Registered Nurse - Clinical Float - Critical Care

Job Summary

The Registered Nurse (RN), Medical Surgical Float Pool is a professional practitioner who assesses, manages, directs, and provides nursing care activities during the patient’s hospital stay and coordinates care planning with other disciplines utilizing a patient/customer‑driven approach in a variety of Medical Surgical units. Must be highly energetic, flexible and motivated to support the success of Saint Louis University Hospital.

Position Accountabilities and Performance Criteria (% of time)

• Performs comprehensive nursing assessment/reassessment.
• Performs age-appropriate admission assessment or transfer assessment. Obtains input from family/guardian when appropriate.
• Accurately and completely documents findings.
• Performs assessment of post‑op / post‑invasive procedure patients.
• Assesses and documents education and discharge needs of patient and family on admission and throughout hospitalization.
• Provides patient reassessment documenting pertinent observations according to the patient plan of care, changes in condition, status and/or diagnosis, response to care, procedures, etc., and standards of care.
• Establishes, coordinates and evaluates a plan of care based on analysis of assessment data, patient diagnosis, lab data, tests, procedures, physician orders, protocols and standards of care and other information as relevant.
• Identifies short and long term goals based on patient care needs.
• Formulates nursing interventions to achieve desired patient outcome.
• Incorporates disease‑specific evidence‑based practice into nursing care plan and other documentation.
• Provides and documents nursing interventions based on assessed patient needs, plan of care, and changes in patient status.
• Collaborates with appropriate health team members for coordination of daily plan of care for assigned patients.
• Provides, coordinates and communicates patient care, including accurate handoff communication reports such as bedside shift report, ticket to ride, SBAR, daily huddles, patient care conferences, etc.
• Administers and documents medications accurately according to policies and procedures.
• Monitors, maintains and documents accurate IV fluids, blood, blood products and parenteral nutrition according to policies and procedures.
• Completes referrals as indicated by assessment data.
• Requests consultation for special needs, equipment, or information for patient and/or family.
• Restraint Care:
  Initiates/evaluates alternatives to restraint prior to application; applies restraints consistent with the approved procedure; monitors and assesses patient’s response throughout the restraint period at the appropriate intervals; provides specified patient care on a timely basis; provides consultation for peers to determine alternatives to restraints and 1:1 observation; documents restraint use and associated care thoroughly; provides patient/family education and discharge planning per documentation guidelines and protocol.
• Pain Management:
  Assess patient for presence of pain on admission and during assessments/reassessments; incorporates patient’s cultural/spiritual beliefs regarding pain into pain management plan; implements pain management techniques, focusing on prevention rather than treatment; includes patient and/or family members in developing a pain management plan; considers other methods of pain control when developing plan of care such as massage, repositioning, immobilization and music therapy.
• Abuse Assessment:
  Is aware of abuse recognition criteria and incorporates it into assessments; reports signs of possible abuse/neglect to the physician, Risk Management and Social Work; takes appropriate action to support patient safety when signs of abuse are noted; clarifies all physician orders as warranted; transcribes and implements physician orders in an accurate and timely manner; assists physician with procedures/ treatments as requested or delegates to Care Partner;
  
  documents “Read back” for all telephone/verbal orders; takes telephone/verbal orders only in emergency situations; recognizes changes in patient’s condition and takes appropriate nursing actions; uses chain of command when…