Job Details
Job Location: Medicine Stepdown – Memphis, TN38103
Position Type: Full Time
Education Level: 2 Year Degree
Travel Percentage: None
Job Shift: Evening
Job Category: Nursing Services – Medicine Stepdown
Responsibilities
Serves as charge nurse and assists in supervision of patient care by coordinating, implementing and monitoring shift activities to provide optimal patient care. Assigns duties and activities to professional and ancillary staff based on the patient’s acuity level in accordance with established policies and procedures for effective utilization of patient care givers, supplies and equipment. Provides nursing care and performs activities of staff RN.
- Ensures continuity of appropriate patient care by planning staff assignments, providing direct patient care, and evaluating outcomes of care within the unit.
- Coordinates, implements, and monitors shift activities to facilitate efficient unit operations and ensure patient care plans are maintained.
- Assists in formulating and implementing unit‑specific procedures and policies.
- Assesses the patient’s physical, emotional, and social circumstances; makes nursing rounds; determines if planned or required care has been provided; makes individual decisions and referrals to other services for patient well‑being; and participates in patient‑centered staff conferences.
- Develops, assigns, and reviews the development and modification of plans that provide safe nursing care.
- Serves as the unit liaison and resource nurse‑in‑charge, exchanging information with staff and physicians.
- Contacts other services for specialized treatment, tests, facilities, equipment and material support to the unit.
- Maintains safety and control of patients, employees and visitors in the unit; investigates and prepares reports on accidents and other incidents involving patients, employees and visitors.
- Performs duties of Staff Nurse and other nursing personnel as needed.
- Makes daily staffing adjustments, assigning work to professional and ancillary staff according to patient acuity levels to ensure all work is performed in accordance with established policies, procedures and standards of care.
- Oversees the work of nursing personnel and instructs them in providing technical care such as drug administration and the setup, regulation and monitoring of intravenous and other equipment.
- Reviews observations and nursing interpretation of patient data and condition and interpretation of electronic and other instrumentation displays.
- Collaborates with manager and educator to facilitate assignment of new employees for in‑service instruction and orientation.
- Assists in the orientation and oversees supervision of students when they provide patient care, treatment and services as part of training.
- Verifies that all nursing tasks and ordered medical treatments/diagnostic procedures have been performed and documented in the medical record.
- Demonstrates knowledge of fiscal management processes and makes decisions that utilize resources effectively, applying cost‑effective measures in the utilization of personnel, supplies and equipment, and ensuring charges are captured for services provided.
- Answers inquiries; communicates and interprets policies, procedures and standards of practice to staff, patients, families and visitors to promote understanding and ensure consistency in application.
- Interprets nursing goals, policies and procedures governing nursing security, safety and visiting conditions for employees, patients and visitors.
- Investigates and answers queries from physicians, patients and visitors about patient care.
- Investigates and resolves complaints, conflicts, and operational problems, informing the Nurse Manager/Nursing Clinical Supervisor of any unresolved issues or those requiring intervention.
- Identifies problems, documents resolution and communicates to applicable parties to ensure operational issues are handled and resolved timely.
- Interprets nursing, personnel and other applicable administrative policies and takes disciplinary action as needed at the time of infractions and in consultation with the Nurse Manager.
- Follows up with Nurse Manager regarding employee performance or action taken, and recommends disciplinary action as appropriate.
- Provides nursing care according to medical regimes and appropriate nursing interventions for patient conditions, including ambulatory/clinic patient care.
- Initiates assessment based on presenting problems or needs, physician’s medical diagnosis and the functional health framework upon clinic visit.
- Collects key information from patients, families, laboratory and other medical reports.
- Ensures all consents necessary for treatment/procedure have been signed and that all prescribed identification procedures have been carried out.
- Determines nursing diagnoses and priorities for care with special consideration given to patient teaching, discharge planning and developmental needs.
- Determines which standards of care and practice apply to the patient.
