Staff Nurse

Purpose of the Position
 
The purpose of the Staff Nurse is to perform registered nursing services at the Sauk County Health Care Center.
 
Job Duties and Responsibilities
 

• Promote or restore resident's health by completing the nursing process and collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members.

 

• Provide physical and psychological support to residents and their families.

 

• Promote resident’s independence by establishing a resident centered model approach to all aspects of nursing care.

 

• Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards of practice; measuring health outcomes against resident’s goals and standards; following nursing home’s philosophy and standards of care set by the state board of nursing, state nurse practice act and any other governing agency.

 

• Administer prescribed treatments and medications to residents by all approved routes while monitoring for resident’s physical and mental response to medications and treatments.

 

• Assist with admission of new residents by determining resident’s special nursing needs and assigns tasks to Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) as appropriate.

 

• Provide assistance and guidance to nursing assistants on procedures, treatments, and equipment.  Evaluate CNAs work performance and completes performance evaluations.  Recommend subordinates' discipline/discharge.

 

• Accompany physicians on medical rounds and update physicians regarding resident’s medical conditions.

 

• Document resident information into the Electronic Charting System (ECS) to provide continuity of care and will also enter information into the Minimum Data Set (MDS) system as needed and/or requested.

 

• Assist in developing resident care plans and assures adherence by the interdisciplinary team daily.

 

• Record weekly and/or monthly, resident progress or change in condition in order to maintain resident’s clinical record.

 

• Monitor and record vital signs.  Records resident procedures, treatments and medications as required by state and federal regulations.

 

• Assist residents with transfers, repositioning, and other ADLs, and help to answer call lights on the unit in a timely manner.

 

• Prepare accident/incident reports for residents and staff.

 

• Participate in in-service training to maintain knowledge of current facility, state and federal regulations and requirements.

 

• Assure policy and procedure adherence by staff of facility.

 

• Transcribe physician orders.

 

• Order and stock pharmaceutical supplies and medication.

 

• Account for narcotics and resident money and valuables.

 

• And other duties as assigned.
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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
 

• Maintain all relevant certifications.

 

• Knowledge of current nursing standards of practice.

 

• To manage, direct, teach, control, counsel, mediate, convince and persuade others.

 

• Advisory data and information such as physician’s orders, medical charts, drug reference manuals, medical books, lab reports, incident/accident reports, care plans, admission and discharge forms for residents, x-ray reports, various manuals, ordinances, laws, statutes, and routine and non-routine correspondence.

 

• Communicate verbally and in writing with physicians, residents, residents’ families, nursing staff, therapists, psychologists, and social worker.

 

• Explain, demonstrate, and clarify to others established policies, procedures, and standards.

 

• Computer skills, such as word processing and spreadsheets.

 

• Calculating percentages, fractions, decimals, volume, ratios, and spatial relationships, and interpreting basic descriptive statistical reports.

 

• Analyze data and information using established criteria to define consequences and consider and select alternatives.

 

• Compare, count, differentiate, measure, sort, classify, compute, tabulate, and/or categorize data and/or information.

 

• Assemble, copy, record, and transcribe data and/or information.

 

• Apply functional and situational reasoning by exercising judgement, decisiveness, and creativity in everyday routine and non-routine situations.

 

• Use fine and gross motor skills to perform tasks such as operating a syringe, one touch glucometer, nebulizer, feeding pumps, nasal tubes, otoscope, sphygmomanometer, IV pump, and computer keyboard.

 

• Exert effort in moderate work, such as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, stooping, crouching, crawling, climbing, balancing, and standing for long periods of time.

 

• Recognize and identify degrees of similarity and differences between characteristics of colors, forms, sounds, odors, textures, etc. associated with objects, materials, and ingredients.

 
Environment
 

• Occasionally unsafe and uncomfortable in respects to temperature variations, odors, toxic agents, noise, and disease.

 
Required Working Hours
 
Standard working hours may vary between first shift, second shift, and third shift. Please note these hours are subject to change and additional hours may be needed or required.  Reimbursement for such additional hours are subject to state and federal regulations.
 
Education and Experience Requirements
 
Required:                    Associate’s degree in Nursing
 
Licenses/Certifications: Registered Nursing (RN) License
 
Preferred:                     Bachelor’s degree in Nursing
                                     Nursing experience with the geriatric population
                                     2 years of nursing experience