–50 pounds of force occasionally, 10–25 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly; frequently reach, handle, and feel; and occasionally stoop, kneel, and distinguish colors.
Required behavioral attributes: achievement motivation, concern for order, flexibility, initiative, self-confidence, customer-service orientation, interpersonal effectiveness, teamwork, analytical thinking, and information seeking.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in nursing preferred.
3–5 years of Emergency Department experience preferred.
TNCC preferred.
ENPC preferred.
CEN preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess and reassess patients; plan, implement, and evaluate nursing interventions, plans of care, and patient goals.
Provide care consistent with standards of care and practice, protocols, policies, and procedures, while respecting each patient’s dignity.
Teach patients and families based on learning needs, readiness, and barriers to learning.
Plan for patient discharge collaboratively, incorporating support systems and resources as appropriate.
Delegate and supervise nursing interventions performed by others, and prioritize care and seek assistance or emergency intervention as needed.
Document pertinent data, interventions, and patient responses thoroughly, accurately, and on time.
Provide timely, thorough reports to other members of the health care team to support continuity of care.
Promote learning for colleagues and self, including serving as a preceptor, instructor, or trainer and attending professional development programs.
Identify patient-safety risks and opportunities to reduce medical or health care errors, and report errors or incidents appropriately.
Identify ethical issues in care and develop plans to address them.
Administer medications and intravenous therapy safely in accordance with orders, protocols, policies, and procedures.
Assess and document pain, evaluate response to pain control, and notify physicians as needed.
Perform and document initial assessments upon arrival and implement triage protocols as needed.
Identify patients at risk of abuse; initiate safety plans; complete mandated reports; collect forensic evidence; and maintain its chain of evidence according to policy.
Complete mandated reports for stabbings, gunshot wounds, burns, and sexual assaults according to policy and procedure.
Maintain knowledge of disaster policies and procedures.
Identify patients at risk for violent behavior and implement appropriate non-violent interventions; understand indications, alternatives, monitoring, and documentation for restraints.
Recognize normal and abnormal laboratory and diagnostic results and promptly notify physicians of changes.
Safely administer vasoactive medications and understand their dosage, actions, uses, side effects, and titration parameters for critical drips.
Accurately identify cardiac arrhythmias and implement, monitor, and document thrombolytic and anticoagulation therapy standards and protocols.
Initiate and maintain care of intubated patients, including suctioning, troubleshooting, and weaning.
Interpret arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, and clinical signs of impaired gas exchange or airway clearance.
Obtain supporting information and complete required medication-reconciliation documentation for the Attending MD.
Implement components of the VAP bundle consistently and according to protocol; alert the Nurse Manager, Director, or Nursing Supervisor to deviations for case review and follow-up.
Perform other job-related duties as requested.