Nurse- Resource (RN)

Monday - Friday

(40 Hours Per Week)

Reporting to the Nurse Manager for their department, the resource nurse is responsible for assisting, guiding, and coaching department staff to promote and execute exceptional quality care.  Assigned to a specific department within the Health Center, they will round and assist department staff as they work to provide care to our patients.  The resource nurse will also work as an individual contributor and member of the patient care team.  

Required Knowledge and Skills

1. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data relative to the patient’s status.

2. Ability to interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirement relative to his/her specific age.

3. Ability to provide the care needed as described in the patient policies and procedures.

4. Effectively uses Electronic Medical Records.

5. Demonstrates flexibility when responding to change. Assumes accountability for all actions.

SCHEDULE:  Monday - Friday 8:30-5pm

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the nurse manager of the department, the resource nurse is responsible for assisting, guiding, and coaching department staff to promote and execute exceptional quality care.  Assigned to a specific department within the Health Center, they will round and assist department staff as they work to provide care to our patients.  The resource nurse will also work as an individual contributor and member of the patient care team.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provides oversight and guidance to clinical staff, including LPNs, RNs, Medical Assistants, Unit Secretaries, and Community Health Workers.  Reviews provider and nursing schedules with the department’s nurse manager and coordinates day-to-day staff duties.
• Serves as the first point of contact for problems and questions that arise throughout the day.
• Serves as a liaison between providers and clinical staff to maintain a two-way flow of communication for the continuity of patient care.
• Reassign staff, as needed, to cover unexpected absences and cover gaps in the schedule.
• Provides input to the nurse manager on staff performance evaluations and career development opportunities for department staff.  Seeks to use mistakes as learning opportunities and provides positive and constructive feedback to staff when needed.
• Oversees preceptor assignments and ensures that new hire orientation and annual competencies are evaluated through learning and direct observation. Serves as primary preceptor to nurses.
• Monitors immunizations/stock medications and confirms expiration dates  consistently. Ensures that expired immunizations/stock medications are disposed of as directed by facility procedures.

Will also perform the duties outlined in the Registered Nurse job description as department needs dictate:

• Conducts patient visits based on department needs and scope of practice. Obtains a nursing history utilizing the patient, family, medical record, professional staff, community agencies, and other departments. Interview patients and families to gain ideas, feelings, and facts that help to identify their needs and goals. Observes overt and covert signs and symptoms s systematically. Identifies and records physical, social, and psychosocial needs of the patient and family.  Develops nursing assessment based on data collection.

• Responds appropriately to patient codes and other needs for emergency patient care and related situations. Implements appropriate intervention based on an ongoing assessment of patients.
• Records and reports pertinent data on patient’s electronic health record and to appropriate health team members.  Evaluates data obtained in the nursing assessment and uses to make knowledgeable interpretations.  Differentiates nursing situations that require priority setting and responds accordingly. Recognizes teaching and learning needs of patients and families. Coordinates teaching plan. Provides individual or group patient education and counseling.
• Assists the provider in developing measurable short and long term goals which are patient centered and derived from the medical diagnosis. Involves the patient and family in goal setting and individual plan of care.
• Manages patient or other external requests for visiting nurse referrals, medication prior authorizations and hospital follow up requests that the call center staff is unable to schedule in the appropriate time frame.
• Serves as patient advocate. Defends and preserves the rights of patients pertaining to all aspects of their care, knowledge, and privacy.
• Contributes to the orientation of new nursing personnel. Responds appropriately to facility acuity and activity by assisting peers, patients, and staff as needed.
• Administers immunizations and treatments. Performs diagnostic tests as ordered by provider including, but not limited to: EKG’s, Holter monitors, hearing screenings, vision tests, as well as CLIA waived testing.
• Assignment may include the monitoring/ordering of immunizations/stock medications and confirming expiration dates and lot numbers consistently.
• Documents all ordered test in the electronic health record and prepares test results for review by the provider. Notifies the patients of test results as directed by the provider. Provides any other follow-through as directed by the provider and documents patient interaction in the electronic health record. Provides necessary documentation of patient encounter forms.
• Assists the provider with procedures as directed.
• Process medication refills based on the facility protocol.