Description
Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.
Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?
Summary:
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To provide professional nursing care in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act, to collaborate with the physician's medical plan, and to execute the objectives and the policies of the hospital.
Responsibilities:
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1. Assesses, plans, implements, documents, coordinates, and manages patient care according to department and hospital standards giving consideration to age-specific accommodations. ¨ Assesses patients assigned to his/her care. ¨ Performs and documents a comprehensive, organized system admission assessment by interview and examination of patient. ¨ Performs and documents a shift assessment of patients in a timely manner according to unit standards. ¨ Initiates plan of care and shift goal based on nursing assessment, the medical plan of care and patient needs within 8 hours of admission. ¨ Initiates, maintains and revises patient plan of care based on scientific principles, evidence-based practice and patient needs and response to interventions. ¨ Provides patient care, which demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of normal physiology and disease pathophysiology, appropriate nursing and medical interventions and knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the lifespan. ¨ Documents patient’s response to treatment, plan of care and shift goal(s). ¨ Provides patient education based on individual healthcare needs on an ongoing basis. ¨ Evaluates, revises, and improves patient care using creative strategies, evidence-based nursing, and consideration of age and population specific accommodations. ¨ Performs selected therapeutic interventions and diagnostic procedures according to department standards as ordered to include but not limited to: · Point of care testing · Initiation and maintenance of oxygen therapy · 12-lead ECG · Post TAVR patient with or without temporary pacing wires (post TAVR only) · Maintenance of Nasogastric Tubes (NGT) · Flushing and maintenance of central lines: - PICC lines Groshong PICC Cordis introducers (post open-heart surgery patients) Shift and 24-hour chart check Rhythm strip interpretations q shift and with clinical/rhythm changes Arterial and venous sheath monitoring, maintenance, and discontinuation, as per protocol Maintenance and titration of various intravenous drip medications. ¨ Cares for patients physically and psychologically with consideration of age, cultural, and spiritual issues. ¨ Recognizes the existence of cultural differences and utilizes appropriate resources to respond to the needs of the adolescent, adult and geriatric patient, family member and/or visitor. 2. Communicates and collaborates with patients, physicians, family members, and other health care disciplines in order to achieve excellence in patient care during hospitalization. ¨ Demonstrates the ability to use the computer for automated order entry, data retrieval, nursing documentation, intradepartmental communication and interdepartmental communication. ¨ Appropriately assigns all Associates under his/her supervision according to their skill level and job description. ¨ Implements nursing/physician orders that result in achievement of patient, nursing, and physician goals. ¨ Utilizes effective interpersonal skills in all interactions with Associates, physicians, patients, visitors and volunteers. ¨ Involves patient/significant other in the plan of care, serving as a patient advocate. ¨ Consistently and continuously communicates pertinent information regarding changes in patient status and patient care with appropriate members of the healthcare team. ¨ Uses interpersonal communication techniques to receive and give constructive feedback for the purpose of promoting professional excellence and excellence in patient care. ¨ Effectively communicates pertinent patient/significant other information during patient handoffs according to department standards. ¨ Analyzes data and responds to changes in patient status by consulting appropriate healthcare team members and taking appropriate action in a timely manner. ¨ Demonstrates leadership skills in team building and interpersonal relationships to create a cohesive and productive environment. 3. Promotes patient safety through adherence to protocols, policies, procedures, evidence-based guidelines and Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals. ¨ Completes documentation, including transcription of physician orders and computer entry without the use of unapproved abbreviations. ¨ Recognizes legal responsibilities and functions within the scope of the PA Nurse Practice Act. ¨ Demonstrates ability to safely administer medications utilizing the MAR (medication administration record). ¨ Maintains equipment in good working order, reports equipment failure, and initiates corrective action. Where appropriate, adheres to quality monitoring or procedures for validation of equipment functionality. ¨ Safely administers medications and treatments as ordered according to hospital policy and formulary using the appropriate principles of safe medication administration, 2 patient identifiers, giving consideration to age-specific effects related to medication. ¨ Safely handles various types of drugs and body fluids using knowledge of standard precautions. ¨ Performs with clinical proficiency in crises and medical emergencies. ¨ Protects the confidentiality of all patient related information, including the patient's medical record according to HIPPA standards. 4. Actively participates in and supports departmental and organizational quality initiatives and goals. ¨ Identifies professional goals which reflect own strengths and weaknesses and seeks assistance for improvement of performance. ¨ Follows appropriate staffing grid for IVU. In the interest of patient care, responds to changes or needs within the unit by cooperating with changes in schedule and on-call commitment. ¨ Attends and participates in meetings according to departmental standards. ¨ Attends 4 inter shifts in person or via Zoom each year and reads all inter shift minutes. ¨ Keeps informed of unit and hospital initiatives, updates, documentation changes, and policy/procedure changes by reading emails on a regular basis, and by attending inter shifts as stated above. ¨ Supports and participates in departmental and hospital evidence based care quality initiatives (ex. Heart Failure, AMI, VTE prophylaxis, pressure ulcer prevention and infection prevention initiatives). 5. Maintains clinical competency according to unit-specific standards. ¨ Demonstrates competency in maintaining specific technological skills required by job category and/or specialty area. Demonstrates recognition of equipment or technological adaptations dependent on age and population specific patient needs (See Scope of Practice as delineated in departmental standards and/or related Policy and Procedure in the Policy and Procedure Manual). ¨ Maintains technological competence through practice and ongoing participation in in-services and professional conferences. ¨ Acquires and maintains proficiency in the initiation and maintenance of IV lines and sites. ¨ Completion of annual mandatory requirements: CPR certification RAHE (required annual hospital education) Specific departmental competencies Point of Care Testing Fit Testing ACLS/BLS certification NIHSS certification Completion of unit-based skills session yearly. ¨ Identifies professional goals, which reflect own strengths and weaknesses and seeks assistance for improvement of performance. ¨ Attends and participates in meetings according to department standards. ¨ Strive to attain professional certification in area of specialty.
Credentials:
Education or Equivalent Experience:
We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.
Live Your Life's Work
We are an Equal Opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.
