Registered Nurse-Pediatric Med-Surg

General Statement of Job

This position provides safe and effective nursing care and treatment to patients in the Pediatric Med-Surgery Nursing Department. Employees are part of the managed care team and work collaboratively with ancillary personnel in the provision of proper medical services and treatment. This position provides nursing care and services to patients seeking medical attention and prevents further deterioration of patients health in accordance with established regulations, policies, nursing standards, and medical instructions.

Essential Functions

• Provides nursing care to meet the needs of the patient population served, including infant, child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.
• Delivers patient care within defined hospital standards as a team member for patient care.
• Evaluates each patients care status frequently and reports variances in care and/or medication administration for quality improvement.
• Assesses and charts patients vital signs and notifies physician of abnormal ranges as well as any significant changes.
• Delegates and supervises care appropriately to LPNs and CNAs with follow-up and feedback procedures to ensure quality of care.
• Develops plans of care and patient-focused goals with the patient and family as appropriate, ensuring patient understanding and involvement in their care.
• Delivers patient care in accordance with established infection control standards for patient placement, IV therapy, medication administration, and the performance of all patient procedures; demonstrating adherence to hand washing policy.
• Performs duties in accordance with pathogen transmission practices, including following hand washing policy/procedure and utilizing protective equipment efficiently and appropriately.
• Demonstrates understanding of JCAHO Safety Goals and delivers care with patient safety as a goal.
• Follows policies for administration of high-risk drugs, patient identification, documentation, taking telephone orders with read-back, and communication of critical values/diagnostic results.
• Communicates effectively with other patient care providers and team members for efficiencies and safety of care through appropriate ordering procedures, preparing patients for surgery and other procedures, communicating fall potential and other risk identifiers.
• Follows guidelines for performance improvement and demonstrates understanding of participation in the Core Measures for Lakeside Medical Center, and for documentation review and restraint review processes.
• Communicates effectively with the patients physician(s), reporting any changes in condition in a timely manner and providing an accurate assessment of patient status to assist with physicians rounds, etc.
• Works cooperatively with ancillary departments in ensuring the patients care is safe, following protocols as applicable.
• Uses patient care equipment safely and as directed by policies and instruction.
• Reports any identified equipment breakdown or malfunction by hospital policy.
• Maintains cleanliness of equipment after use.
• Utilizes and ensures staff utilizes supplies efficiently, following infection control procedures, avoiding waste, and follows patient charging procedures.
• Ensures that tests are ordered appropriately and that patients are prepared for tests, to avoid extended stays, and potential duplication of tests.
• Serves as an example for team members in cost-saving practices.
• Utilizes good communication skills, critical thinking, and checkpoints for team work.
• Provides patient information timely and effectively during shift report and with patient hand-offs.
• Participates in the orientation and mentoring of new staff members, recognizing the importance of bringing new staff into a friendly and supportive work environment.
• Assists manager and other staff members to maintain competence and skills for procedures assigned and assists in validation of skills and competence of new staff members prior to delegation of patient care.
• Demonstrates professional growth in continuing education, which is applicable to the unit assigned.
• Maintains accurate and current records of patients care and response to care, following the guidelines for appropriate electronic documentation.
• Participates with team members and manager to identify opportunities for improvement in patient care processes.
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to the hospital mission, philosophy, standards, policies, and procedures.
• Recognizes all staff, physicians, and visitors, as well as patients, as customers and provides courteous and respectful service.
• Documents and reports any complaints from patients, physicians, and visitors to supervisor as guided by hospital policies and procedures.
• Participates in the cleanliness of the work environment.
• Demonstrates an understanding of responsibility in emergency plans and is available for patient care as needed or scheduled when hospital emergency preparedness plans are activated.
• Participates in hospital community activities and promotes the hospital within the community.
• Serves as a change leader, positively promoting new systems and changes implemented, which improves the hospital and the service provided to its patients.
• Participates in the hospital goals for growth by being an example of good service to patients in our community and in assisting physicians and other team members.

Certifications and Licenses

• CPR certification required
• PALS required within 90 days of hire
• ACLS required within 90 days of hire
• State of Florida Registered Nurse license required
• NRP License preferred

Additional Duties

• May be required to act in a Charge Nurse capacity during which, the additional duties would be required:
• Supervises RNs, LPNs, and CNAs and the provision of care to patients in accordance with policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Follows ACLS protocol for patients as indicated.
• Assists the Nurse Manager - Med./Surg. 3rd Floor with order transcription and overall operation of the unit.

About the Health Care District of Palm Beach County

The Health Care District of Palm Beach County is an independent special taxing district that has served as a healthcare safety net for more than 36 years to fill in gaps in access to healthcare services. This unique healthcare system covers the entire county and provides a wide range of services, including:

• Nine community health centers (Federally Qualified Health Centers) that serve everyone regardless of ability to pay
• School health teams in 172 public schools
• A lifesaving Trauma Hawk aeromedical helicopter program
• A rural, public teaching hospital, Lakeside Medical Center
• An award-winning skilled nursing center
• A ground ambulance program for Health Care District patients needing a higher level of care
• The countys Trauma Agency, which ensures quality outcomes within the countys trauma system and leads initiatives to prevent traumatic injury

The Health Care District of Palm Beach County is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, military or veteran status, age, sex, pregnancy status, genetic information, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation or identification status, or any other legally recognized category protected by jurisdictional, state, or federal law.