Registered Nurse - Medical Surgical - Hemotology Oncology

Job Summary

The Registered Nurse is a professional practitioner who assesses, manages, directs, and provides nursing care activities during the patient's hospital stay and coordinates planning with other disciplines utilizing a patient/customer driven approach.

Responsibilities

• Reports risk management concerns using eSRM.
• Annual Blood Borne Pathogens training (if required).
• Performs comprehensive nursing assessment/reassessment.
• Performs age-appropriate admission or transfer assessment, obtaining input from family/guardian when appropriate.
• Accurately and completely documents findings.
• Performs assessment of post‑op/post-invasive procedure patients.
• Assesses and documents education and discharge needs of patient and family on admission and throughout hospitalization.
• Provides date‑based reassessment documenting pertinent observations according to the patient plan of care, changes in condition, status and/or diagnosis, response to care, procedures, etc., and standards of care.
• Establishes, coordinates and evaluates a plan of care based on the analysis of assessment data, patient diagnosis, lab data, tests, procedures, physician orders, protocols and standards of care and other relevant information.
• Identifies short and long‑term goals based on patient care needs.
• Formulates nursing interventions to achieve desired patient outcomes.
• Incorporates disease‑specific evidence‑based practice into nursing care plan and other documentation.
• Provides and documents nursing interventions based on assessed patient needs, plan of care, and changes in patient status.
• Collaborates with appropriate health team members for coordination of daily plan of care for assigned patients.
• Provides, coordinates and communicates patient care, including accurate handoff communication reports.
• Administers and documents medications accurately according to policies and procedures.
• Monitors, maintains and documents accurate IV fluids and parenteral nutrition according to policies and procedures.
• Completes referrals as indicated by assessment data.
• Requests consultation for special needs, equipment, or information for patient and/or family.
• Provides patient/family education and discharge planning per documentation guidelines and protocol.
• Clarifies all physician orders as warranted.
• Acknowledges and implements physician orders in an accurate and timely manner as evidenced by documentation in the medical record.
• Assists physician with procedures/treatments as requested or delegates to care partner as appropriate.
• Documents “Readback” for all telephone/verbal orders.
• Takes telephone/verbal orders only in emergency situations.
• Recognizes changes in patient’s condition and takes appropriate nursing actions.
• Involves the family/guardian when providing care and in decision‑making as appropriate.
• Recognizes risks for patient and takes appropriate action.
• Incorporates use of infection control practices in daily care.
• Documents and/or communicates nursing care and/or changes in patient condition.
• Performs and documents ongoing evaluation of effectiveness of care based on assessment data, nursing interventions, patient response to medications, treatments and procedures.
• Evaluates and documents effectiveness of patient/family education.
• Evaluates plan of care and modifies as indicated.
• Recognizes significant changes in patient’s clinical parameters and reports immediately to physician and others as indicated.
• Identifies problems, gathers pertinent data, suggests solutions, communicates using appropriate lines of authority, and works toward problem resolution.
• Reports variation from care/treatment following the occurrence reporting policy and procedures.
• Specialized care: Provides specialized care to patients at high risk for injury.
• Restraint care – Initiates/evaluates alternatives to restraint prior to application, applies restraints consistent with the approved procedure, monitors and assesses patient’s response throughout the restraint period at the appropriate intervals, provides specified patient care (toileting, skin care, hydration, feeding, etc.) on a timely basis, provides consultation for peers to determine alternatives to restraints and one‑to‑one observation, documents restraint use and associated care thoroughly.
• Pain management – Assesses patient for presence of pain on admission and during assessments/reassessments, incorporates patient’s cultural/spiritual beliefs regarding pain into pain management plan, implements pain‑management techniques focusing on prevention, includes patient and/or family members in developing a pain management plan, considers other methods of pain control when developing plan of care: massage, repositioning, immobilization, and music therapy.
• Abuse assessment – Is aware of abuse recognition criteria and incorporates it into assessments, reports signs of possible abuse/neglect to the Administrative Director of Behavioral Health, physician, Risk Management and Social Work, and takes appropriate action to support patient safety when signs of abuse are noted.
• Adheres to all quality and performance standards, policies, procedures, protocols when implementing clinical and technical aspects of care.
• Participates in learning experiences that increase professional competence.
• Demonstrates appropriate technical and cognitive skills for area of practice.
• Maintains currency in all hospital/unit information, communication, policies and procedures.
• Attends staff meetings/reviews minutes when absent.
• Participates in committee(s), shared governance, work team(s), in a leadership and/or membership role.
• Reviews hospital/nursing publications.
• Keeps up to date with policies and procedures.
• Participates and/or keeps up to date with shared governance and unit based practice council activities and information, contributing to requests for feedback.
• Demonstrates ability to change and adapt to changing work demands.
• Responds positively to change.
• Provides assistance and support to peers, co‑workers and other team members.
• Adapts positively to changes in unplanned workload and job demands.
• Is able to relate to coworkers in a professional and appropriate manner.
• Orients and/or precepts new employees when required.
• Participates in and maintains a collaborative team approach toward work.
• Functions as a resource person to co‑workers, patients/families, medical staff and other members of the health care team.
• Effectively assumes and delegates care and other activities to the appropriate team member.
