RN - Surgical Nursing Unit Job at CARLE in McLean County

*** $10,000 Sign on Bonus External Applicants only RN >1yr***

Position Highlights:  Inpatient Surgical

• Number      of beds on unit: 30
• Patient      population (age, diagnosis, specifics about unit):  The Surgical Unit is a 30-bed unit specializing in the care      of patients of pre- and post-surgical patients ages18 years and older.      Severity of conditions varies from the medically stable to discharge      ready. Common types of patients include regional analgesia patients,      orthopedic surgical patients, major abdominal surgery patients, urology      surgery patients, spine surgery patients, trauma patients, and patients      with IV pharmacological core drips and boluses.
• Nurse      to Patient ratio:  1:5-6
• Department      culture and resources:  The Surgical      unit is a fast-pace, team-oriented unit. We work closely with our      physician partners and ancillary team members to achieve the best outcomes      for our patients. We have a robust Shared Governance that meets monthly.      We have a unit-based educator and charge nurses.
• Frequent      nursing skills/equipment used: foley/IV/NG      insertions, nursing prioritization, IV pumps, traction, lift equipment,      SCDs, telemetry monitoring, various surgical drains, CBI

• Performs all responsibilities and duties required by unit as specific to the scope of service. Implements procedures and theories related to the specific area of practice. Maintains up-to-date and accurate documentation of nursing care provided to assure the integration of information for use by the healthcare team.
• Completes initial assessment upon patient admission and develops appropriate plan of care in accordance with unit standards and that is based on patient and family needs. Implements plan of care, nursing interventions, and patient care procedures. Modifies plan of care based upon continuous evaluation.
• Takes responsibility for patient and employee safety by reporting and/or correcting safety hazards and incidents.
• Communicates with others directly and in private when necessary to resolve issues. Offers constructive feedback to assist in the professional development of peers, and confers with colleagues to expand knowledge base. Identifies own learning needs and takes initiative to begin appropriate solution.
• Fulfills all requirements of departmental competencies.

• Receives patient Bedside Shift Report from an RN at the beginning of each shift, ensuring the inclusion of the patient input, visual validation of a safe patient room environment at the time of shift change and updating of the patient communication board found in each patient room
• Delegates patient care tasks/responsibilities to assigned HCTs and validates completion of delegated tasks throughout the shift
• Completes and documents basic RN patient care activities such assessments, interpretation of vital signs, ensure physician order completion, admission/discharge of patients, hourly rounding completion on each assigned patient, care plan documentation and patient education
• Meets Carle Med/Surg RN documentation standards for each assigned patient
• RN will provide patient medications utilizing the patient 5 Rights: Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Route, Right Dose and Right Time
• Maintains patient safety as the highest priority level: ensuring safety measure compliance such as fall precautions, pressure ulcer prevention, isolation precautions and patient ambulation safety
• Maintains a positive attitude at all times on unit that promotes a healthy work environment and a healing patient environment
• Keeps a diligent focus on prompt answering of patient call lights to ensure effective triage and completion of patient requests/medical needs
• Uses critical thinking to evaluate the overall patient condition and uses nursing judgement to identify and act on changes in patient status
• Effectively communicates within the healthcare team to promote interdisciplinary collaboration, effective patient care coordination and patient safety
• Effectively manages time to enable the quick admission/discharge process for Observation status patients and facilitates completion of patient testing to move patients quickly towards discharge disposition