RN, Rapid Response/Stroke Team

Summary

The Registered Nurse is responsible for identifying the patient's alterations in health, assessing the patient's human response to actual and potential health problems, implementing nursing interventions based on theoretical concepts from nursing and other arts and sciences to achieve desired outcomes for the patient that facilitate resolution of alterations in health and actual and potential health problems. The RN determines the effectiveness of nursing interventions by evaluating outcomes in relation to evidenced-based intervention. The Registered Nurse functions within the scope and standards of nursing as defined by the American Nurses Association and the Nurse Practice Act of Virginia.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

These duties and responsibilities described below represent the general tasks performed on a daily basis; other tasks may be assigned.

• Complete a comprehensive nursing assessment based on admission nursing history and appropriate standard of care/protocol
• Collect/gather available data and make knowledgeable interpretations and appropriate nursing diagnosis
• Initiate and update the standard of care within established time frames; routinely utilizes this plan as the basis for nursing care and documentation
• Plan, provide, and document individual patient/family teaching and evaluate understanding
• Initiate and implement a plan for discharge upon admission and throughout the hospitalization
• Continual data collection, storage, and submission duties, as well as ongoing program maintenance for certification process; the certification process requires continual data collection and analysis, as well as process improvement/quality improvement commitment to ensure that the JCAHO stroke care standards are being met consistently
• Serve as a liaison between the bedside nurse, the primary team, and the ICU/ER team fostering communication, education, and expedited critical decision making to improve patient outcome
• Will assist in the care of all emergency initiated Stroke/Rapid Response Team alerts; treatment is to be initiated based on the patients' condition as stated in the Rapid Response Team policy
• Continual data collection, storage, and submission duties are required for all Rapid Response Team occurrences for performance improvement.
• Organize and reprioritize work based on staff needs, patients' needs, available resources, and unit requirements
• Actions demonstrate a theoretical knowledge base and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrate efficiency in prioritizing patient needs
• Safely administer medication
• Accurately verify orders
• Demonstrate consistent ability/competence in patient care areas
• Actively solicit feedback from patients and visitors
• Function independently with most procedures/protocols and those, which require assisting a physician
• Recognize limitations and seek the appropriate assistance when needed
• Demonstrate ability to respond to emergency situations
• Document patient care per hospital policy
• Provide a safe environment for patients and visitors
• Contribute to reduction of infections and adhere to infection control guidelines
• Foster spirit of teamwork within assigned area
• Participate in quality improvement activities within the units
• Present lectures and in-services for staff, and/or patients
• Remain current in nursing trends and skills relevant to clinical area
• Network actively with professional organizations
• Promote physician relationships
• Remain available to others when needed, and demonstrate flexibility with staffing and scheduling to ensure safe patient care
• Serve as the role model for professional area of practice
• Assess team member's clinical competency through observation, testing, return demonstration, and evaluation of the occurrences of variances to care standards
• Serve as a mentor and preceptor to students and all new hires
• Serve as a resource for students, LPNs, Float/Flexi Nurses, unlicensed personnel, and new personnel
• Demonstrate the ability to ensure compliance with policies and procedures
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate the vision, mission, and goals of Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, including hospital and unit specific dashboards
• Demonstrate the ability to foster a healthy, collaborative, open work environment that is conducive to teamwork and encourages communication
• Demonstrate the ability to follow administrative protocols
• Demonstrate effective problem-solving and communication skills, such as conflict resolution and negotiating skills
• Demonstrate constructive and effective relationships with staff, peers and customers
• Maintain positive employee relations and good employee morale
• Emphasize the team approach to work
• Create a culture within the department that rewards cooperation, team work, and collective problem-solving
• Proactively deals with conflict in a timely manner
• Attend required hospital-wide orientations, meetings, and in-services
• Demonstrate a commitment to flexible work scheduling when necessary to ensure patient care

Supervisory Responsibilities

Reports to: Stroke Program Coordinator

Supervises: LPNs and unlicensed assistive personnel

Responsibilities: Not applicable

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

Minimum Required Education: Successful completion of an accredited Registered Nursing program

Preferred Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Experience: 2+ years' experience in an Intensive Care setting, Emergency Department, and/or Stroke Unit; recent stroke care experience is preferred, but not required

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Applicant must be licensed to work as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and must hold current BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Continuous Learning - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; seeks feedback to improve performance; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others.

Job Knowledge - Competent in required job skills and knowledge; exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills; keeps abreast of current developments; requires minimal supervision; displays understanding of how job relates to others; uses resources effectively.

Use of Technology - Demonstrates required skills; adapts to new technologies; troubleshoots technological problems; uses technology to increase productivity; keeps technical skills up to date.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Customer Service - Responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.

Communications - Exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.

Cooperation - Establishes and maintains effective relations; exhibits tact and consideration; offers assistance and support to co-workers; works cooperatively in group situations; works actively to resolve conflicts.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Conflict Resolution - Encourages open communications; confronts difficult situations; maintains objectivity; keeps emotions under control; uses negotiation skills to resolve conflicts.

Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; contributes to profits and revenue; conserves organizational resources.

Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educates others on the value of diversity; promotes a harassment-free environment; builds a diverse workforce.

Ethics - Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and principles; upholds organizational values.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values; benefits organization through outside activities; supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Achievement Focus - Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; recognizes and acts on opportunities; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Personal Appearance - Dresses appropriately for position; keeps self well groomed.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals. Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions and calculated risks; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.

Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas; presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Meets productivity standards; completes work in timely manner; strives to increase productivity; works quickly.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.