• Redirects clinical staff when the medical plan of care is altered.
• Communicates the plan of care to be followed on each individual patient in a precise and professional manner.
• Responsible for the supervision and teaching of students/new staff nurses.
• Practices standard precautions and disposes of hazardous wastes per established guidelines.
• Maintains a safe, clean, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for patients/families/employees in accordance with hospital standards.
• Maintains clutter‑free environment.
• Follows hand hygiene procedures.
• Utilizes safe patient handling techniques and equipment.
• Keeps personal conversations/background noise to a minimum.
• Adheres to dress code.
• Reports risk management concerns using eSRM.
• Assumes responsibility for completing all annual mandatory requirements: Maintains current license and certifications; Maintains up to date BLS and HI; Annual TB screening and influenza vaccination; Annual ethics training (initial ethics, if new employee); Annual safety training; Required information security course; Required abuse & neglect course; Annual blood‑borne pathogens training (if required); Coursework as assigned for .edu; Annual competency; Age/population specific competency (if applicable); Orientation competency (if new hire); Service specific; Reports variations from care/treatment following the occurrence reporting policy and procedure.
• Provides service excellence to the customers of Saint Louis University Hospital by delivering timely, high‑quality care in a courteous and respectful manner: Demonstrates care and courtesy; Provides prompt, respectful, courteous service; Meets physical, spiritual, psychological and emotional needs of patients and families; Works with other members of the health care team to ensure call lights are answered promptly; Apologizes for mix‑up and delay; Communicates effectively and maintains confidentiality; Listens to staff/patient/family concerns and addresses needs; Explains procedures and all education in a manner that staff/patient/family understand; Allows time for questions; Demonstrates competence and collaboration; Provides accurate handoff reports; Provides quality care in accordance with standards; Shares knowledge with other departments to facilitate workflow and continuity; Provides cost‑effective services; Uses resources wisely; Recommends changes in practice that increase efficiency and minimize waste; Ensures that customer satisfaction is maintained through the use of the “Principles and Commitments” of the hospital AIDET and “One Mission, One Spirit”; Incorporates performance improvement and evidence‑based practice into individual professional practice.
• Assists in developing and implementing nursing unit goals.
• Remains current with evidence‑based practice initiatives.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement, participates in data collection when requested, suggests solutions, communicates using appropriate lines of authority and works toward problem resolution.
• Participates in the performance/process improvement process.
• Assists in developing unit‑based performance improvement and action plans.
• Leads a performance improvement team when requested.
• Contributes to data collection; Participates in evaluation of performance improvement results; Participates in nursing research activities; Participates in departmental and hospital performance improvement activities when warranted; Participates in occurrence reviews; Contributes to the maintenance/improvement of all nursing quality indicators.
• Provides age‑appropriate care to adult and geriatric patients.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills of normal growth & development necessary to provide services to the age of the patient served by the department.
• Demonstrates ability to assess and interpret age‑specific data to identify patient needs.
• Utilizes communication skills necessary to interpret age‑specific responses to service and interaction.
• Involves family or significant other in decision‑making related to services provided.
• Demonstrates ability to provide service needed for the age groups routinely served by the department assigned.
• Uses resources efficiently; Recommends changes in practice that increase efficiency and minimize waste; Documents chargeable supplies and equipment used to provide care; Prioritizes responsibilities and completes work on time; Utilizes non‑clinical time in a constructive manner, e.g., completing chart audits, mandatory education requirements.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Minimum education: Registered Nurse licensed to practice in the state of Missouri.
• State certification requirements:
  • Illinois: Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) – American Heart Association (AHA) and Registered Professional Nurse (RN) – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
  • Missouri: Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) – American Heart Association (AHA) and Registered Nurse (RN) – Missouri Division of Professional Registration or Registered Nurse (RN) issued by Compact State.
  • Wisconsin: Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) – American Heart Association (AHA) and Registered Nurse (RN) issued by Compact State or Registered Nurse (RN) – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
• Annual mandatory completion of blood‑borne pathogens training, TB screening, influenza vaccination, ethics training, safety training, information security course, abuse & neglect course, and relevant competency courses.

Job Specifications

• Working conditions: May be exposed to risk of blood‑borne diseases, accidents, injuries, and illness. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations. Handles emergency and crisis situations. Subject to irregular hours.
• Physical requirements: Occasional prolonged standing/walking. Occasionally lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfers patients. Occasional reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching.

Benefits

• Paid parental leave: up to one week for eligible team members for newborns or newly adopted children (pro‑rated based on FTE).
• Flexible payment options: via DailyPay, offering eligible hourly team members instant access to earned, unpaid base pay (fees may apply) before payday.
• Upfront tuition coverage: via FlexPath Funded for eligible team members.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

SSM Health is an equal opportunity employer. SSM Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.