- Documents assessment, including nursing diagnoses or other clinical judgments.
- Demonstrates knowledge and technical, interpersonal and critical thinking skills to provide care, manage clinical competency and meet age‑specific patient needs within the unit.
- Manages patient movement to achieve even flow and maximize physician time.
- Conducts ongoing assessments according to policy, re‑prioritizing care based on new information, updating diagnoses and involving family or significant individuals in assessment activities.
- Assesses, plans and implements care of assigned patients, performs therapeutic nursing interventions as ordered by the physician and consistent with primary and population‑specific standards of care and practice, considering risk management, infection control and patient safety practices.
- Prepares patient for examination and procedures; positions and drapes patients; implements pain control interventions and provides assistance during examination or procedures; prepares and applies bandages or removes sutures; provides orthopedic stabilization; collects and labels specimens for cultures; monitors patient responses during treatment; initiates corrective actions when monitoring shows adverse signs.
- Coordinates patient referrals, patient education and discharge instructions.
- Determines the impact of nursing interventions on patient condition, recognizing progress toward desired outcomes.
- Documents care based on standards of care and practice, including assessment findings, updated priorities, therapeutic interventions, patient education and noted progress.
- Manages care of patients with conditions common to the unit, including medical, surgical, orthopedic conditions, unscreened sick or walk‑in patients and those with altered mental status.
- Prepares equipment and supplies and assists physicians during treatments, procedures and examinations.
- Responds and/or participates in medical emergencies; initiates and assists with CPR/BLS as required.
- Provides teaching to patients and families in disease or condition care, developing and implementing patient teaching outlines with objectives, content, strategies and evaluations of progress.
- Maintains patient medical records; documents status and care given; performs charting duties and records activities and observations; utilizes patient computer systems to enter and retrieve data.
- Collaborates with patient, family and hospital staff regarding admissions, discharges, transfers, referrals, coordinating exams and therapy, requisitioning supplies and obtaining medical records in a customer‑responsive and courteous manner.
- Transports monitored patients, specimens, equipment and supplies to and from various areas.
- Collaborates with forensic team and security to provide a safe environment for patients in custody.
- Completes required continuous training and education, including department‑specific requirements; attends staff meetings, mandatory in‑services and additional continuing education as required.
- Contributes to the annual review of unit‑based scope statement and determination of important aspects of care for clinical review.
- Assists in developing indicators, thresholds, study methods and data collection as assigned.
- Responds to problems and opportunities to improve care; supports and participates in performance improvement initiatives.
- Maintains a clean, orderly, safe environment for patients and personnel; adheres to established policies, compliance and quality‑improvement, safety, environmental and infection‑control standards.
- Prepares and maintains required records, reports and files for administrative and compliance purposes.
- Represents the unit through involvement on interdepartmental and interdisciplinary committees or task forces.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as required.
Physical Demands
- Standing – Constantly
- Walking – Constantly
- Sitting – Rarely
- Lifting – Frequently
- Carrying – Frequently
- Pushing – Occasionally
- Pulling – Occasionally
- Climbing – Occasionally
- Balancing – Occasionally
- Stooping – Frequently
- Kneeling – Frequently
- Crouching – Frequently
- Crawling – Occasionally
- Reaching – Frequently
- Handling – Frequently
- Grasping – Frequently
- Feeling – Constantly
- Talking – Constantly
- Hearing – Constantly
- Repetitive Motions – Constantly
- Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination – Constantly
Qualifications
- Graduate of an approved nursing school/program – Required
- Additional training or certification may be required in the area of specialization – Required
- Qualified by education, training or experience to work with school‑age, adolescent, adult and/or geriatric patient populations as specialty assignment dictates – Required
- Registered nurse licensure to work in the state of Tennessee – Required
- Current CPR/BLS certification – Required
- Minimum one year of clinical experience – Required
- At least one year of charge nurse experience – Preferred
Regional One Health is committed to diversity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer including veterans and people with disabilities.