Registered Nurse Float Pool

JOB SUMMARY

To act as patient advocate, providing continuity of care designed to meet individual patient needs through collaboration with other members of the healthcare team and supporting the philosophy, objectives and goals of the facility. The Float Pool registered nurse is responsible for assessing the individual needs of adolescent, adult and geriatric patients in multiple departments in the facility.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS – DAY SHIFT (Mon – Fri)

• Degree from accredited nursing program.


• Licensure as registered nurse in Texas.


• Minimum of at least two years of inpatient and pre-op/PACU experience at an acute care or rural hospital. Critical care experience preferred.


• BLS, ACLS, and PALS – current at time of hire

ADDITIONAL MIMINUM QUALITIFCATIONS – DAY/NIGHT/WEEKEND + ED

•  Minimum 2 – 3 years of critical care and emergency department experience at acute care or rural hospital.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

Category I exposure to blood borne pathogens, frequent exposure to chemical hazards and may encounter radiation hazards.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Performs assessment/data collection in an ongoing and systematic manner, focusing on physiologic, psychological and cognitive status.


2. Consistently completes meets documentation expectations in facility electronic medical record.


3. Formulates a goal directed plan of care, which is prioritized and based on determined nursing diagnosis and patient outcomes.


4. Implements care in a knowledgeable, skilled consistent manner in reaching the desired patient outcomes through nursing processes.


5. Establish priorities of patient care based on essential patient needs and available center resources of time, personnel, equipment and supplies.


6. Performs efficiently in emergency patient situations following established protocols, remaining calm, informing appropriate persons and documenting events.


7. Quickly recognizes life and/or limb threatening conditions and responds appropriately.


8. Demonstrates applied knowledge base in areas of medical/surgical patient care, pain assessment and management, actions of emergency medications, sedatives, and local anesthetics, laboratory values, safety and legal issues and all emergency equipment.


9. Demonstrates applied knowledge of the surgical patient including pre-op preparation and post-operative care and monitoring. Recognizes and responds appropriately to airway issues in the post-operative period. Able to assess and evaluate changes in vital signs, assess and manage post-operative pain, and assess and evaluate neurovascular status and changes.


10. If assigned to the ED, demonstrates ability to appropriately triage patients at point of registration, assess patient for emergent, life or limb threatening issues, respond to life threatening emergency situations, and offer reassurance to patient and family in emergency situations. Knowledgeable about EMTALA protocols.


11. Knowledgeable about and compliant with regulatory requirements.


12. Demonstrates effective problem identification and resolution skills as a method of sound decision making.


13. Completes timely, accurate, and concise documentation duties in the patient record.


14. Works as part of a team in delivering patient care.


15. Maintains current BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification.


16. Attends mandatory in services and participates in staff meetings.


17. Remains flexible, adaptive and able to accept and implement new ideas and approaches.


18. Treats all patients equally adopting the centers Patient Rights policy.


19. Reviews and carries out physician orders in an appropriate professional manner.


20. Willingness to assist with other duties when asked.


21. Exhibits professional, courteous and respectful behavior with all staff members, physicians, vendors, and patients at all times.


22. Maintains flexibility in work schedule based on needs of facility.


23. See attachments for additional, specific expectations of float pool role.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


• While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to sit, converse, and listen; use hands to touch, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and to reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.


• The employee must be able to lift and/or carry over 20 pounds on a regular basis and be able to push/pull over 25 pounds on a regular basis.


• The employee must be able to stand and/or walk at least five hours per day.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.