Registered Nurse, Med Tele, Per Diem

HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital is part of the UMass Memorial Health Care system. Serving northern central Massachusetts, we are committed to improving the health of people through excellence in care and comprehensive health services. Promoting healthy lifestyle habits, we serve as a role model by having a tobacco and smoke free campus and hiring nicotine free employees. By exploring careers with us, you are committed to giving your best to our patients, our community and everyone working on our HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital Care Team. Whatever your career choice, know that at HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital you can make a difference.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Registered Nurse is responsible for the planning, delivery and management of direct patient care using the nursing process and adhering to the standards of nursing practice within a specific unit or clinical area.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Nursing Process: Utilizes the nursing process for the delivery and management of patient’s care.

• Uses positive customer service skills when communicating with patient and patient’s family.
• Utilizes clinical reasoning and critical thinking.
• Communicates and coordinates the patient’s plan of care to ensure continuity of care.
• Provides complete communications in SBAR format (Situation, background, assessment, recommendations) to relieving staff members and demonstrates advanced planning for the patient.
• Navigates through the critical elements of the patient medical record software and HealthAlliance Intranet.
• Serves as a patient and family advocate.
• Utilizes the nursing process for the delivery and management of the patient’s care.
• Implements interventions consistent with hospital standards of practice and prescribed medical plan of care and evidence based practice.
• Maintains competency in management of clinical emergencies.
• Maintains assignment of patients and caseload according to unit guidelines and established standards of practice.
• Documents the patient assessment, plan of care, and response to intervention. Meets all unit documentation standards.
• Involves patient, family/significant others and other disciplines in decision making related to the patient’s plan of care.

Clinical Practice: Demonstrates/applies the skill and judgment necessary to implement the medical/nursing plan of care, nursing interventions and procedures necessary for the care of the patient.

• Acts as a charge nurse as requested by the nursing management team.
• Demonstrates essential knowledge of pharmacology/medications in administering drugs and monitoring the patient’s response.
• Uses appropriate infection control and safety practices in all duties.
• Bases clinical practice on evidence, unit guidelines, and professional standards to improve the quality of care and to guide clinical judgments.
• Maintains competency with technology and equipment. Utilizes equipment in a safe manner.

Collaboration:

• Delegates responsibilities to others according to Massachusetts general laws and practice guidelines with an understanding of their roles, knowledge and capabilities.

• Facilitates cooperative and collaborative relationships among the various disciplines and departments to ensure effective quality patient care.
• Works weekends, holidays and off-shifts as required by unit staffing needs.

Climate: Influences others by establishing a climate for optimal patient care, mutually supportive collegial relationships and professional development.

• Presents self in a calm and professional manner and effectively verbalizes relevant problems during daily interactions, and/or staff meetings.
• Holds self accountable for professional practice.
• Interacts and copes effectively with diverse populations in stressful situations resulting from trauma and illness.
• Attends and actively participates in staff meetings. Accepts responsibility for reading staff meeting minutes when not able to attend.
• Keeps current with literature regarding changing practices, interventions and best practices in patient care.
• Assumes responsibility for seeking out educational and professional opportunities for personal learning needs and growth.
• Assumes responsibility for meeting mandatory education requirements and unit specific education and competencies.
• Acts as a preceptor as requested.
• Participates in performance improvement activities utilizing principles to support and improve patient care.
• Demonstrates knowledge of unit goals and is active in committees and projects to achieve these goals.

Job duties for all positions:

• Maintains a collaborative, team relationship with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the group’s achievement of goals and to help foster a positive work environment.
• Demonstrates excellent work attendance and attends and actively participates in a variety of meetings and training sessions as required.
• Performs a variety of related duties as assigned.
• Communicates ideas effectively. Shares information and keeps others properly informed. Gives, and is open to useful feedback.
• Maintains, and fosters, a clean, safe work environment.
• Adheres to the HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital Code of Conduct and Behavior Standards. Complies with established policies and procedures and all health and safety requirements.
• Practices cost containment and fiscal responsibility through the efficient use of supplies, equipment, time, etc.
• The individual must support the mission, vision, and goals of HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital and serve as a role model for the CARES - It Happens Here customer service initiative.
• Demonstrates respect for the diversity of patient and employee populations. Supports and encourages diverse points of view, work and lifestyles.
• Demonstrates a friendly, responsive, service-minded attitude to all customers.
• Actively contributes to the development and application of process improvements.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Ability to read, write and speak clearly in English.
• Ability to lead, guide and motivate staff.
• Ability to provide care for a designated group of patients according to the unit guidelines and hospital policies, procedures and protocols.
• Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging process, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

EDUCATION:

Must be a graduate of a recognized school of Nursing

A Bachelor’s degree (BSN) in Nursing is preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

2-3 years of Nursing experience preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and experience, which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed above, may be substituted for the above education and experience requirements.

LICENSES, ETC.:

Must have a current Massachusetts Registered Nurse License.

Certification in a nursing specialty desired.
ACLS/ BLS
CPI certification after hire