RN CASUAL - SURGICAL PCU

Independence Health System Inc.; Latrobe (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Independence Health System Inc. seeks a Registered Nurse to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for a designated patient group. You will coordinate with an interdisciplinary team to promote positive outcomes and maintain safety and quality across the unit.

The role emphasizes leadership, documentation, patient education, and adherence to standards and care protocols while supporting colleagues and participating in quality improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Nursing Program required.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
• A Nursing refresher course may be required if employee hasn’t worked in an acute care setting for his / her most recent three consecutive years of professional employment

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for a designated group of patients.
• Coordinate and participate as an effective member of the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Maintain professional knowledge by attending education workshops and reviewing publications.
• Assure quality of care by adhering to standards and measuring health outcomes against goals.
• Protect patients by following infection-control policies and medication procedures.
• Document patient care services by charting in records.
• Maintain continuity among nursing teams by documenting actions and needs.
• Establish compassionate environment and provide emotional support to patients and families.
• Promote patient independence by teaching care goals and self-care skills.
• Operate safely by following procedures and regulations; request assistance as needed.
• Review rhythm strips and treat arrhythmias using approved protocols.

Skills

Strong leadership ability

Organizational skills

Independent and critical thinking

Sound judgment

Knowledge of legal aspects and-liabi

Communication of complex topics

Nursing refresher knowledge

Education

Graduate of an accredited Nursing Program

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

Job description

The RN assesses, plan, implements and evaluates the care for a designated group of patients. The RN coordinates, directs and actively participates as an effective member of the interdisciplinary health care team, contributing to the efficient operation of the unit and promoting positive patient outcomes.

Essential Job Functions

• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending education workshops, review professional publications, establish personal networks, and participate in professional societies.
• Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards, making or recommending necessary adjustments, and following system/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.
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Document patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Maintain continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs using Nurse Knowledge Exchange techniques.
• Maintain patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Identify patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients, and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.
• Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
• Promote patient's independence by establishing patient care goals, teaching patient/family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills, and answering questions.
• Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.
• Resolve patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.
• Maintain a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information, responding to requests, building rapport, and participating in team continuous quality improvement and problem-solving methods.
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Ensure operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements by following manufacturer's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Maintain nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies, verifying receipt of supplies, and using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.
• The Registered Nurse may provide direct oversight of the GN, LPN, Technical Partner, ALS Technician, Nurse Extern and Unit Clerks. This oversight includes the Registered Nurse conducting the initial comprehensive assessment and interpreting the assessment to initiate the interprofessional plan of care. This oversight includes support of the delegation of duties that are within the scope and capability of the care team.
• Demonstrates the ability to interpret and treat arrhythmias.
• Reviews rhythm strips.
• Demonstrates appropriate treatment of arrhythmia.
• Utilizes appropriate protocols for administration of drugs for treatment of arrhythmias.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience [Knowledge, Skills and Abilities]

Required Qualifications/Experience

• Graduate of an accredited Nursing Program required.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
• A Nursing refresher course may be required if employee hasn’t worked in an acute care setting for his / her most recent three consecutive years of professional employment

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing preferred.
• One (1) year med/surg PCU or critical care experience.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania required.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program required.
• Act 33 with renewal.
• Act 34 with renewal.
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.
• Current ACLS or completion within one (1) year of hire/transfer date into department.
• NIH Stroke Scale – current or within 6 months of hire/transfer date into department.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but may serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on‑call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations.

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Extreme Heat

x

Extreme Cold

Heights

Confined Spaces

x

Mechanical Hazards

x

Use of Vibrating Tools

x

Operates Vehicle (Company)

x

x

Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices

x

x

Rotates All Shifts

x

x

x

x

x

x

On-Call

x

x

Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hrs/wk)

x

x

x

x

x

Respirator Protective Equipment

x

x

Eye Protection

x

x

x

Hearing Protection

x

Hand Protection

x

x

Feet, Toe Protection

x

Body Protection

x

x

Latex Exposure

x

x

Solvent Exposure

x

Paint (direct use) Exposure

x

Dust (sanding) Exposure

x

x

Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure

x

x

x

x

x

Mist Exposure

x

x

x

x

Laser Exposure

x

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Extreme Heat

x

Extreme Cold

Heights

Confined Spaces

x

Mechanical Hazards

x

Use of Vibrating Tools

x

Operates Vehicle (Company)

###

10#

Lifting Seat Pan to Knuckle

###

50#

Lifting Knuckle to Shoulder

###

20#

Lifting Shoulder to Overhead

###

10#

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.