GI RN

CASS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Department Name: GI/Pain

Title: GI/Pain RN

EEOC Classification: Professional/Non-Exempt

Dimension and Description

Primary Purpose: To provide quality patient care while following all standards of care and maintaining a safe environment for both inpatients and outpatients who are receiving a variety of specialty services and provide proper documentation.                               

Formal Policy-Setting Responsibilities: Formally responsible for making recommendations regarding policies associated with the job's purpose and essential responsibilities.                                

Routine Decision Making: Determine appropriate protocols; procedures, drugs, pre-procedure testing and equipment for each patient based on assessment; achievement of adequate sedation and when to reverse; determine appropriate family/patient education.                                   

Formal Supervisory Responsibility: No formal supervisory responsibility.                                              

Required Knowledge: Knowledge of intravenous sedation; special procedures; instruments and equipment; medications; actions and adverse reactions; cardiac rhythms; airway maintenance; nursing process; insurance requirements; standards of care; JCAHO requirements.                                 

Required Skills and Ability: Assessment; good communication; troubleshoot; monitoring equipment; time management skills; clinical skills.                                              

Unusual Working Conditions: Risk of blood, body fluid contamination.                                   

Education and Certification/ Registration required for the Position: Two to four-year RN degree; currently licensed in the state of Missouri; BLS required, ACLS recommended.                             

Age Specific Competencies: Provides care for birth to pediatric (birth-2 yrs.), pediatric/child patients between (2 years-12 years); adolescent patients between 12 to 18 years of age; adult patients between 18 to 64 years; and geriatric patients 65 years and older.                                      

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

• Assesses, Plans, implements and evaluates patients receiving high risk specialty procedures. (40% of the time)                                                               
• Performs pre-procedure interviews per paper/computer correctly on all patients receiving class I and II invasive procedures, evaluates the information obtained, and formulates a plan of care prior to the patient procedure.                                                        

• Identifies the patients using two patient identifiers prior to the procedure 100% of the time.        
• Performs a comprehensive nursing assessment on patients receiving class I and class II invasive procedures and documents completely including appropriate signatures, times and dates. Revises plan of care as indicated from the assessment.                                                
• Interprets physiological information from technical equipment, on each patient and applies this information to the plan of care.                                                         
• Documents the findings from all assessments, evaluations and implementations on the patient record where, when, and how daily.                                                     
• Reports all critical abnormal assessments and lab values to the physician, per hospital policy and implements further orders immediately and documents details on the patient record.             
• Utilizes AIDET (acknowledge, introduce, duration, explain and thank) initiatives to include managing up with each patient.
• Utilizes only approved abbreviations in patient documentation.                                

Provides patient education. (25% of the time)                                                  

• Evaluates patient learning ability and motivational levels.  Implements alternative learning measures, as evidenced by patient or caregiver verbalization or return demonstrations, as documented on the patient record i.e.; effectively communicates.                                                   
• Effectively communicates discharge instructions to patient and responsible party at the time of discharge, per departmental discharge policy.
• Explains all procedures and medications to patients prior to implementation.

Maintains a safe and comfortable environment.  (25% of the time)                                                        

• Removes malfunctioning equipment from unit immediately upon discovering problem.                  
• Complete requisition for repair or malfunctioning equipment by the end of shift.                                               
• Cleans and stocks supplies within the department, as needed.                                                   
• Effectively communicates the plan of care on each patient to ancillary departments, case management and pharmacy staff as indicated by the orders received, patient diagnosis or condition.                                           
• Ensures all required documents are on the chart prior to going into the procedure room (H&P,
• Check One, informed consent, test results if applicable).
• Evaluates the effectiveness of the communication, as evidenced by the preparedness of the patient and takes appropriate actions, including notifying performing physician.

• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of location, care and operation of all departmental equipment.
• Accurately records, handles and labels specimens; demonstrates care of specimens.
• Ensures alarms on any assigned area are audible to alert staff.
• Checks code blue carts each shift and upon using the cart, ensuring it has an intact tag attached.
• Fully responsible for care of scopes when working in the procedure/decontamination rooms including cleaning, processing and storage.
• Follows written procedure for high level disinfection (HLD); knows responsibilities and the necessity for chemical monitoring.
• Able to accurately see and read color changes to biological and chemical monitors.                           

Develops and promotes hospital/unit initiatives and professional relations. (5% of the time)

• Establishes and maintains effective communication and good working relationship with co-workers for the patients benefit.
• Utilizes initiatives; strives to maintain steady level of productivity; self-motivated; manages activity and time; does not waste.
• Participates in planning ways to solve problems and make improvements in the department as needed.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.

Other duties as directed. (5% of the time)

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

TYPE OF WORK

                Medium Work:  Lifting 100# maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25#.                                                               

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Lifting:  Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling).            
• Carrying:  Transporting an object, usually holding it in hands or arms or on the shoulders.              
• Pushing:  Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force (including slapping, striking, kicking, and treadle actions).                                                     
• Pulling:  Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking).                                                                                                                                         
• Balancing:  Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching, or running on a narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces; or maintaining body equilibrium when performing gymnastic feats.                                                                                                                    
• Hearing:  Ability to determine audible communication.                                                  
• Stooping:  Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist.                  
• Kneeling:  Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees.                                   
• Crouching:  Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine.                      
• Crawling:  Moving about on the hands and knees or hands and feet.                                                        
• Reaching:  Extending the hands and arms in any direction.                                                            
• Handling:  Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand or hands (fingering not involved).                                                           
• Fingering:  Picking, pinching, or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (rather than with the whole hand or arms as in handling).                                                                                                
• Repetitive Motions:  Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.           
• Feeling:  Perceiving such attributes of objects and materials as size, shape, temperature, or texture by means of receptors in the skin, particularly those of the finger tips.

Education and Certification/ Registration required for the Position: Two to four-year RN degree; currently licensed in the state of Missouri; BLS required, ACLS recommended.