Schedule Weekly Hours:

The RN functions as an advocate for the patient while providing the full scope of nursing care. He/she analyzes information, monitors patients and takes action to facilitate wellness and healing. The RN delegates and supervises assistive personnel. The RN role meets the expectations of a professional.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Assessment: Systematic and continual collection & analysis of data.

• Uses knowledge of physiology to perform an independent assessment, analyze information, monitor, detect and anticipate early and subtle health status changes.
• Explores the patients understanding and knowledge of current health status.
• Understands the patient's unique perspective and assures that the patient is a part of their care.

2. Planning: Develops a patient-centered plan of care including goals and priorities in the interdisciplinary format.

• Develops, contributes to and coordinates the Patient's Plan of Care with problem recognition and goal-setting based on synthesis of information obtained in initial and ongoing assessment.
• Collaborates with patient and family to prioritize patient problems and goals.
• Assigns standards of care.
• Develops an age-specific, individualized educational plan using an interprofessional approach with the patient and family, identifying and evaluating learning needs, readiness to learn, barriers, and counseling needs to promote, maintain, and restore health, involving community resources for continued care.
• Anticipates future needs and educates or refers to appropriate resources.
• Partners with the patient to help them integrate health status changes into their life and supports their ability to regain/optimize their own health.

3. Intervention: Nursing action to implement plan of care

• Provides direct patient care, assists with activities of daily living (ADLs), and coordinates and administers prescribed treatment while encouraging self-care.
• Observes and reports significant symptoms or changes in patient status to the appropriate team member.
• Applies specialized expertise to solve problems, generate ideas, plan care, teach and create new services.
• Responsible for the maintenance of an environment conducive to cost-effective care and wellness or dignified terminal care.
• Institutes and applies principles of asepsis, infection control, and universal precautions protecting the patient and all who are in contact with the patient.
• Institutes standard procedures to stabilize patient's condition or prevent serious complications in emergency situations.
• Maintains purposeful therapeutic presence with patient based on nursing judgment.
• Provides care based on patient complexity, acuity and nursing judgment.
• Creates an environment that assures patient safety.

4. Documentation:Documents nursing interventions, implementation, and patient/family response

• The RN accurately documents assessment, planning, interventions, evaluation of patient responses, and patient education using the electronic record, paper documentation, and unit specific applications as appropriate.
• Provides evidence through documentation that all data entries from the care team have been evaluated.

5. Evaluation: Determination of a patient's progress or lack of progress.

• Determines data to be collected to evaluate outcome of care.
• Evaluates, compares and interprets ambiguous and changing patient data.
• Effectively communicates data and response to care using the SBAR format.
• Reassesses patient status, modifies problem, makes judgments, decisions and modifies care.
• Reevaluates.

6. Delegation: Nursing delegation means acts designated to an LPN, Paramedic, or Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) by the RN.

• Initiates and assists with delegating and assigning patient care. Delegates tasks commensurate with the scope of practice, educational preparation and demonstrated abilities of the person supervised while assuming accountability for patient outcomes.
• Observes and monitors the activities of those supervised. Evaluates the effectiveness of acts performed under their supervision, maintains accountability.
• Supports assistive personnel by serving as a resource.

7. Practice of Leadership: Leadership is the ability to guide, direct, or influence people.

• Participates in shared governance (council structure) as a council member or by supporting council members through communicating prevalent issues, continual learning, and advancing strategic goals and organizational key strategies (Quality, Service, Great Place to Work, Cost of Care and Growth).
• Fosters teamwork and respect in the leadership role.
• Assures effective use of staffing resources.
• Recommends and leads quality improvement activities.

8. Professional and Organizational Responsibilities: Maintains competency and contributes to the Gundersen Health System Mission, Vision, Values and Strategic Plan.

• The RN role is professional, specialized, and connected to an episode of nursing care for individual patients, families and communities
• The RN practices in accordance with the Foundation, Components and Values of the GHS Nursing Professional Framework

Values: Nursing Skills and Knowledge; Patient & Family Centered Care; Culture of Caring & Safety; Healing Environment
Components: Nursing Structure; Practice and Pathways; Professional Enhancement; Innovation; Reflective Practice
Foundation: Caritas (Human Caring Theory)

• The RN manages an independent patient assignment and utilizes delegation according to the appropriate Nurse Practice Act.
• Individual demonstrates dependability, organizational skills and effective use of time by setting priorities to orchestrate the plan of care and work flow within established time frames.
• Commits to culturally congruent care.
• Participates and supports education of nursing colleagues and students.
• Commits to generation and application of Evidence-based Practice.

9. Performs other job-related responsibilities as requested.

Education and Learning:

REQUIRED

Associate degree in Nursing.

DESIRED

Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Work Experience:

DESIRED

1 year year or greater previous acute care experience

License and Certifications:

REQUIRED

Registered Nurse (RN) licensed minimally in the state of practice, some positions may require additional state RN licenses.

Current Infant-Adult Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers (with hands on learning) from one of the following programs; American Heart Association or American Red Cross.

Age Specific Population Served:

Infant (less than 1 year)

Pediatric (1 - 12 years)

Adolescent (13 - 17 years)

Adult (18 - 64 years)

Geriatric (65 years & older)

OSHA Category:

Category I - All Employees in this job title have a reasonably anticipated risk of occupational exposure to blood and/or other potentially infectious materials.

Physical Requirements/Demands Of The Position:

Sitting Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours)

Walking/Standing Frequently (34-66% or 5.5 hours)

Stooping/Bending Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours)

Squatting Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours)

Kneeling/Half Kneel Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours)

Reaching - Shoulder Level Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours)

Reaching - Below Shoulder Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours)

Reaching - Above Shoulder Rarely (1-5% or .5 hours)

Repetitive Actions - Pinch Forces Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours) Pounds of force 0-25

Repetitive Actions - Grip Forces Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours) Pounds of force 0-25

Repetitive Actions - Fine Manipulation Frequently (34-66% or 5.5 hours)

Balance - Right Leg Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours)

Balance - Left Leg Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours)

Lifting - Waist to Overhead Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours) Number of lbs 0-25

Carrying - Long Carry (>50 feet) Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours) Number of lbs 0-25

Push/Pull (Static Force) Occasionally (6-33% or 3 hours) Number of lbs 0-25

If you need assistance with any portion of the application or have questions about the position, please contact HR-Recruitment@gundersenhealth.org or call 608-775-0267

Equal Opportunity Employer