Job Description:                 SICU REGISTERED NURSE - CHARGE

Department:                         SICU

Responsible To:                   Nurse Director

Education/Training:            BSN preferred. In lieu of BSN, commitment to earn BSN within an established period of time may be required.

Experience:                           Two (2) years Critical Care experience required.  Current Flagler Hospital RN with one year Med/Surg experience may be considered based on enrollment in the Flagler Hospital ICU internship program; internship must be completed within 6-months of transfer.   

License:                                 Valid State of Florida Registered Nursing License. ACLS and BLS required.

Physical Requirements:      Good physical conditions to occasionally sit; frequently stand, walk bend/stoop, and squat; occasionally kneel, reach above shoulder level, and balance; ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, pull maximum over 50lbs with assistance; must continually be able to see, hear, speak and use both hands too easily communicate.

Environmental Condition:Primarily work inside (75% of time) and may experience the following hazard: biological, needles and sharps, radiation, stress, noise, vibration, dust, fumes and occasional temperature extremes.  

Occupational Exposure:    Category 1 = Job involves tasks or procedures that have exposure to blood and potentially infectious materials during performance of duties.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assists with providing for the physical comfort and safety of patient (i.e. bath and linen changes, administration of medication(s), dietary intake, and other necessary treatments). Ensure security of patient’s personal items and reports discrepancies to supervisor in a timely fashion. Identifies and analyzes the needs and problems of individual patients and initiates plan of care. Determines and documents patient and/or significant other learning needs, formalizes a plan of action for each patient and discusses the plan as outlined by the physician.
2. Demonstrates the ability to recognize and intervene in life threatening emergencies, including the    administration of emergency drugs, and defibrillator or other emergency treatment. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care, based on physical, psychosocial educational, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of the patient in his/her assigned area (neonate to geriatric). Refers pertinent information concerning patient care to appropriate parties and documents accordingly.
3. Uses wheelchairs, stretchers, and medication carts appropriately. Uses scales, sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, and ophthalmoscopes for examination. Uses treatment trays as necessary ensuring needles, syringes, and other sharps are disposed of properly. Ensures that all equipment and supplies are available and in working order (i.e. crash carts and dressing carts are checked every shift; IV pumps in good working order, cleanliness/sterility). Demonstrates the proper procedure for obtaining, charging for, and returning supplies/equipment and maintains adequate supply levels.
4. Routinely determines that controlled drug count is correct and notifies proper personnel when discrepancies are documented. Routinely makes rounds with physicians as indicated, assists with exams, and discusses patients’ progress. Individually reviews and carries out physician’s orders as transcribed by the unit secretary and notifies physician of pertinent information regarding patient health status.
5. Fairly assigns duties of all personnel as they report for work and bases assignment on the patient’s needs, the individual nurse’s ability, and with concern for continuity of care. Regularly attends in-service and staff meetings. Routinely gives concise report regarding patient’s status to the on-coming shift and ensures that assignment sheets for the next shift are prepared with the patient’s name recorded.
6. Makes recommendations for promotions, transfers, or termination and supervises/evaluates the performance of staff nurses, patient care techs, unit secretaries, monitor techs, and phlebotomists.
7. Performs other job related duties as assigned by Director.