Staff Nurse I (Mphs Cna), Stepdown Intensive Care Unit, Days

These Principal Accountabilities, Requirements and Qualifications are not exhaustive, but are merely the most descriptive of the current job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, staff changes, workload, or technical development).

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Utilizes the nursing process and standards of nursing practice to deliver care for assigned patients.

Assessment

• Documents assessment according to established protocol.
• Obtains data from patient and/or significant others with particular consideration of biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational and discharge planning factors.
• Demonstrates the use of nursing and psychiatric/mental health theoretical base in conclusions about assessment data, as evidenced by utilizing nursing diagnoses.

Planning

• Develops a realistic (prioritizing needs to be addressed in length of stay), timely comprehensive care plan which includes measurable goals, delineating nursing actions unique to each client's needs, along with teaching/learning and discharge plans.
• Collaborates with peers, multidisciplinary personnel, medical staff and community resources in developing the multidisciplinary treatment plan.

Intervention

• Communicates to health care team specific observations and information which indicate patient condition.
• Observes pertinent responses to somatic therapies in terms of underlying principles of each therapy.
• Takes, records, and reviews vital signs.
• Educates patient/family toward understanding of health/illness and plans for discharge.
• Identifies actual and/or potential emergency situations and intervenes taking action to minimize or prevent occurrence.
• Records teaching approaches and behavioral outcomes of the patient throughout the teaching/learning process.
• Assists in creating, maintaining and managing a therapeutic milieu.
• Serves as patient advocate in delivery of patient care.
• Uses knowledge of current psychopharmacology to guide nursing actions.
• Implements nursing interventions based on nursing care plan, adjusting priorities based on observable relationships between patient’s behavioral changes and the milieu.
• Documents clear, concise, comprehensive nursing notes that reflect implementation of and patient's response to plan of care.
• Uses the activities of daily living in a goal directed way to foster adequate self-care.
• Uses an empathic, caring approach with patients.
• Acts as primary clinician working with patient to coordinate treatment team efforts.

Evaluation

• Documents evaluation in progress note and on care plans.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members to revise plan if necessary.
• Reassesses and evaluates patient/family/significant others response to care on a regular basis as defined by unit policies.
• Determines whether expected outcomes were met.

Leadership/Professional Growth

• Demonstrates organizational skills in caring for assigned group of patients.
• Participates in nursing department/unit committees and/or projects.
• Identifies own areas of strength/limitations and actively participates in ongoing self-evaluation.
• Participates in educational opportunities to increase clinical competence/professional awareness and update practice.
• Acts as a role model for paraprofessional staff and peers.

EDUCATION

Equivalent experience will be accepted in lieu of the required degree or diploma.

HS Diploma

Other: Graduation from accredited School of Nursing

Bachelor's: Minimum

OR Master's

CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE

RN-Registered Nurse of California

Management of Assaultive Behavior certification

OR BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider

Certification in Specialty

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AS TYPICALLY ACQUIRED IN:

Staff Nurse II: Registered Nurse who has completed a total of twelve full-time months nursing experience in an acute hospital or comparable clinical area within the last three years.

One year nursing experience in an acute care mental health setting preferred.

Staff Nurse I: California Registered Nurse with less than 12 full-time equivalent months total experience in an acute hospital or comparable clinical area.

Staff Nurse I may be reclassified to Staff Nurse II upon completion of six months' service with Mills-Peninsula Health Services. Three months' prior work experience may count as part of this six months if a nurse's overall acute hospital or comparable clinical area experience totals a minimum of six months within the three years prior to employment at MPHS.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of the pathophysiology, common treatments, medications, complications, and prevention strategies for area of clinical practice.

Thorough knowledge of nursing process and/or surgical procedures.

Thorough knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology

Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills to promote effective interactions with patients/families, and staff.

Able to navigate electronic health record (EHR) and successfully complete competency.

Demonstrates flexibility, self-motivation

Must be able to communicate effectively in both verbal and written English

Pay Range: $70.64 - $70.64/ Hourly