Assistant Head Nurse (Critical Care)

Overview

The Assistant Head Nurse (AHN) assists in coordinating, developing, implementing and evaluating nurse care and practice within a specific unit. Maintains standards of nursing care and practice by directing and guiding unit personnel. Collaborates with nurse manager and educator with orientation of professional and ancillary nursing personnel assigned to unit. 

Responsibilities

• Utilizes the nursing process in taking care of the patient.
• Assesses condition of the patient and documents findings in EMR.
• Utilizes principles of Infection Control in the delivery of care.
• Implements appropriate nursing interventions to facilitate recovery of patient and prevent complications.
• Evaluate patient’s response to interventions and communicates with other healthcare team members the need to revise or maintain plan of care.
• Implements discharge planning based on patient care needs.
• Initiates and documents patient education based on treatment plan in the language that the patient understands.
• Documents assessment, interventions, changes in the patient’s condition and response to interventions based on hospital policy on documentation.
• Initiates appropriate actions effectively in an emergent situation.
• Prioritizes tasks and adjusts priorities, maintain orderly, efficient, and timely flow of patients.
• Recognizes and reports errors or unusual occurrences, and initiates corrective action when appropriate.
• Makes accurate, complete, and timely entries into the patient medical record addressing all steps of the nursing process.
• Actively communicate with all members of the healthcare team, patient, and patient family and then assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care.
• Start standard interventions to stabilize the patient.
• Communicates with colleagues and interdisciplinary team about the prevention, treatment and patient care needs of the patient that has pressure injuries (reports, dietary consults, communicates with physicians).
• Basic cardiac rhythm monitoring techniques, interpretation, and treatment.  Recognizes lethal arrhythmias and acts appropriately. Initiates corrective action whenever information from monitoring equipment shows adverse symptomatology.
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of cardiopulmonary and respiratory emergencies and knowing how to start standard interventions to stabilize the patient.
• Prepares and administers (orally, subcutaneously, through an IV) and records prescribed medications. Reports adverse reactions to medications or treatments in accordance with the policy.
• Calculate drug dosage, administering continuous medication infusion, and monitoring patients for effects of medication. IV pump setup; Use of Doppler; Phlebotomy /IV start; Urinary Catheterization – Male and Female.
• Cardio pulmonary monitoring/ Arrhythmia recognition & treatments.
• Medication Indication, dosage, action, side effects of anti-platelets/ coagulants.
• Blood and blood product transfusions and assists with Massive blood transfusion.
• Communicates with colleagues and interdisciplinary team about the treatment and patient care needs of the patient that has pressure ulcers (reports, dietary consults, communicates with physicians).
• Management patient post neuro procedure, or Neuro patient transferring from Surgical intensive care unit. 
• Have knowledge of all vasoactive Drugs such as Vasopressors, Inotropes, Catecholamine, and Adrenergic. Calculate and administer according to the guideline.
• Monitors and adjusts specialized equipment used on patients, and interprets and records electronic displays, such as intracranial pressures, arterial line pressures, central venous pressures, pulmonary artery pressures, Balloon Pump, Hypo/Hyperthermia machine, CVVHD, Peritoneal Dialysis.  
• Initiates patient education plan, as prescribed by physician. Teach patients and significant others how to manage their illness/injury, by explaining: post-treatment home care needs, diet/nutrition/exercise programs, self-administration of medication and rehabilitation. Involves Patient and family in discharge teaching. Discharge patients safely if out patients.
• Demonstrates efforts in the prevention of hospital acquired conditions (HAC) CAUTI, CLABSI, Pressure injuries and Falls.
• Monitors and evaluates patient status, appropriateness of the nursing plan of care, and outcomes of the care provided.  Intervenes in identified patient problems and seeks resolution.
• Records all patients’ medical information concisely, accurately and completely, in a timely manner, in the appropriate format and on the appropriate forms.
• Prepares equipment and assists physician during examination and treatment/procedures of patient at the bedside.
• Participates in the formulation, review and or revision of departmental policies.
• Proactively participates in performance improvement initiatives to continuously improve the quality of patient care.
• Uses hospital resources effectively in providing patient care. Follows the process of reporting broken equipment.
• Recovering patient after sedation analgesia. Transferring patient  to floor after  verbal report/electronic report: Handoff.
• Supervises and assists staff in the delivery of patient care through the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.
• Establishes work schedules and assignments for staff according to patient census and acuity, space and equipment availability.
• Ensures that equipment is in working order and that supply levels are maintained appropriately.
• Monitors and evaluates patient status, appropriateness of the nursing plan of care, and outcomes of the care provided.  Intervenes in identified patient problems and seeks resolution.
• Serves as a clinical resource and assists staff in clinical role based on staffing needs.
• Provides regular feedback to the patient care team to foster engagement and personal growth.
• Assists the Nurse Manager in the performance evaluation of assigned staff.  Communicates immediate concerns related to staff performance to Nurse Manager.
• Facilitates and collaborates with healthcare team to ensure coordination of unit activity and effective and efficient interdisciplinary care.
• Acts as liaison to internal and external personnel, patients, medical and nursing staff, and hospital administration.
• Responsible for regulatory agency compliance during assigned shift.
• Participates in professional organizations and activities which promote growth and development. Involved in the performance evaluation process.
• Manages the Nursing Unit in the absence of the Nurse Manager.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement teams and activities.
• Ensures the appropriate inventory of equipment and supplies are available.
• Participates in supporting the organization’s vision, mission and values and adheres to and exhibits Organizational Standards of Behavior.
• Performs other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the Organization.

Qualifications

Education:

• BA/BS in Nursing or equivalent from accredited nursing program.
• Master's Degree in Nursing or Related Filed preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum three (3) years' Critical Care nursing or related charge nursing experience.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Critical thinking, math, and computer skills; Works as a team player. 
• Knowledge of critical lab values. 
• Demonstrates respect and professionalism in all interactions.
• Excellent oral and communication skills. 
• Decision making and problem solving. 
• Able to read, write, see and hear English.

Licenses, Certifications:

• Current NY State RN License required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) required.
• ACLS required.
• CCRN required.
• Basic Arrhythmia Class with Certificate required.
• Stroke Certification required.
• TCAR required.

Physical Requirements:

• Physically demanding, high-stress environment requiring prolonged periods of standing, reaching, walking throughout the working day. 
• Position will be required to stoops, bends, lifts, carry items weighing up to 35 pounds for routine performance of essential functions.
• An individual in this position may be exposed to: Adverse indoor environmental conditions, Blood borne pathogens, Blood and body fluids, Physical hazards (e.g., needle pricks, etc.), communicable diseases, chemical hazards, radiation, and repetitive motions.
• Full range of body motion, able to lift up to 100 pounds, if necessary, to assist lifting and moving patients.
• Manual and finger dexterity, as well as hand and eye coordination.
• Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range.
• Frequently sitting at desk working on computer.
• Ability to flex working hours.

The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and can be modified in the future. When determining a team member’s base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., site, specialty, service line, years of relevant experience, education, credentials, negotiated contracts, budget and internal equity).

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of One Brooklyn Health (OBH).

OBH is an equal opportunity employer, it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or handicap or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.