Registered Nurse, 2nd FL Med/Surg

Athol Hospital•Athol, MA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides patient-centered nursing care on the Med/Surg unit, assessing and reassessing patients, planning and implementing care, and evaluating interventions and patient goals. The role follows applicable standards of care and practice, protocols, policies, and procedures, while supporting patient dignity, privacy, safety, and comfort. The nurse provides patient and family education, coordinates discharge planning, delegates and supervises nursing interventions, prioritizes care, documents care and patient responses, and communicates with the health care team to support continuity of care. The role includes safe administration of medications and intravenous therapy, pain assessment and reassessment, medication reconciliation documentation, and identifying and reporting risks, incidents, and ethical concerns. Responsibilities also include Med/Surg pre-admission testing and coordination of ancillary tests for day-surgery patients, including blood draws and EKGs. The nurse reviews preoperative orders, results, and chart completeness; communicates abnormal results; provides emotional support to patients affected by surgery; and initiates and documents postoperative phone calls. This is a per-diem position with variable shifts, a minimum of 16 hours per month, and one major and one minor holiday per year.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
Current Massachusetts RN license.
ACLS upon hire, or an active BLS card and obtain AHA ACLS within 60 days of hire.
If the candidate has no telemetry experience, complete a Basic Dysrhythmia Course within 6 months of hire.
Meet the stated physical demands, including exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 10 to 25 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly; frequent reaching, handling, and feeling; and occasional stooping and kneeling.
Demonstrate achievement motivation, concern for order, flexibility, initiative, self-confidence, customer service orientation, interpersonal effectiveness, teamwork, analytical thinking, and information seeking.

Nice To Haves

One year of Med-Surg experience preferred.
Previous telemetry experience preferred.
Skilled Nursing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Interact with patients, visitors, colleagues, and others in a friendly, courteous, respectful, and helpful manner.
Protect privacy and confidentiality and promote patient dignity and positive self-regard.
Help maintain a clean, safe, and healthy hospital environment; respond appropriately to emergencies and report incidents in a timely manner.
Promote compliance with regulations, accreditation and licensure requirements, hospital policies, attendance requirements, and mandatory training requirements.
Engage in, monitor, and enforce hand hygiene compliance when providing direct patient care.
Assess and reassess patients; plan, implement, and evaluate nursing interventions, plans of care, and patient goals.
Provide care according to standards of care and practice, protocols, and established policies and procedures.
Teach patients and families based on learning needs, readiness, and barriers to learning.
Collaboratively prepare patients and families for discharge, incorporating available support systems and resources.
Delegate and supervise nursing interventions appropriately and prioritize care, seeking assistance or emergency intervention when needed.
Document pertinent information, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly.
Give timely, thorough reports to other health care team members to support integrated services and 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; report errors and 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 pain on admission and as needed using the numerical pain scale; reassess treatment effectiveness, notify physicians when needed, and document assessments and responses.
Obtain supporting information and complete required medication reconciliation documentation for the Attending MD.
Perform pre-admission testing for Med/Surg patients.
Assess patients and coordinate ancillary testing for day surgery, including blood draws and EKGs.
Review preoperative orders and consult the surgeon or anesthesiologist as needed to confirm appropriate tests are ordered.
Review test results, identify abnormal results, and communicate them to the surgeon, anesthesiologist, or primary physician before surgery.
Review preoperative charts for completeness, including consent forms, history and physical documentation, and laboratory results.
Provide emotional support to patients experiencing changes in body image or activity level due to surgery.
Initiate and document postoperative phone calls to Med/Surg patients.