Registered Nurse, 40hrs, Days

***10,000.00 Sign-on Bonus***

1.  Position Summary:

The Registered Nurse is responsible for the planning, delivery and management of direct patient care using the nursing process and adhering to the standards of nursing practice within a specific unit or clinical area. 

1. Major Responsibilities:

Nursing Process:

1. Utilizes the nursing process for the delivery and management of patient’s care.
2. Documents the patient assessment, plan of care, and response to intervention.  Meets all unit documentation standards.
3. Uses positive customer service skills when communicating with patient and patient’s family.
4. Utilizes the nursing process for the delivery and management of the patient’s care.
5. Utilizes clinical reasoning and critical thinking.
6. Involves patient, family/significant others and other disciplines in decision making related to the patient’s plan of care.
7. Serves as a patient and family advocate.
8. Implements interventions consistent with hospital standards of practice and prescribed medical plan of care and evidence based practice.
9. Documents the patient assessment, plan of care, and response to intervention.  Meets all unit documentation standards.
10. Communicates and coordinates the patient’s plan of care to ensure continuity of care.
11. Maintains competency in management of clinical emergencies.
12. Provides complete communications in SBAR format (Situation, background, assessment, recommendations) to relieving staff members and demonstrates advanced planning for the patient.
13. Navigates through the critical elements of the patient medical record software and HealthAlliance Intranet.

Clinical Practice:

1. Demonstrates/applies the skill and judgment necessary to implement the medical/nursing plan of care, nursing interventions and procedures necessary for the care of the patient.
2. Bases clinical practice on evidence, unit guidelines, and professional standards to improve the quality of care and to guide clinical judgments.
3. Demonstrates essential knowledge of pharmacology/medications in administering drugs and monitoring the patient’s response.
4. Maintains competency with technology and equipment.  Utilizes equipment in a safe manner.
5. Uses appropriate infection control and safety practices in all duties.
6. Acts as a charge nurse as requested by the nursing management team. 

Collaboration: 

1. Delegates responsibilities to others according to Massachusetts general laws and practice guidelines with an understanding of their roles, knowledge and capabilities.
2. Facilitates cooperative and collaborative relationships among the various disciplines and departments to ensure effective quality patient care.
3. Works weekends, holidays and off-shifts as required by unit staffing needs. 

Climate: 

1. Influences others by establishing a climate for optimal patient care, mutually supportive collegial relationships and professional development.
2. Holds self accountable for professional practice.
3. Presents self in a calm and professional manner and effectively verbalizes relevant problems during daily interactions, and/or staff meetings.
4. Interacts and copes effectively with diverse populations in stressful situations resulting from trauma and illness.
5. Participates in performance improvement activities utilizing principles to support and improve patient care.
6. Demonstrates knowledge of unit goals and is active in committees and projects to achieve these goals.
7. Attends and actively participates in staff meetings.  Accepts responsibility for reading staff meeting minutes when not able to attend.
8. Keeps current with literature regarding changing practices, interventions and best practices in patient care.
9. Assumes responsibility for seeking out educational and professional opportunities for personal learning needs and growth.
10. Assumes responsibility for meeting mandatory education requirements and unit specific education and competencies.
11. Acts as a preceptor as requested.

Standard Staffing Level Responsibilities: 

1. Meets established productivity standards.
2. Facilitates and promotes the sharing of knowledge and content throughout departments.
3. Takes responsibility for ensuring that all work outcomes satisfy the UMass Memorial Health System True North.
4. The individual must support the mission, vision, and goals of HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital and serve as a role model for CARES values.
5. Adheres to change control processes.
6. Participates in cross training to optimize department resources.
7. Demonstrates excellent attendance and actively participates in a variety of meetings and training sessions as required.
8. Demonstrates a friendly, responsive, service-minded attitude to all internal and external customers.
9. Communicates ideas effectively. Shares information and keeps others properly informed. Gives, and is open to useful feedback.
10. Adheres to the HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital Code of Conduct and Behavior Standards and dress code.
11. Complies with established environment of care/safety policies and procedures and all health and safety requirements.
12. Maintains and fosters an organized, clean and safe work environment.
13. Contributes to the development and application of process improvements.
14. Maintains a collaborative, team relationship with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the group’s achievement of goals and to help foster a positive work environment.
15. Attends staff meetings and in-service programs as required or directed. Keeps current with hospital and unit changes by reading communication boards and/or books, bulletin boards, posted notices and reads and responds to e mails on a regular basis.
16. Practices cost containment and fiscal responsibility through the efficient use of supplies, equipment, time, etc.
17. Complies with established departmental policies, procedures and objectives.
18. Attends variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed.
19. Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
20. Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
21. Respects diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standard of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance, civility and acceptance toward all employees, patients and visitors.
22. Maintains, regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
23. Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.

All responsibilities are essential job functions.

1. Position Qualifications:

License/Certification/Education:

Required:

1. Graduate of a recognized school of Nursing
2. Current Massachusetts Registered Nurse license

Preferred:

1. Bachelor’s degree (BSN) in Nursing
2. Certification in a nursing specialty

Experience/Skills:

Required:

1. Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging process, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process. 
2. Ability to provide care for a designated group of patients according to the unit guidelines and hospital policies, procedures and protocols.
3. Ability to lead, guide and motivate staff.
4. Ability to read, write and speak clearly in English.

Preferred:

1. 2-3 years of Nursing experience

Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

Department-specific competencies and their measurements will be developed and maintained in the individual departments. The competencies will be maintained and attached to the departmental job description. Responsible managers will review competencies with position incumbents.