Registered Nurse (RN) - Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Transitional Care Unit
Desert Regional Medical Center
Palm Springs, CA
3x12 hrs
Sign-On Bonus

Up to $15,000 Sign-On bonus for experienced Registered Nurse / RN

Desert Regional Medical Center is a 385-bed acute-care hospital classified as a stroke receiving center and Level I Trauma Center with an innovative, patient centered and evidence-based Rehabilitation Services Department.  Our compassionate team provides a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, including acute care rehabilitation, joint replacement & spinal surgery, neurosurgery, ICU, Telemetry, step-down care, skilled nursing, as well as outpatient therapy, hand and lymphedema clinics. 

GENERAL DUTIES:

The Clinical Nurse assumes principal responsibility for the total nursing care, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation of each assigned patient. The staff nurse initiates teaching and educates the patient and family/or significant other to attain optimal health.  Access to all Patient Health Information for treatment purposes only.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Age Specific Duties

1. Obtains information and interpret information in terms of the patient’s needs.
2. Demonstrates knowledge of growth and development.
3. Understands the range of treatment needed as appropriate to the ages of the patients served.
4. Consistently demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the ages of the patients served on the assigned unit.

Shift: Days

Hours: 

Primary Position Responsibilities

• Performs and documents accurate comprehensive and daily assessments per policy and standards for specific unit.
• Demonstrates knowledge associated with specific unit disease processes.
• Demonstrates knowledge of commonly used drugs for specific unit.
• Initiates interdisciplinary communications and incorporates recommendations.
• Acts as a liaison between patient, physician, family/significant other, and other health disciplines.
• Develops, implements and updates an individualized teaching and discharge plan.
• Initiates and documents progressive patient and family/significant teaching.
• Facilitates the discharge process ensuring all goals are addressed prior to discharge.
• Utilizes current theories and knowledge for accurate assessments and evaluations
• Completes acuity evaluation on all assigned patients according to unit protocol.
• Consistently performs proficiently on nursing unit. Including but not limited to:
• Manages an average caseload specific to unit.
• Adapts to altered work patterns, sets priorities, and modifies assignments to meet patient needs utilizing available resources and staff ability and availability.
• Administers medications prescribed by physicians according to policy, including IV’s, blood and blood products.
• Knows actions, indications, contraindications, precautions, adverse reactions, dosage and route of administration on all drugs before administering to patient.
• Verifies medical record against eMAR for accuracy on an ongoing basis.
• Scans patient prior to administering medications to ensure accurate identification.  Verbally checks patient name if patient alert and oriented.
• Establishes or assesses proper identification prior to delivery of care.
• Consistently recognizes, evaluates and intervenes appropriately in life-threatening situations.
• Consistently checks for new patient orders throughout the shift and implements them in an                                              appropriate timeframe.
• Completes an end of shift review of physician orders.
• Consistently recognizes variances of diagnostic tests, vital signs and assessments. Notifies the physician in timeframe appropriate to the variance.
• Functions as a charge nurse as assigned.
• Supports changes in clinical practice as evidenced by the plan of care for the patient and subsequent documentation.
• Ensures compliance with Departmental and Hospital policies and procedures. 
• Assume responsibility for       knowledge and implementation of policy, procedure, practice, CPG, changes.
• Maintains competence in nursing practice through in service education and participation in ongoing continuing education. 
• Monitors resource utilization and charge completion.
• Suggests and monitors methods of clinical practice that demonstrate cost effective measures
• Follows appropriate chain of command for problem resolution approaching problem solving         with a positive attitude and suggestions.
• Consistently demonstrates accountability for supervision and communication when assigned with LVN’s , CNA’s, and float personnel.
• Reports, documents, and takes appropriate action (by the end of shift) for incidents and/or quality care issues that may affect the patient’s or staff well being.
• Consistently assesses patients for risk of injury and takes appropriate action to reduce risk and promote safety.
• Uses restraints according to policy and consistently explores other options less restrictive.
• Accurate documentation demonstrated in medical record.
• Serves as advocate for patient/family by providing information and assists in utilization of available resources and or alternatives for making health care decisions (i.e. advanced       directives, ethics consult etc.)
• Requests clarification of Physician orders as necessary

General Position Duties and Responsibilities

• Supports changes in clinical practice and assists the Department Director implementing changes in hospital policies or practices.
• Functions as a resource to co-workers.  Acts as preceptor and role model as needed.
• Ensures compliance with departmental policies and procedures.  Assume responsibility for knowledge and implementation of policy, procedure, and applies to practice.
• Maintains competence in nursing practice through attending in services and participation in ongoing continuing education per year. 
• Attends Annual Competencies as scheduled.
• Participates in the Quality Improvement Program as requested by Unit Director.  Is observant of staff performance and practices, and reports deficiencies to Department Director.
• Follows appropriate chain of command for problem resolution approaching problem solving with a positive attitude and suggestions.
• Maintains and improves current knowledge of regulations pertaining to long term care.
• Reports any observed unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel.
• Utilizes standard precautions.  Ensures others observed follow Standard Precautions.
•  Handles and disposes hazardous waste safely and appropriately.
• Consistently handles oxygen safely
• Reports malfunctioning equipment to the appropriate department timely.
• Ensures call lights are answered timely when not actively involved in other duties.  Reports patient need to the appropriate personnel.
• Adheres to hospital attendance/tardiness policy.
• Demonstrates guest relations in communication, cooperation and in giving assistance to patients, physicians, co-workers and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner.  Exceeding the his component is demonstrated by the Unit achieving 4 or 5 star PSMS scores overall in a majority of months of the year.
• Acts as the patients advocate and assures that patient rights are upheld.
• Observes for, and promptly reports to the appropriate Clinical Manager, Director or Ombudsman, any observed patient abuse.  Immediately intervenes appropriately if observes abuse in order to protect the patient from harm.  Understands the law as it pertains to mandated reporting.
• Floats as needed and in turn to specified Units within contract.  Only accepts assignments within competency.  Immediately informs Charge RN if unable to safely provide care for any patient assigned.  Offers to perform alternate duties within competency.
• Participates in all Code Blue, Fire, Disaster and other emergency drill when present to ensure knows role in event of actual emergency.
• Attends all Ethics and other education required by the Hospital, Unit or Director.
• Other duties as appropriately assigned by Unit Director.