GENERAL SUMMARY:

Assumes responsibility and accountability for the provision of professional nursing care to patients, incorporating the nursing process, the environment, technical equipment, and health care members.  Resource to patient care activities/teaching programs within the area of defined specialization. 

CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT:

It is the obligation of each employee of MercyOne Medical Center to abide by and promote the mission and core values of the Spirit of Mercy.

CORPORATE POLICY STATEMENT:

It is the obligation of each employee of MercyOne Medical Center to comply with Mercy’s mission, values, standards of conduct, policies, procedures and related.

HIPAA SECURITY COMPLIANCE:
Security Access:  High “Incumbent has access to restricted or confidential patient information and must comply with the terms of the MercyOne Medical Center Security Policies as it applies to their job role.”

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Administers nursing care to patients; includes assessment, planning, implementing, and evaluating the patient’s care plan in coordination with the physician.
• Provides patient/family or caregiver education and counseling in recognition and solution of physical, emotional, and environmental health problems.
• Supervises health care members (i.e., licensed practical nurses, patient care technicians, etc.) with patients.
• Utilizes computer applications and communication technologies appropriate to the work setting to enter, retrieve, and analyze information and to facilitate communication and education.
• Maintains knowledge of documentation requirements needed for patients’ records.
• Works independently with limited direct supervision using the Nurse Practice Act, Mercy  Medical Center polices, nursing standards, and professional judgement.
• Maintains knowledge of equipment set-up, maintenance, and use (i.e., IV pumps, monitoring equipment, drainage devices).  Utilizes safeguards such as IV pump drug library and monitor alarms whenever available to maximize patient safety.
• Initiates emergency support measures (i.e., cardiopulmonary resuscitation, protecting patient from injury).

• Provides consultation in specialty area to all levels of health care providers throughout the hospital, affiliated schools of nursing, and the community.
• Works independently with limited direct supervision using the Nurse Practice Act, Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines policies, nursing standards, and professional judgment.
• Identifies learning needs and develops individualized measures to meet them.

• Attends and successfully completes all generic and unit specific required education within the time frame defined in the structure standard.

• Supports the sharing of relevant resources.

• Performs efficiently in emergency situations, following established standards.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS:

• Participates in quality management activities, as requested.

• Presents selected program topics for internal education, as needed.
• Participates in research as requested by Department Director.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Possession of a current or compact state license as a registered nurse issued/defined by the State of Iowa
• Bachelor degree in nursing preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years current registered nurse experience preferred; preferably in the area of practice.
• Proof of completion of Dependent Adult and Child Mandatory Reporter abuse training within three (3) months of hire
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certified or obtained within three (3) months of hire.  Acceptable credentialing bodies and certifications include American Heart Association Basic Life Support.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  (Constant = 67-100% of workday, Frequent = 34-66% of workday, Occasional = 33% or less of workday)

CONSTANT:

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: Maintaining an upright position.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks.

• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.

• Fingering: writing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.

• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word—those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal range; ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when auscultating and percussing.

• Repetitive motions: Substantial movements (motion) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

FREQUENT:

• Balancing: Maintaining equilibrium to prevent falling when assisting patients with activity.

• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist (for example, emptying suction canister that are below waist level or obtaining supplies from low shelves).
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest or kneel.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine (for example, emptying foley bag attached to bed frame).
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips and palms.

OCCASIONAL:

• Climbing: Stairs, stools, ramps.

PHYSICAL DEMAND REQUIREMENTS:

• Very Heavy work:  Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

For heavy work – If a patient is unable to function independently, a mechanical/assistive device and/or additional personnel must be utilized. If an object requires lifting >50 lbs., additional equipment must also be utilized.

VISUAL ACUITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to read pertinent printed material and distinguish colors.
• Ability to include inspection during patient assessment.
• Ability to accurately read measurements on patient related equipment—some examples include: thermometers, mechanical gauges, glucometers, IV pumps, and computer monitor displays.

INTELLECTUAL/EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Adaptability to accepting responsibility for the direction, control, or planning of an activity.
• Adaptability to performing under stress when confronted with emergent, critical, unusual, or dangerous situations, or situation in which working speed and sustained attention are make-or-break aspects of the job.
• Adaptability to performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Adaptability to situations requiring the precise attainment of set limits, tolerance, or standards.
• Ability to maintain both a high standard of courtesy and cooperation in dealing with co-workers, patients and visitors and satisfactory job performance despite the stress of a hospital work environment.

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS:

• Standard medical and nursing equipment, special equipment or office equipment found in the assigned area.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Employees in this job classification have been identified as having the likelihood of occupation exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials and, therefore, are included in the OSHA Exposure Control Plan with all its specifications for preventing contact with the above materials.
• The worker is subject to hazards in the work area: may be exposed to chemotherapy spills, chemical cleaners, radioactive implants/isotopes, and/or sharp instruments.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

• Reports to Supervisor Nursing.