RN Staff Nurse - East Surgery - Pre-Op - Part-Time

Erlanger•Chattanooga, TN

About The Position

The RN Staff Nurse in East Surgery Pre-Op is a registered professional nurse employed by Erlanger Health System and Erlanger Medical Center. The nurse practices according to the state Nurse Practice Act, Erlanger’s Models of Care/Practice, and organizational policies and procedures. The role provides direct and/or indirect care to patients in the EEH Day Surgery unit, addresses patients’ physical, spiritual, emotional, and educational needs, and coordinates care with other healthcare professionals. The nurse may supervise qualified staff to whom patient care is delegated and must be able to take after-hours call. The nurse provides safe, effective, evidence-based care; assesses patient status and identifies perioperative and postoperative care needs; communicates effectively with patients, families, physicians, staff, and other departments; and participates in patient safety and unit performance-improvement initiatives. Bedside nurses use a competency matrix based on the Benner Model, covering customer-focused, cost-effective, communicative, competent, and compassionate care, to support engagement, advancement, and professional development. The position also requires completion of applicable mandatory education and unit competencies and adherence to Erlanger Health System’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing.
One year of experience.
Knowledge of general nursing principles and practice skills, organizational functions, policies and regulations, current trends and developments, and nursing principles and practices applicable to areas requiring special education.
Current licensure to practice nursing in the state of employment.
BLS certification completed before going to the unit or department and maintained thereafter.
ACLS certification required by the end of unit orientation and maintained thereafter.
PALS certification required by the end of unit orientation and maintained thereafter.
Complete four hours of Erlanger online education specific to Total Ankle, Hip, and Knee Replacement upon hire; Department Leadership and/or an Educator will assign it.
Non-Tennessee residents must obtain Tennessee licensure or multistate licensure from a compact state within three months of hire.
Ability to take after-hours call.
Ability to assess patient-status data and identify appropriate perioperative and postoperative care needs.
Ability to communicate effectively with staff, physicians, and other departments concerning patient care.

Nice To Haves

Previous medical-surgical experience and/or Day Surgery/SACU experience.
Nationally recognized certification in the area of practice.

Responsibilities

Deliver direct and/or indirect patient care in the EEH Day Surgery unit and coordinate the plan of care with other healthcare professionals.
Supervise qualified staff to whom patient care has been delegated, using independent judgment.
Address patients’ physical, spiritual, emotional, and educational needs.
Use handoff communication and bedside shift reports to communicate with the healthcare team.
Maintain a safe therapeutic environment by following hospital policies and procedures and identifying and communicating risks to patient safety.
Perform and document comprehensive, holistic assessments; interpret and respond to abnormal diagnostic data; and assess data to identify perioperative and postoperative care needs.
Anticipate potential emergencies and intervene safely and appropriately, seeking assistance when needed.
Develop relationships with patients and families that support their involvement in care planning.
Document care concisely, accurately, and completely in accordance with hospital, regulatory, and legal requirements.
Complete population-specific mandatory education and unit-based competencies.
Provide culturally competent care to patients and families and demonstrate awareness of evidence-based practice.
Manage time appropriately and meet punctuality and attendance expectations; demonstrate scheduling flexibility to support patient-care staffing needs.
Communicate effectively with patients, family members, physicians, staff, and the interdisciplinary team, seeking assistance with conflict resolution as needed.
Implement the plan of care and identify resources to meet patient-care needs.
Identify and communicate changes in patient condition that may affect unit staffing or the provision of safe care.
Contribute to a healthy work environment through professional behavior and by seeking assistance with interpersonal conflicts.
Complete hospital and unit-based education and mandatory programs, and update the individual competency matrix with accomplishments.
Contribute positively to unit performance-improvement outcomes and participate in applicable patient-safety initiatives.
Take after-hours call.