Nurse Educator ICU

Position Responsibilities Maintains clinical competence in specialty area. Demonstrates ability to provide safe care to Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric. Demonstrates advanced knowledge of the general diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and nursing care of patients on the unit, thus facilitating interdisciplinary approach to patient care to improve patient outcomes. Functions as a role model by utilizing the nursing process to deliver direct, indirect and/or consultative patient care. Assists in developing, revising and evaluating standards of care, protocols, and procedures within the specific clinical arena, based on research. Serves as a clinical resource to preceptors, orientees, unit staff, educators, and students. Provides educational assistance in monitoring the progress of nursing staff in acquiring skills for nursing practice and knowledge in meeting educational and/or orientation goals. Collaborates with management team in the development of orientation for new employees relevant to their needs. Assists in maintenance of accurate records of skills checklist, competencies, and orientation completion dates for staff. Collaborates with management team in preceptor selection for each orientee and assists preceptor in setting goals for the orientee. Assists in evaluating and counseling of orientees. Serves as consultant to staff in other nursing units and departments. Makes rounds on the nursing units, especially for high risk groups and identifies patient, family and staff needs while assessing progress and appropriateness of therapy. Maintains open communication with the interdisciplinary team regarding patient/family needs, functioning as a liaison for families of patients. Clears nursing personnel in procedures as specified in established policies. Design, plan, coordinate, and evaluate formal education programs for clinical areas based on staff, hospital needs, and age specific criteria. Provides in service programs and participates in annual employee competency available to all three shifts based on patient and staff needs. Coordinates unit education on new products/equipment and performance improvement measurements. Participates in Performance Improvement and Research programs. Identifies and implements clinically relevant search into practice. Participates in identification of performance improvement activities for unit, division, or department. Actively participates and provides guidance in collection and analysis of data, showing implementation of recommended intervention based on data analysis and evaluation of results in formal and informal staff education. Assists the Nurse Manager and /or Director in maintaining updated personnel's education records to comply with various regulatory requirements and professional ladder requirements. Assumes responsibility for own professional growth, including at least one of the following: Attends at least two (2) professional activities a year. Contributes toward articles to journals and/or newsletters concerning topics appropriate to area. Participates actively on at least one committee often taking a leadership role. Serves as a consultant and resource in specific clinical areas within the hospital and community. Collaborates effectively with other hospital departments in program planning as needed. Participates in activities that promote professional growth in the delivery of health care including unit conferences, committees, and professional organizations. Consults with administration, physicians or other departments on clinically relevant issues, and patients with ethical dilemmas. Serves as a key resource to promote positive image of the hospital, both internally and externally. Evidence of participation in local and/or national professional organizations and specialty interest groups, while maintaining national certification per nursing organization and/or specialty. Serves as a resource person in all aspects of computerization of medical records, privacy and security of computerized medical record, and computerized documentation (where applicable). Assists, encourages, and mentors staff/students to participate in research and/or PI projects, patient care conferences and committee(s). Assists staff in the development of individualized plans of care for patients, assessing progress and appropriateness of therapy. Generates ideas and assists in the planning for research and PI studies and/or attends Nursing Research Committee. Initiates nursing research projects. Incorporates research and PI findings in clinical practice. Collaborates in the evaluation of products, materials, and equipment to determine best cost-benefit ratio. Assists in the development of policies, procedures, standards of practice and patient teaching standards. Interprets policies and procedures to nursing staff. Monitors and assists with the management, documentation, and assessment of critical pathways, where appropriate. Actively participates in documentation review, assuring that all patients admitted to the respective unit have been rendered care in accordance with regulatory and professional guidelines and that patients rights have been observed, as evidenced in the medical record. Assessment Performs initial vital signs and admission history to include introduction to patient and family. Assessment of chief complaint and notification of physician within 15 minutes of arrival to unit. Obtains and documents a complete nursing admission assessment, including physiological and psychological factors to develop an interdisciplinary plan of care within eight hours of admission. Responds to diagnostic data and initiates appropriate action or intervention. Assesses patient education needs on admission and daily. Assesses psychosocial needs specific to patient's age, growth, and development. Planning Establishes priorities for patient care based on patient needs as evidenced by completion of assigned duties within shift. Implementation Verbalizes understanding of patient diagnosis and interdisciplinary plan of care. Safely and correctly initiates and documents nursing interventions in emergency situations. Administers, observes, and documents intravenous therapy according to hospital policy. Administers medications within 30 minutes of scheduled time. Observes and documents effectiveness, recognizes and reports adverse reactions immediately. Provides individualized instructions to patient/significant other regarding the plan of care. Demonstrates safe and correct use of unit specific equipment. Ensures that each patient's general hygiene needs are met. Performs pre-operative and post operative care and instruction for each assigned surgical patient. Adheres to standard precautions including hand hygiene guidelines at all times. Documents specific patient valuables on designated form when received and immediately arranges for appropriate storage. Performs dressing changes using aseptic technique. Collects and labels specimens per policy when ordered by physician. Performs bedside glucose monitoring according to policy. Reports all abnormal findings immediately to physician. Initiates wound and skin protocol upon identification of risk. Inserts intermittent or indwelling urinary catheter using aseptic technique. Administers oxygen therapy according to physician order. Transfers patients in/out of the unit in an efficient manner, by obtaining a complete and correct set of physician's orders. Demonstrates safe and correct use of restraints. Evaluation Documents/reports patient responses or outcomes resulting from: nursing interventions, treatments/procedures, interpersonal interactions, and patient/family education. Evaluates and documents patient's progress towards established goals/objectives. Professional and Staff Development Obtains 100% mandatory hospital and unit specific in-services annually, prior to evaluation date. Plans, presents, and documents unit in-service as required by level. Documents competency in clinical skills annually. Attends staff meetings as required. Uses established lines of communication for resolution of problems and interpersonal conflict. Defines the team's target accountabilities as well as the guidelines and practices to accomplish them. Ensures the implementation and completion of the team's regular and special projects as assigned. Guides and directs the team's efforts. Ensures the team has all the required resources to perform as expected. Analyzes the team's outcomes. Identifies areas of opportunity and respective action plans. Follows hospital's policies and procedures regarding Human Resources Management. Maximizes area's impact through collaboration with clinical unit Directors and education liaisons to facilitate efficient educational resources. Ensures that all educational opportunities are carried out in accordance with company policy and procedure as well as regulatory standards. Ensures customers receive standards of service in line with the medical center's policies and strategies. Is responsible for the completion of Performance Evaluations of the assigned team. In collaboration with Unit Directors, ensures new employees complete general and department-specific orientation as set forth into the hospital's policies and procedures. Supports the day to day clinical education activities of the staff through clinical rounds and collaboration with Unit Directors Reports incidents to the Director and/or Risk Management department within required timeframe in accordance with medical center policy. Complies with current Hospital security and safety polices. All other managerial tasks as assigned.