Medical Surgical Registered Nurse in South Carolina

Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Columbia, South Carolina

Job Summary

Provides clinical direction for all aspects of patient care in an acute inpatient setting, fostering patient/family-centered care. Demonstrates clinical competency utilizing evidence-based practices/research in all areas of the nursing process: assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and outcomes. Incorporates knowledge of safety protocols, cost containment, and quality improvement throughout the nursing process. Identifies patient, unit, and organizational priorities and incorporates them into the nursing process. Adheres to all compliance and policy/procedures of the organization including, but not limited to licensure renewal, assigned training, employee health screenings, time and attendance policy, dress code policy, patient confidentiality, infection control, and medication administration.  Provides care within the scope of the South Carolina Nurse Practice Act. The acute inpatient setting may require staff to be scheduled for a weekend, holiday, and on-call work.

Minimum Requirements

• Education - Associate degree in Nursing. Bachelor's degree in Nursing preferred.
• Experience - One (1) year experience as a registered nurse.

Required Certifications, Registrations, Licenses

• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in South Carolina
• Canadian citizens RNs with NCLEX are welcome to apply

Multiple job locations throughout South Carolina.

Essential Functions

• All team members are expected to be knowledgeable and compliant with Prisma Health's values: Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.
• Collects data and completes nursing assessment utilizing appropriate area and/or age-specific standards/policies and tools. Completes appropriate forms. Assesses and recognizes subtle or actual changes in patient's status and patient response to intervention. Identifies nursing priorities for a patient plan of care based on nursing assessment and other data as appropriate. Validates these priorities with healthcare team members and documents appropriately.
• Develops an individual plan of care based on the age and assessed needs of the patient. Develops the plan in collaboration with the patient and/or family, the provider, and other members of the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Updates the plan based on changes in the patient's condition and communicates changes in the plan to other members of the team.
• Identifies realistic and measurable goals and outcomes to be attained before discharge. Validates these with the patient and/or family.
• Demonstrates respect for the patient's/family's cultural, spiritual, and belief system in planning for care.
• Includes planning for discharge to assure continuity of care and a smooth transition post-discharge from one level of care to another including appropriate referrals.
• Provides direct care to assigned patients consistent with the established nursing plan.
• Performs specific tasks based on organizational, departmental, and/or unit policies and procedures within the RN's scope of practice.
• Delegates nursing tasks as appropriate to members of the healthcare team, developing written assignments (if appropriate) and ensuring completion of assigned tasks.
• Monitors quality of care delivered continually; ensures appropriate surveillance of assigned patients.
• Provides care based on patient and unit priorities, coordinating and organizing tasks as appropriate, utilizing resources internal and external to the unit. Incorporates cost containment principles into nursing care. Utilizes appropriate technology in daily practice.
• Assumes responsibility for patient safety by maintaining a safe environment including awareness of safety procedures, protocols, and adherence to patient care standards.
• Utilizes performance indicators to collect data, and monitor quality and effectiveness while providing nursing care.
• Completes assigned hospital/unit performance improvement monitoring (audits).
• Based on assessment/reassessment of patient response to interventions, evaluates plan of care for effectiveness, documents progress toward expected outcomes, and revises plan of care as needed. Reports change in patient condition and refer unresolved problems to appropriate healthcare team members. Discusses outcomes with peers (via shift-to-shift report) and with other healthcare team members.
• Evaluate opportunities for quality improvement; based upon evaluation, incorporate performance improvement recommendations into the plan of care as appropriate.
• Identifies/assesses patient/family learning needs and teaches accordingly by using language and terminology that the patient/family is familiar with providing examples to clarify ideas, implementing and evaluating teaching plan (encourages patient/family involvement/participation), Computer resources and Micromedex utilization
• Communicates the patient/family's need for education/teaching to others in the healthcare continuum.
• Evaluates own nursing practice concerning professional practice standard guidelines, state statutes, policies, procedures, rules/regulations, and current specific knowledge. Takes personal accountability for maintaining competency through education and professional activities. Maintains professional licensure and completes required mandatory education promptly. Reflects on identified areas of strength that offer opportunities for improvement.
• Ensures that written documentation and oral communication focus on pertinent information to support meeting patient/family care needs.
• Serves as the patient's advocate and coordinator of care, working collaboratively with providers and other members of the healthcare team.
• Performs other duties as assigned.