The Staff Nurse is a registered nurse who is responsible for triage and assuring competent, compassionate nursing care for patients and families. They collaborate with the Nursing Director and members of the Patient Care Team to achieve optimal patient outcomes. The Staff Nurse also collaborates with the patient toward efficient and effective personnel and unit management.
STAFF NURSE PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Is responsible for triage for all patients presenting to the health center through urgent care.
- As a member of the Primary Care/Behavioral health integration team, she is responsible for implementing the psycho-social assessment tools.
- As a member of the integrated model team, she is responsible for linking the patient to other members of the team and ensuring that the patient has received all the necessary care consistent with the urgency of the presentation.
- As a member of the team, she/he is responsible for maintaining a tracking tool to assess the prevalence of presentations by the individual patient and the population as a whole.
- As a member of the team, will participate in the evaluation of the program’s effectiveness and opportunities for improvement.
- Provides competent, compassionate nursing care based on scientific principles and the use of nursing process and a primary nursing model.
- Provides and maintains a therapeutic environment for patients and families.
- Articulates the primary nursing role to the patient, family and health team members.
- Identifies, facilitates, and evaluates the outcomes of nursing care for an individual patient or group of patients.
- Coordinates involvement of the patient, family and health team members in patient care, including patient/family teaching and discharge planning.
- Documents relevant patient information.
- Communicates the plan of care and other pertinent information to/from other health team members.
- Helps define standards of excellence for patient care; participates in improvement of patient care services in a cost-effective way.
- Performs specific functions as described in the unit Scope of Service, and within the scope of practice as defined by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Nursing.
- Provides care appropriate to age group.
- Provides culturally competent care.
- Collaborates with other professionals and directs nonprofessional nursing personnel in maintaining recognized standards.
- Performs designated tasks to track test results and communicate results to patients.
- Administers medications within the parameters defined by the Department of Nursing
- Teaches and directs all nursing personnel for whom s/he is responsible.
- Participates in orientation of new permanent and temporary staff members.
- Appropriately utilizes nursing resources.
- Assists NM with implementing new hospital and departmental policies and procedures to nurses and other health team members.
- Participates in daily operational activities necessary for safe patient/staff environment.
- Receives patient messages, reviews with provider, and takes action as directed.
- Faxes, mails or telephones in prescription renewals as directed by provider.
- Assists with reviewing documents for Immigration
- Utilizes resources efficiently to facilitate optimal patient care.
- Provides input to Nurse Manager regarding needs.
- Participates in unit and departmental committees for formulation of nursing and hospital policies and procedures.
- Understands principles of delegation and appropriately delegates tasks to appropriate personnel.
SKILLS/ ABILITIES/ COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:
- Maintain and update clinical knowledge and skills based on current nursing education practices.
- Identifies own learning needs and goals and develops a plan to meet them.
- Maintains and develops professional practice through continuing educational programs and appropriate learning experiences.
- Contributes to relevant committees, professional meetings, continuing educational and/or formal academic programs.
- CPR Certification
- Phlebotomy
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Current licensure as a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- 3 years experience preferred in ER/ community health center urgent care/ or medical surgical unit as a charge nurse
- Experience with underserved populations preferred.
- Bilingual in Spanish