Registered Nurse - Critical Care

Great Plains Health•North Platte, NE

About The Position

The Registered Nurse in Critical Care assesses, plans, implements, evaluates, and documents patient nursing care in accordance with organizational policies and professional nursing practice standards. The role is accountable for the quality of nursing services delivered by the nurse and those under their direction, and uses specialized nursing knowledge and judgment to assess patient data and provide care appropriate to patients’ physical and developmental ages. The nurse works in a patient care setting and collaborates with patients, families, physicians, and the multidisciplinary health care team. Responsibilities include developing and revising patient-specific plans of care, providing and coordinating care, supervising and delegating appropriately, evaluating outcomes and patient education, and maintaining complete and timely documentation. The role also contributes to personnel education and development, shared leadership, evidence-based care, and improvement of nursing quality and patient outcomes.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
Current, valid RN license in the state of practice, temporary RN license in the state of practice, or compact RN licensure for the current state of practice.
BLS certification.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, squat, reach, and stretch frequently.
Physical agility and adequate reaction time to respond quickly and appropriately to unexpected patient care needs.
Adequate hearing and visual acuity, including adequate color vision.
Fine motor skills, adequate eye-hand coordination, and ability to grasp and handle objects.
Ability to use proper body mechanics to assist patients with ambulation and transfers.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds if required.
Ability to communicate effectively through reading, writing, and speaking in person or by telephone.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ physical, psychological, social, spiritual, educational, developmental, cultural, and discharge planning needs.
Review patient history and physical information with the patient or family, review information from other health care team members, and ensure required completion within the appropriate timeframe.
Review diagnostic and laboratory data and report abnormal results to physicians and other appropriate caregivers.
Complete assessments and reassessments according to patient needs and policy.
Formulate and initiate individualized plans of care, including discharge plans, using assessment data and input from patients, families, and the health care team.
Develop realistic, measurable patient goals with the patient or family and account for physical, cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, age-specific, and educational needs.
Plan and revise care in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to reflect changing patient needs and evaluations of patient status.
Implement the plan of care through direct patient care, coordination, delegation, and supervision of health care team activities.
Provide care based on physician orders and the nursing plan of care, following policies, procedures, standards of care, and regulatory requirements.
Delegate appropriately and supervise care provided by other licensed nurses and personnel.
Promote continuity of care by communicating patient status accurately and completely to other caregivers.
Evaluate patient and family responses to care and teaching, patient progress toward goals and expected outcomes, and the effectiveness of patient teaching; revise the plan of care as needed.
Document assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, physician orders, nursing interventions, and patient responses accurately, legibly, and in a timely manner in the patient record.
Provide care based on the best available evidence and, where applicable, participate in research activities within clinical practice.
Participate in unit or facility shared leadership and activities that improve nursing quality indicators and patient outcomes.
Participate in education, role development, and orientation for facility personnel, patients, students, families, and visitors.
Support the growth of others through precepting and mentoring when appropriate.
Contribute to timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and safe patient care, including through participation in professional organizations.