Registered Nurse (RN) - Rehabilitation
Good Shepherd Specialty Hospital
Bethlehem, PA

Registered Nurse - Rehab

* JOB SUMMARY * Promotes and restores patients' health by completing the nursing process; collaborating with physicians and intermultidisciplinary team members; providing physical and psychological support to patients, friends, and families; delegate and evaluate care assigned to LPNs and CNAs to meet patient care needs. * ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS * IDENTIFIES PATIENT CARE REQUIREMENTS * By establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand care requirements. * Uses the nursing process as a framework to deliver care by establishing or contributing to a plan of care with the patient including a teaching plan, within 24 hours of admission * establishing or contributing to prioritization of goals appropriate to the patient's age and ability to learn * estimated length of stay, medical diagnoses and discharge plan * Identifying nursing care needs, writing nursing interventions and identifying educational objectives appropriate to care standards * by reassessing and documenting the effectiveness of nursing actions and the patients progress toward goals as the patient's condition changes * by communicating the plan and patient progress to the interdisciplinary team * delegating the plan of care to other licensed and unlicensed associates within their scope of practice. * ESTABLISHES A COMPASSIONATE ENVIRONMENT * By providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families. * PROMOTES PATIENT'S INDEPENDENCE * By establishing patient care goals * educating patient, friends, and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills * answering questions by applying rehabilitation principles to patients served * by demonstrating competence in providing age specific care to pediatric patients, adult patients and geriatric patients. * ASSURES QUALITY OF CARE * By adhering to therapeutic standards * measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards * making or recommending necessary adjustments * following hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, State Nurse Practice Act, and other governing agency regulations * by participating in performance improvement activities * by directing and assessing care provided to assigned patients by LPNs, Nursing Assistants, agency personnel, students and other associates. * RESOLVES PATIENT PROBLEMS AND NEEDS * By utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies * by utilizing established communication methods to ensure resolution of patient problems and needs * by communicating patient status to the interdisciplinary team. * DOCUMENTS PATIENT CARE SERVICES * By documenting delivery of services, changes in the patient's condition and the patient's response to nursing interventions in the medical record according to policies and procedures. * MAINTAINS PATIENT CONFIDENCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONFIDENTIALITY * By keeping information confidential. * MAINTAINS SAFE AND CLEAN WORKING ENVIRONMENT * By complying with procedures, rules, and regulations * calling for assistance from health care support personnel * by maintaining a clean and safe unit environment * keeping patient rooms, supply rooms and hallways free from clutter * by complying with procedures, rules and regulations * by adhering to infection control policies and procedures, medication administration and storage procedures and controlled substance regulations. * By maintaining compliance with professional, regulatory and governmental standards of care. * By demonstrating knowledge of responsibilities in an emergency situation. * ENSURES OPERATION OF EQUIPMENT * By following manufacturer's instructions * troubleshooting malfunctions * entering work orders for equipment repairs * evaluating new equipment and techniques. * DEMONSTRATES FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY * By checking stock to determine inventory level * anticipating needed supplies * using equipment/supplies as needed to accomplish job results * By minimizing overtime by work prioritization and delegation * recognizes and complies with RN's role in reimbursement for patient care services. * By identifying and providing input to Nurse Managers on work methods that reduce the cost and/or time required to deliver patient care. * By maintaining awareness of unit budget. * MAINTAINS PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE * By identifying personal educational needs and opportunities * attending educational workshops * completing mandatory educational requirements * reviewing professional publications * establishing personal networks * participating in professional organizations * sharing new knowledge with teams * attending unit meetings * reading unit memos * participating in committees, projects and PI activities. * By maintaining responsibility for own professional development through active participation in in-services and/or continuing education programs. * MAINTAINS A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP AMONG HEALTH CARE TEAMS * By communicating information * responding to requests * building rapport * participating in team problem-solving methods * by communicating patient care or team issues to the nurse manager or supervisor * holding each team member accountable for patient and team outcomes * participate in team meetings * offering suggestions for improvement to the program director * utilizing the chain of command to present issues or concerns * demonstrate positive conflict resolution skills with all associates * treat all associates with dignity and respect. * CONTRIBUTES TO ORGANIZATIONAL TEAM EFFORT * By arriving on duty as scheduled, maintaining attendance, punching in and out as per Good Shepherd policy and maintaining etime sheet. * By demonstrating flexibility in response to change by offering to assist team members with patient care needs and unit activities that arise throughout the shift * participating in orienting new employees * meeting dress code requirements. * By attending meetings as requested by organizational leaders * by positively representing the profession and organization at work and away from work * promoting and participating in organizational goals. * By mentoring channels of communication among nursing shifts, disciplines, departments, and external customers. * By utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies, to assure resolution of patient problems and needs. * QUALIFICATIONS * To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. * Education * Associate's Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma required * Bachelor's Degree in Nursing preferred * Work Experience * Previous med-surg experience or rehabilitation experience preferred * Licenses / Certifications * Registered Nurse license required * Basic Life Support / CPR, as a healthcare provider, per the American Heart Association required * PALS certification preferred for all staff (must be acquired within first 6 months of employment for all full-time and part-time staff) * Certification in Rehabilitation Nursing preferred (must be acquired with 2 years of employment)