Staff Nurse - General Surgical Unit

Position Objective:

Contributes to the provision of high-quality, cost-effective healthcare as a provider of direct and indirect patient care and by effective of the health care team. Functions as a competent member of the health care team.

1. Clinical Decision Making/Judgment

• Demonstrates clinical nursing knowledge and skill in the specialization of the unit.
• Demonstrates the ability to apply the nursing process effectively in the care of culturally diverse patients and families. Demonstrates the ability to utilize all applicable laws, policies, standards, guidelines and evidence-based practice in the provision of patient/family care.
• Organizes and reprioritizes patient care activities based on subtle and overt and/or environmental changes.
• Consistently and thoroughly assesses patients to collect data and identify learning needs according to established standards and policies.
• Utilizes a systematic, continuous and complete analysis of assessment data to develop individualized problem lists for assigned patients.
• Develops and individualizes a plan of care for each patient in accordance with established standards, appropriate prioritization of problems/needs, and mutually agreed upon goals.
• Efficiently implements the patients plan of care in accordance with applicable standards, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Demonstrates proficiency in medication administration, pain management and other unit or initiative specific skills.
• Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of the plan(s) of care, making revisions and recommendations based on analysis of patient responses to interventions.

2. Nurse-Patient Family Relationships

• Demonstrates the ability to assess the patients/familys learning needs, readiness to learn, learning style, and presence of barriers to learning.
• Demonstrates the ability to develop, implement and evaluate teaching plans for patient populations in unit specialty in accordance with applicable standards.
• Demonstrates the ability to apply knowledge of growth and development across the life span to the care of patients.
• Provides direct patient care to patients and families in a culturally, developmentally and ethically appropriate manner.
• Plans of care address the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and learning needs of the patient/family.

3. Clinical Scholarship

• Participates in QI, CPI and risk management activities at the unit, department or organizational level.
• Demonstrates the ability to effectively perform and improve all processes in order to achieve excellence with regard to Luminis Healths quality standards and benchmarks.
• Supports the use of evidence based guidelines and organizational policies and procedures to promote safe patient care and a safe practice environment.

4. Clinical Leadership

• Participates in unit shared governance according to departmental standards.
• Participates in the education and orientation of new staff.
• Delegates patient care activities as appropriate; evaluates delegated activities for expected patient care outcomes.
• Employs real time computer documentation when completing patient record.

Educational/Experience Requirements:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Adherence to the credentialing requirements of Luminis Health as stated in the nursing bylaws.
• Where applicable, completion of a BSN is required within 5 years of date of hire

Required License/Certifications:

• Current licensure as a registered nurse by the Maryland Board of Nursing
• BLS - American Heart Association Health Provider
• If serving as a bilingual/multilingual interpreter, certification in Medical Interpretation is required to perform the duties of a qualified interpreter.

 Additional requirements by department:

PALS Requirement:

The following department(s) require PALS: Pediatrics Unit, Postanesthesia Care Unit, Endoscopy, Procedural Care Unit, Interventional Radiology.

ACLS Requirement:

The following department(s) require ACLS: Heart and Vascular Unit, Neuro Care Unit, ICU/IMU, Interventional Radiology, Postanesthesia Care Unit, Resource Nurses, Emergency Department, Prep, Telemetry, Medical Surgical Elder Care, Outpatient Infusion, Vascular Access Team, DRCC Bowie, Observation Unit, Endoscopy, Procedural Care Unit, Cardiac Cath Lab, Flex Nursing Unit, ICU, Operating Room (LHDCMC only), Cardiac Cath Lab, Observation Unit, DCMC IP Mental Health, and Edwards Pre-Op and PACU.

Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy Certification requirement:

Certification within 6 months of hire if experienced or within 1 year for new graduate nurse

The following department(s) require a Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy Certification: Oncology Unit

NRP - Neonatal Resuscitation requirement:

The following department(s) require NRP - Neonatal Resuscitation: Mother and Baby Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Labor and Delivery Unit, and Women's Surgical Unit.

BLS requirement:

The following department(s) require BLS: Employee Health, Performance Improvement, Special Pathogens Unit, Neuro Care Unit, Pre-Anes Testing, Wound Care Center, Medical Staff Office, Nursing Administration, Nursing Graduate Program, Women's Surgical Unit, Joint and Spine Unit, 4 Medical, IV Therapy, Nursing Quality and Research, HSCRC Nursing Grant, Flex Nursing Unit, ICU, Operating Room, Short Stay Unit, Postanesthesia Care Unit, Progressive Care Unit, 4TH FLOOR, DCH 3 East Med Surg Telemetry, 3 West Oncology, Emergency Room, Oncology Unit  and 2 EAST OBS.

Working Conditions, Equipment, Physical Demands:

There is a reasonable expectation that employees in this position will be exposed to blood-borne pathogens.

Physical Demands - 

The physical demands and work environment that have been described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The above job description is an overview of the functions and requirements for this position.  This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of this position; your supervisor may assign other duties as deemed necessary.