Job Title: RN Long Term Care
Job Location: Wrangell, AK
Job Type: Full-Time

Job Description:

• Promotes the SEARHC Seven Standards of Excellence; Implements safe, therapeutic, and efficient care for patients and residents with needs due to multisystem disease and/or complications of treatment using appropriate infection control measures; sets priorities for care of patients and residents based on acuity and/or patients' preference; anticipates potential problems; adapts to change on the area by setting priorities for emergencies, changes in status and unusual occurrences; initiates, manages, and documents the nursing procedures consistent with scientific principle and departmental policy; demonstrates knowledge of equipment use; accurately administers age-specific medications and therapeutics; carries out the medical and nursing care plan and coordinates resident care activities with physicians and other healthcare team members; initiates action to reduce, correct, or prevent immediate, ongoing, or potential risks to the resident; facilitates healing by providing nursing care that is individualized, goal oriented, based on scientific principles and the nursing process; seeks out resources when beyond the scope of skill, knowledge or experience; explains test, procedures, and disease process to resident/significant others; follows through on nursing care plans by teaching and demonstrating skills essential for understanding and coping with illness and promoting optimal health; communicates and interacts with resident/significant others in a positive and supportive way; provides counseling using emotional, intellectual and psychological supports and utilizes other healthcare professionals in dealing with psychosocial problems if needed; takes steps to decrease stress and/or increase effectiveness of coping mechanisms of resident/significant others; evaluates resident's progress or lack of progress towards goals, directing new goal setting and implementing revised care plans as directed by reassessment; documents the resident's response to care; closes out resident care plan by discharge or has in place an after care plan to meet the resident's needs; Assures confidentiality of resident information.
• Accomplishes nursing assessment through interviewing, observation and nursing process; obtains, interprets and applies age-related patient information in terms of cognitive, physical, emotional and normal growth/development needs of the resident; completes thorough Nursing Admission Databases/initial resident assessment; documents assessment findings that are consistent with other providers and include review of body systems, laboratory results, diagnostic findings, chart reviews, and interdisciplinary input; identifies problems & nursing diagnosis by recognizing the impact of health problems on residents and families; distinguishes between normal and abnormal assessments in order to identify resident capabilities and limitations including psychosocial risks; utilizes resources to assess residents with conditions that are new, unfamiliar, or not commonly seen.
• Shall perform duties as assigned and ensure quality resident care despite the situation encountered, be it routine or emergent.
• Imparts educational knowledge to develop skills to enhance decision making and promote understanding by interacting with residents, family, staff, and community; engages in ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching in terms of resident understanding and behavioral outcomes; organizes and participates in care conferences as applicable; identifies staff, resident, and family needs and develops a plan for education and/or makes appropriate referrals; develops/implements educational programs and learning aids in the department (i.e., In services, special projects, learning aides, resident care standards); documents education accurately and completely; provides discharge information; participate in in-services and educational programs in the department, hospital and/or community as assigned; completes all mandatory training and competency checks; utilizes opportunities for incidental teaching with staff members.
• Communicates with staff, residents, significant others and other members of the healthcare team in a way that is supportive, constructive, and positive; gives feedback to other staff and healthcare team members in regard to behavior that does not support achievement; assists in the orientation of new staff, travelers, and students by sharing knowledge, experience and verbal encouragement; guides others in choosing nursing intervention, developing skills and applying knowledge; follows and directs others to follow corporate, hospital, and departmental policies, procedures and resident care standards; supports the area and overall Nursing services mission by assigning staff to productive tasks and floating to other units as needed; provides input regarding the need for change in policies, procedures, and resident care standards; able to perform as Contact RN leading assigned RNs, LPNs, and CNAs and accomplishes all assigned resident care and area support activities during the shift.
• Develops and contributes to a plan of nursing action based on existing and potential resident problems and obtainable resident responses which are mutually acceptable to the healthcare team; transcribes and notes physician orders accurately; utilizes past experience to provide a range of options for nursing care; initiates care plans using resident care standards; addresses identified nursing diagnosis and coordinates the plan with the healthcare team by using methods that include interventions, goals, and timeframes; utilizes resources to formulate a written plan of care; documents reassessments which include laboratory results, diagnostic findings, interdisciplinary notes and documented resident observations; writes progress notes in EHR; gives shift report according to area guidelines.
• Attends and participates in at least 50% of departmental staff meetings; applies information presented in staff meetings; participates in unit goal setting; complies with area and departmental scheduling guidelines; initiates discussion with nurse manager regarding area or department issues; completes annual competencies, evaluation material, maintains certifications and licensure; complies with dress code; refers unresolved problems with patients/visitors/co-workers to Nurse Manager or Administrative Manager for resolution; addresses employee concerns consistent with Human Resources Policy
• Familiar and competent in mandatory state reporting guidelines and the time requirements.
• Other duties as assigned. When DON not physically present, will be willing to take the role of charge nurse for the long-term care unit.