Riverside Healthcare is seeking a skilled and dedicated Registered Nurse (RN) to join our Emergency Department in Kankakee, Illinois. The RN will provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients undergoing various emergency treatments. This role involves assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical and interpersonal skills, the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a commitment to excellence in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Additionally, this position requires flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.
Essential Duties
Patient Assessment and Care Planning:
- Conduct comprehensive assessments of patients’ physical, emotional, and psychological needs.
- Develop and implement individualized care plans in collaboration with patients, families, and the healthcare team in relation to patient goals of care.
Treatment Administration:
- Administer medications, treatments, and procedures as ordered by provider.
- Monitor patient responses to treatments and update care plans as necessary to ensure optimal outcomes.
Patient Monitoring:
- Continuously monitor patients' vital signs, physical condition, and response to interventions.
- Document observations and changes in patient status accurately and promptly.
Coordination of Care:
- Collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care and manage treatment plans effectively.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and contributes to discharge planning.
Patient Education:
- Takes in consideration culture and age when educating patients and their families about their medical conditions, treatments, medication options, and post-discharge care.
- Provide support and resources to help patients manage their health and recovery.
Documentation:
- Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes.
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory and hospital documentation standards.
Patient Experience:
- Engage with patients and their families in a manner that promotes comfort, trust, and understanding.
- Address patient concerns with empathy and professionalism, striving to create a positive and supportive environment that fosters a sense of security and well-being.
Employee Experience:
- Contribute to a positive and collaborative work environment.
- Offer constructive feedback and assistance to peers, and engage in open communication to promote a culture of mutual respect and teamwork.
Emergency Response:
- Respond to medical emergencies with quick and effective intervention, including performing life-saving procedures and stabilizing patients as needed.
Infection Control:
- Adhere to infection control protocols and ensure a clean and safe environment for patients and staff.
- Implement standard precautions and safety measures to prevent the spread of infections.
Non-essential Duties
- Participate in ongoing professional development and training to stay current with best practices and advancements in emergency nursing.
- Assist in the orientation and training of new staff members and students as needed.
- Contribute to quality improvement initiatives when applicable.
Preferred Experience
- Minimum of two years of acute care nursing experience preferred
Required Licensure/Education
- Graduate of an approved school of nursing
- Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Illinois.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
- TNCC or TNS within 18 months
- ENPC within 24 months
- ECRN within the 24 months. Only ECRN's can answer the EMS communication radio.
- Mental Health First Aid or Crisis Prevention Institute Certified (CPI) within first year of hire
- PALS within the first year
- ACLS within the first year
- *New Graduate RNs starting on or after 1/1/25 must earn Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) within 3 years of start date.
Preferred Education
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree preferred*
- Professional nursing certification in area of specialty preferred
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification preferred
Employee Health Requirements
Exposure to:
- Chemicals: Refer to MSDS manual
- Video Display Terminals: Average
- Blood and Body Fluids: Diagnostic composite of patients, frequent contact with intravenous devices and high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids and administration of blood create a high risk. Universal precautions and protective equipment greatly reduce the risk.
- TB or Airborne Pathogens: Patient diagnostic presentations do pose high risk, however, usage of protective wear, universal precautions and negative pressure areas reduce risk.
Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):
- Speech: Ability to communicate clearly and accurately with patient, physicians, families, coworkers, ancillary personnel, and other
- department heads. Ability to ask for help.
- Vision: Required to observe patients and their physical assessment, ability to read reports, equipment and dials.
- Smell: Ability to smell smoke, incontinence, vomitus and blood.
- Hearing: Necessary to hear alarms, calls for help, ability to hear patients' verbalizations, ability to listen for lung, bowel and heart sounds.
- Touch: Necessary to assess patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.
Activity/Lifting Requirements:
Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:
- Sit: 10%
- Twist: 4%
- Stand: 40%
- Crawl: 0%
- Walk: 25%
- Kneel: 1%
- Lift: 10%
- Drive: 0%
- Squat: 1%
- Climb: 1%
- Bend: 30%
- Reach above shoulders: 3%
The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:
- Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 20 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 35 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally
- Up to 75 lbs: Not Required
- Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
- Over 100 lbs: Not Required
Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.): Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays). Carry charts 25'-150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs. Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.
Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:
- Sit: 30
- Twist: 15
- Stand: 60
- Crawl: 0
- Walk: 10
- Kneel: 0
- Lift: 5
- Drive: 0
- Squat: 2
- Climb: 1
- Bend: 15
- Reach above shoulders: 2
Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):
- Simple grasp up to 10 lbs.
- Normal weight: 5lbs
- Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs Occasionally
- Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, omnicell, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IV's.
Leg Strength – up to 50 lbs: Occasionally - Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.
Environmental Factors & Special Hazards
Environmental Factors (Time Spent):
- Inside hours: 8
- Outside hours: 0
- Temperature: Normal Range
- Lighting: Average
- Noise levels: Average
- Humidity: Normal Range, dry
- Atmosphere: Odors
Special Hazards: Radiation, Chemical, Explosive - Chemical-drugs; Explosive-oxygen; Radiation-cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy.
Protective Clothing Required: As required for chemotherapy or in cases of isolation, i.e. gloves, gowns, masks, goggles.