RN Float Staff Nurse

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general direction of the Executive Director of Nursing and Clinical Services Leads, the RN Float Staff Nurse provides direct and indirect patient care, assisting in a variety of clinical areas in efforts to meet fluctuating staffing needs during periods of increased workload, staffing shortages, and to help balance off long-term absences (i.e., illness, holidays, maternity leave, etc.), reducing overtime of regularly scheduled staff. Based on a change in census and acuity, the incumbent may start their shift in one unit and then be transferred or moved to a different department to meet operational requirements. While working within a nursing unit, the RN Float Staff Nurse acts as a patient advocate and facilitates communication between the patient, family, and other healthcare professionals in accordance with The Joint Commission, federal, state, and local guidelines, organizational and departmental policies, and procedures. The RN Float Staff Nurse may be required to provide standardized nursing care to any and/or all nursing units within the scope of an RN practice. This scope includes medical-surgical, long-term care, primary care, case management, employee health, telemetry, and acute care (i.e., emergency department). This position requires self-motivation, creativity, and capabilities to function in a semi-autonomous role within a fast-paced and dynamic environment. *Individual competencies must be completed for each assigned role (based on active work participation)*

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

Provides direct nursing care to a wide variety of patients requiring continuous 24-hour medical and nursing treatment using a problem-solving approach and in accordance with the standards, guidelines, and scope of professional nursing practice to facilitate individualized nursing care to patients within EHS. The RN Float Staff Nurse will:

• Assess, plan, implement, document, and evaluate care to ensure a coordinated, holistic approach that best meets the patient's needs.
• Assist patients to achieve their optimum level of health in situations of normal health, illness injury, or through the process of dying.
• Advocate the dignity and self-respect of patients.
• Promote the patient's autonomy and help them express their health needs and values to obtain appropriate information and services.
• Safeguard the trust of patients that information learned in the context of a professional relationship is shared outside the health care team only with the patient’s permission or as legally required.
• Apply and promote principles of equity and fairness to assist patients in receiving unbiased treatment and a share of health services and resources proportionate to their needs.
• Act in a manner consistent with their professional code of ethics, responsibilities, and standards of practice

Facilitates, implements, and modifies patient and family education/ teaching based on the patient's needs. The RN Float Staff Nurse will:

• Use a holistic approach to facilitate individual learning of patients and their families upon admission and transfer or discharge in relation to patient illness or injury (i.e., self-care, health promotion, etc.)
• Assess the patient for physical and psychological needs, health knowledge, disease process, and learning needs.
• Research, develop, revise, and evaluate, on an ongoing basis, educational resources necessary to support patients.
• Coordinate the admission and transfer or discharge of patients. This includes explaining and ensuring that the patient understands the admission or discharge plan established by the health care team for the patient's care and treatment.

Assumes accountability for the standard of care to determine and achieve patient care goals. The RN Float Staff Nurse will:

• Make decisions necessary to promote change and outcome of goal attainment.
• Communicate with other healthcare team members regarding the patient’s health care to provide continuity of care and promote collaborative efforts toward quality patient care.
• Take a lead role in disaster responses within their assigned unit.
• May be required to direct and supervise the functions of others who are providing direct care and support (certified nurse assistants, patient care technicians, etc.)
• May be required to ensure adequate staffing levels during directly assigned duties and shifts.

Advocates for practice environments to have the organizational and resource allocations necessary for safe, competent, and ethical nursing care. The RN Float Staff Nurse will:

• Collaborate with nursing colleagues and other healthcare team members to advocate healthcare environments conducive to ethical practice and the health and well-being of patients, clients, and others in the setting.
• Orient new employees to unit-specific programs.
• Participate in committees, task forces, and research projects related to the Float Pool.

Additional Standards of Performance

• Lab: Shows knowledge and competencies in lab duties.
• Collect appropriate specimens from patients.
• Checks two patient identifiers before collection and labeling.
• Label specimens at the patient’s bedside.
• Prepare or instruct patients for specimen collection in age-appropriate dialog.
• Follow all laboratory safety policies and procedures.
• Ensures adherence to proper infection control, OSHA, and safety standards.
• Assess the condition of patients during triage and establish an order of treatment.
• Makes relevant observations of conditions, symptoms, and reactions, charts, and reports this information appropriately.
• Directs or participates in actions to meet hydration, nutritional, and elimination needs.
• Completes all nursing forms and uses abbreviations according to policy and procedure.
• Documents all necessary and pertinent patient information, treatment received, pain levels, present medications, reactions to treatments and medications, etc.
• Management of lacerations, head injuries, respiratory arrests, cardiac arrest, overdoses, burns, poisoning, trauma, drowning, bites, and psychiatric cases.
• Assists in checking and stocking all supplies and drugs used in the department.
• Report animal bites, vehicular accidents, abuse, and other suspicious injuries to the proper authorities.
• Assists in arranging transfers to other appropriate facilities.
• Provide nursing care as directed by the physician.
• Administers IV fluids and blood products according to hospital policy.
• Prepares patients for ordered procedures, i.e., lab, radiology, etc.
• Splint, bandage, clean, and render other nursing care to patients.
• Perform logging and record checks for monitors, defibrillators, etc.
• Perform other duties as requested, required, needed, or assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Level of Education: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with current licensure with the State Board of Nurse Examiners.

Formal Training: Knowledge of the principles and practices of professional nursing; Perform assessments and nursing functions as acquired in the basic nursing preparation program; Strong written and verbal communication skills; Confidentiality and HIPAA; Ability to multi-task; Detail oriented; Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills; Medical Office knowledge required.

Licensure, Certification, Registration: Must have and maintain a State of Georgia Registered Nurses License, Basic Healthcare BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification. Or obtain within three months of employment.

Work Experience: 2-year minimum RN staff experience in a medical/surgical or telemetry environment. Experience in three or more different nursing units (i.e., ICU, pediatrics, medicine, surgery, OR, psychiatric, emergency) is preferred.