Operational Excellence Director

The RN in the NICU will be responsible for the following duties: admission/discharge/transfers of infants, starting peripheral IV's and drawing blood, assist the physician/NNP with line placement, intubation, surfactant administration and chest tube placement. RN will also care for patient on C-Pap/Ventilator, perform I-Stats, administer TPN/Lipids and starts/monitors blood transfusions. She is knowledgeable of the physiology/treatment of varies conditions/disease processes related to the preemie babies.

The RN is also responsible for educating the parents in preparation for discharge, care of the infant requiring head cooling, care of a dying neonate, and infants going thru withdrawal.

The NICU nurse will round on the neonates Q1-2 hours and will utilize "Aidet" when discussing care/education with the parents. The nurse will provide the on-coming shift with hand off communication at the bedside.

Identifying patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.

Establishing a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.

Promoting patient's independence by establishing patient care goals by teaching patient, friends, and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills; answering questions.

Assuring quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments; following hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act, and other governing agency regulations.

Resolving patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.

Maintaining safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.

Protecting patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.

Documenting patient care services by charting in patient and department records.

Maintaining continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs.

Maintaining patient confidence and protecting operations by keeping information confidential.

Ensuring operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques.

Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshop; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

Completes Nursing History and Assessment accurately within the 24 hours of admission

Determines and delivers age appropriate care

Delegates duties based on complexity of patient needs

Utilization of critical thinking skills in prioritization of care

Develops, prioritizes, updates and maintains individualized plan of care

Coordinates and collaborates Plan of Care with health care team

Incorporates Discharge planning needs on the Plan of Care

Documents interventions tht are accurate, pertinent, timely and legible

Administers medications observing the "6 rights"

Maintains Barcode Override rate