Job Requirements

General Summary

This role is considered for the new graduate or nurse with less than 12 months experience. The nurse will utilize this time to learn the institution and nursing practice. . It is expected that a nurse in this role successfully meets all requirements of the Nurse Residency Program and Departmental Orientation. Utilizes the institution’s care delivery and professional practice models as the frame of reference for practicing as a professional nurse. Participates in activities to develop own practice, and to support group practice goals at the unit level. Is accountable to patient, family and team members for care provided and to the nurse manager for totality of work performance. Is accountable to hold to the Service Standards and to the Nursing Mission, Vision and Values.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. These are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Clinical Practice/Care Delivery

• Focus of clinical practice/care delivery and on own learning.
• Uses/applies evidence-based practice, accesses appropriate resources.
• Follows unit based protocols, documentation, pathways, etc
• Involves patient and family in care; follows model of care delivery guidelines.
• Conducts patient/family needs assessment; initiates and documents patient/family education, seeks guidance in advocating the patient/family needs when appropriate.
• Delivers care consistent with unit operations to ensure safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, patient centered care.

Professional Development

• Responsible for accessing education applicable to own professional development; focus on completion of competencies appropriate for patient care setting.
• Successful completion of orientation.
• Accountable for achieving/maintaining requirements for unit practice.
• Assists with precepting students, unlicensed assistive personnel or peer for isolated days (not accountable for entire orientation); may assist with share days or shadow days.
• Completes CE’s on an annual basis based on the facility minimum requirements.

Service/Quality

• Becomes familiar with National Hospital Quality Measures, National Patient Safety Goals, Quality Indicators, Nursing Sensitive Indicators, and Facility Annual Operating Plan.
• Aware of patient and team member satisfaction scores and contributes to unit initiatives for improvement.
• Participates in some or all elements of research/EBP/QI.
• Provides high quality, safe, patient centered care with focus on exceeding service expectations.
• Maintains regulatory requirements for overall readiness; participates in tracer activities when requested.

Patient Safety

• Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.
• Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.
• Implements policies, procedures, and guidelines consistently in the performance of assigned duties.
• Develops effective working relationships and maintains good communication with other team members.
• Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.
• Participates in hospital, departmental and/or unit patient safety initiatives.

Operations

• Supports Charge Nurse role and demonstrates basic understanding of the role.
• Actively contributes to teamwork (cooperates with peers, flexible with assignments, takes admissions as required, etc).
• Attends briefings/staff meetings regularly.
• Aware of and supports unit, nursing division, and organizational governance structure.
• Participates in recruitment and retention activities at the unit level.
• Provides feedback in peer review as requested.

Work Experience

• Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state of Maryland, or eligible to practice due to Compact state agreements outlined through the MD Board of Nursing, is required.
• Current AHA BLS certification required.
• Basic computer skills are required.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.