Job Description:

DESCRIPTION SHIFT: PRN

SCHEDULE: PRN/Per Diem

CAPITAL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER is a fully-accredited healthcare facility with more than 1,100 employees and 500 physicians. A 266-bed, acute-care hospital that offers 24/7 Emergency Services in Leon and Gadsden Counties including a Pediatric ER and an Express Care ER. We also offer a Bariatric Center, Behavioral Health Center, Cancer Center, Chest Pain Center w/PCI, Comprehensive Breast Center, Family Center, Heart & Vascular Center, Orthopedic/Spine Center, Physical Therapy Services, Stroke Center, Surgical Services, Wound Healing Center, Network-of-Care Affiliated Physician Practices, and more.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Nurse Extern delivers high quality, patient-centered care by performing a variety of delegated basic patient care services related to common nursing functions and activities of daily living. Under the supervision of the registered nurse (RN), the Nurse Extern assists the nursing staff in providing patient care in accordance with the Nurse Extern's skills/training and the needs of the Department, and consistently assists the patient care team with maintaining a clean, well-organized, and safe patient care environment. The Nurse Extern is currently enrolled and in good standing in an accredited school of nursing and can perform higher-level procedures once competency is achieved.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

* Participates in the implementation of nursing care plans by performing direct and indirect patient care under the supervision of the licensed nurse.

* Obtains and records initial and ongoing patient information throughout the cycle of care, including admissions data, vital signs, height and weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, blood glucose levels, intake and output, and calorie counts.

* Documents observations, interactions, patient responses to performed activities, and any physical or behavioral changes at time of occurrence. Reports observations of individual patients to the RN/Team Leader.

* Assists with mobility by regular turning and positioning, dangling, and ambulating patients. Assists with use of walkers, crutches, canes, and wheelchairs. Transfers patients to and from other units, departments, or entities. Assists with discharges. Demonstrates proper body mechanics.

* Provides or assists with non-medicated support care, including non-sterile dressing changes, skin protection, application of heat or ice, oxygen delivery, and venous compression devices.

* Performs non-medicated support tasks, including oral suctioning, enema, catheterization and foley catheter removal, drain maintenance, and basic wound care. Increases variety and difficulty of tasks as competency is verified through nursing program.

* Obtains or assists in the collection of specimens for diagnostic or waived tests. Ensures accuracy of all labels and timely transfer of specimen.

* Retrieves medication from pharmacy, storage room, or tube system and delivers to licensed staff member as instructed.

* Assists with patient preparation for surgery or other procedure.

* Assists patients with activities of daily living to include eating and drinking, bathing, shaving, oral care, grooming, and elimination. Changes bed linens as needed.

* Performs hourly rounding and responds promptly to call lights and patient requests. Strives to anticipate patient needs and resolve them proactively.

* Follows patient and employee safety/security policies and protocols, including hand hygiene, use of universal precautions,use of personal protective equipment, and adherence to isolation procedures.

* Prepares and maintains clean, hazard-free patient rooms. Empties trash and removes soiled linens.

* Assists with patient/family/caregiver learning needs, abilities and readiness to learn. Identifies barriers to learning, such as language or culture. Integrates this information into the patient's plan of care.

* Translates complex medical terminology to ensure patients/families/caregivers understand patient medical condition, patient status, treatment plan, medications and possible side effects, and follow-up measures.

* Educates patients/families/caregivers on healthy diet and exercise, disease prevention, and/or lifestyle changes that may be needed once a patient leaves the hospital. Prepares patients and families/caregivers for future self-management.

* Provides teaching material as needed (pamphlets, video, etc.) to enhance understanding. Documents each teaching episode.

* Assists with post-mortem care.

* Assists in the setup, removal, and cleaning of equipment. Identifies malfunctioning equipment and initiates repairs.

* Performs clerical work as needed, including greeting customers, filing, answering and transferring phones, and relaying messages.

* Prepares and maintains chart, MAR and Kardex on each patient admitted. Adds documentation forms to chart as needed. Ensures each form is properly labeled.

* Assists provider in obtaining medical records and diagnostic results.

* Promotes consistent, positive patient interactions that advance the agenda of unparalleled patient service.

* Demonstrates caring and empathy in all interactions and advocates for patient- and family-centered approach in all decisions and actions.

* Demonstrates excellent communication skills, including active listening. Ensures patients, physicians, and colleagues have a clear understanding of all communications.

* Engages in evidence-based best practices that enhance the patient experience, including SAFETY rounding, communication fundamentals/AIDET, Teach-Back, Narrating Care, etc.

* Participates as an active member of the health care team and positively promotes the rest of the team to patients/families/caregivers and other colleagues.

* Maintains a professional appearance and demonstrates behaviors consistent with established policies/procedures.

* Uses job knowledge and proficiency of skills to successfully assist in orientation of new employees.

* Shares new knowledge with peers and mentors those with less experience.

* Attends and actively participates in unit meetings.

* Seeks opportunities to impact the growth of the organization by promoting excellence in patient experience and providing high quality care to the patients served.

* Identifies and assists with opportunities for performance ivement activities on the unit and with other service areas.

* Fulfills the duty and responsibility to maintain competence and to continue personal and professional growth.

* Creates and implements a personal career development plan, reviewed regularly by supervisor and/or preceptor.

* Maintains supplies, forms and necessary requisitions for the unit.

* Demonstrates cost effective use and maintenance of unit supplies.

* Demonstrates fiscal responsibility by taking ownership of time management, decreasing waste of time and/or supplies, and promoting cost effectiveness while maintaining patient safety and quality of care.

* Performs other duties as assigned.

* Practices and adheres to the \\"Code of Conduct\\" and \\"Mission and Value Statement.

We are committed to:

Providing an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated with fairness, dignity and respect.
Recruiting and retaining a diverse staff reflective of the patients and communities we serve.
Equal employment opportunities are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected category in accordance to applicable federal, state, or local laws.

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