RN, Registered Nurse - Medford at MelroseWakefield Healthcare

Job Profile Summary 

​This role focuses on providing professional and nonprofessional nursing care services in accordance with physician orders.  In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Clinical Nurse duties: Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates the care needs of a designated group of patients or provides nursing care and identified clinical support tasks within the scope of practice for achievement of the patient’s plan of care as directed.  Provides professional nursing care to patients. Requires a nursing license.   A professional individual contributor role that may direct the work of other lower level professionals or manage processes and programs.  The majority of time is spent overseeing the design, implementation or delivery of processes, programs and policies using specialized knowledge and skills typically acquired through advanced education.   An experienced level role that applies practical knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience.  Works independently with general supervision, problems faced are difficult but typically not complex, and may influence others within the job area through explanation of facts, policies and practices. 

Job Overview 

This nursing position possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary for the delivery and management of patient care from admission through discharge. The professional registered nurse is knowledgeable of current trends in healthcare including but not limited to advances in technology, pharmacology, treatment care modalities, quality and patient safety. The professional registered nurse serves as a patient and family advocate while facilitating a cooperative and collaborative environment among all health care providers. The professional registered nurse is responsible for the planning, delivery and management of patient/family centered care utilizing the nursing process and adhering to the standards of nursing practice embedded in research, evidence based practice and/or best practices. The professional registered nurse provides clinical excellence, which fosters and supports an environment central to our patient and family centered model of care. The professional staff nurse practices in accordance with the Massachusetts Nurse Practice Act, American Nurses Association scope and Standards of Practice, Quality Caring framework and professional practice model at Lowell General Hospital. 

Job Description 

Minimum Qualifications: 

1. Associates degree in Nursing 

2. Registered Nurse (RN) license 

3. Two (2) years of clinical nursing experience in hospital setting 

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. Bachelors degree in Nursing. 

2. Three (3) years of clinical nursing experience in med/surg or ambulatory setting 

3. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification. 

4. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. 

5. Specialty nursing certifications based on nursing unit needs. 

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list.  Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. 

1. Performs nursing activities that create a compassionate, supportive, and therapeutic environment for patients and staff, with the aim of promoting comfort and healing and preventing unnecessary suffering. Includes, but is not limited to, vigilance, engagement, and responsiveness of caregivers, including family and healthcare personnel. 

2. Shows respect for patients/family dignity and privacy in all patient/family interactions.  Establishes and maintains mutual trust within the nurse-patient/family relationship.   

3. Appropriately triages patients presenting to the clinic/physician office(s).  Coordinates care of patients seen by assigned physician; including assessment, preparing patients for examinations, treatments, and administering medications. 

4. Effectively triages telephone calls, relaying medical advice in a timely and efficient manner under the direction and approval of the physician. Accurately documents all telephone conversations in the patients chart and ensure all medical advice is cosigned by a physician. 

5. Assesses and identifies expected patient outcomes based on diagnosis, data, and patient’s concerns.  

6. Listens and acknowledges patients/family knowledge and engages their participation in care.  Identifies cultural needs (i.e. language, etc) to develop a care plan that enhances the health care experience. Recognizes patient/family rights through support of their informed decisions and advanced directives. 

7. Develops and implements individualized outcomes-based care plans incorporating the patient and family’s readiness and barrier to learning. Provides and coordinates health teaching which is required by individuals, families and groups to maintain an optimal level of health. 

8. Utilizes evidence-based interventions and treatments specific to the diagnosis or problem. 

9. Documents per hospital and regulatory requirements/policies, all aspects of care, including but not limited to, treatments/procedures performed and patient response. Documents the implementation and any modifications, including changes or omissions, of the identified plan. 

10. Performs procedures (including IV therapy) and treatments (including nutrition) using nursing knowledge and judgment, according to established unit/practice area guidelines and professional standards 

11. Safely administers and assesses the patient response to medication utilizing essential knowledge of pharmacology and Hospital and Department Standards of Care 

12. Evaluates the effectiveness of the planned strategies in relation to patient responses and the attainment of expected outcomes including patient response and if desired outcomes have not been achieved. 

13. Develops, communicates, and coordinates a comprehensive discharge plan utilizing appropriate resources and referrals to community resources to ensure a seamless transition for the patient and their family. 

14. Develops a comprehensive educational plan for the patient and family, utilizing appropriate resources and documents according to the department’s documentation standards. 

15.Participates in hospital and/or unit based patient safety, quality improvement, and process improvement activities to support and improve patient outcomes.  Activities may include data collection, analysis and evaluation. 

16. Provides leadership at the bedside as a delegator, collaborator, facilitator, and communicator 

17. Maintains a collaborative work relationship with peers and colleagues in order to create a positive and professional work environment 

18. Supports collaboration with nursing colleagues and other disciplines to implement plan of care by participation in nursing, physician, and case management reporting rounds 

19. Delegates responsibilities to others with an understanding of their roles, knowledge and capabilities 

20. Identifies and treats both internal and external customers with courtesy, respect and caring behavior. Acknowledges cultural differences that exist among staff and patients 

21. Promotes a safe, clean, therapeutic environment for patients, families and staff. 

22. Presents self in a professional and calm manner.  Assumes responsibility and ownership for professional conduct. 

23. Participates in lifelong learning activities that assist in developing and maintaining their continuing competence, enhance their professional practice and support achievement of their career goals. 

24. Completes all education to remain current with registrations, licenses, certifications, and unit/hospital mandatory requirements as appropriate to position or role. 

25. Incorporates new knowledge and strategies to initiate change in nursing care practices 

26. May assume charge nurse functions in collaboration with unit leadership 

27. Precepts and mentors newly hired staff and nursing students 

28. Seeks out advanced certification opportunities and ongoing education opportunities 

29. Investigates available technology and resources to apply evidence based practice and research into daily professional activities 

30. Promotes unit and organizational growth through a shared governance model 

31. Attends and actively participates in staff meetings.  Accepts responsibility for reading staff meeting minutes when not able to attend. 

Physical Requirements:  

1. Prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking 

2. Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfer patients and equipment 

3. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching 

4. Frequent exposure to hazardous chemicals, sick patients, bodily substances, noise and possible exposure to radiation, lasers, electric shock, etc. 

5. Regularly exposed to the risk of bloodborne diseases and other transmissible infections 

6. Contact with patients under wide variety of circumstances 

7. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations 

8. Handle emergency and crisis situations 

9. Subjected to irregular hours 

10. May have contact with hazardous materials 

Skills & Abilities: 

1. Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, physicians, and healthcare team. 

2. Knowledge and application of the nursing process to implement a nursing plan of care. 

3. Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process. 

3. Ability to provide care for a designated group of patients according to unit guidelines and hospital policies, procedures and protocols. 

4. Has the skills and knowledge to provide care to the age groups of the population served including: Knowledge of growth and development; Ability to interpret age specific data and response to care; and Provide age appropriate communication 

5. Clinical skills including venipuncture, glucometer, and electrocardiogram. 

6. Demonstrates a complete knowledge of Patient Safety and Infection Control.