JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Identifies appropriate standards of care common to the patient population and safely provides patient care while supporting the unit's and hospital's Vision Alignment Matrix.
• Serves as a resource to lesser experienced nurses and to support staff.
• Develops, revises policies and procedures that pertain to specialized patient populations and/or unit and hospital practices.
• Functions as the charge nurse as assigned.
• Makes patient care assignments.
• Manages conflict and explores problem solving alternatives.
• Maintains courteous and professional behavior at all times.
• Assesses assigned patients; reviews medical history, admitting diagnosis, physician's orders, nursing history, and evaluation of diagnostic data.
• Interviews patient and family to determine patient needs; communicates these to interdisciplinary health care team members as appropriate.
• Determines appropriate nursing interventions for identified problems, symptoms, behavioral changes.
• Administers direct nursing care to assigned patients based on priorities and timeframes.
• Evaluates patients' responses to delivery of nursing care and patient education for self care.
• Keeps patient and family up to date on progress.
• Develops, conducts and evaluates patient and family education in discussing plan of care.
• Teaches family and patient to perform specific procedures; documents activities.
• When required explains rational and/or principles behind the physiology or consequences of treatments.
• Determines and mobilizes equipment and resources necessary for successful patient care; seeks assistance in completing nursing interventions.
• Collaborates with members of the health care team to determine patient needs and needs of significant others in planning the treatment.
• Attends scheduled staff meetings.
• Provides clinical guidance to students and ancillary staff.
• Demonstrates competency in all new equipment and procedures.
• Serves on unit based committees.
• Performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of nursing.
• One year of recent Registered Nursing experience (within the past 5 years).
• Must have a valid, active unencumbered Nursing license or temporary permit approved by the Georgia Licensing Board.
• BLS, ACLS, and Healthcare Provider certifications required.