REGISTERED NURSE - 1 East Observation Unit

The Registered Nurse in Observation Unit – 1 East is responsible for the care of patients requiring short-term monitoring, diagnostic testing, or therapeutic interventions who do not meet criteria for inpatient admission. This role functions within an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental team, ensuring efficient, patient-centered coordination of care. A core focus of this position is to accelerate diagnostics and expedite treatment interventions to support timely and safe discharge, or seamless transition to inpatient admission when indicated.

Requirements

• Nursing Diploma and/or Associate Degree in Nursing
• Educational requirements per hospital certifications (Example: Stroke, Orthopedic/Spine)
• Current and valid Registered nurse license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or from a state that is part of a Compact agreement with Virginia
• CPR
• ACLS 
• BSN, MSN preferred 

Experience:

•  1-year full time or 2 years part-time RN Telemetry or step down or PCU experience
• Emergency Department, ICU, Observation Unit Experience preferred

Skills:

• Unit and annual competencies to be completed each year
• HIPPA - no breaches of confidentiality. No related complaints voiced on patient satisfaction surveys. no related complaints voiced by fellow care providers of observed incidences
• Knowledgeable of location and content of departmental policies and procedures
• Nurse Practice Act-Scope of Practice
• Basic computer skills
• National Patient Safety Goals
• Clinical competence in all aspects of the unit.
  

Medications
• Completes 8 Rights with 100% compliance. Knowledge of medications used.
• Knowledge and use of high-risk medications.
• Ability to perform calculations for mixtures/solutions.
• Follows policy for bar code scanning with high level of compliance.

Implement

• Implement clinical and technical aspects of care in accordance with established standards, policies, and practice guidelines.
• Observed to anticipate patient’s potential complications and need for appropriate preventive measures.
• Demonstrates strong clinical skills in technical aspects of care, pain management, systems assessment, and patient satisfaction.
• Demonstrates proficiency in starting IVs and phlebotomy and follows hospital policy and procedure.
• Maintains patient safety.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Provides patient education appropriate to age and knowledge level of patient.
• Demonstrates proficiency in computer applications necessary to perform the job.
• Coordinates care through use of interdisciplinary services as needed.

Personal Safety
• Consistently uses Personal Protective Equipment including eye protection when appropriate.
• Maintains organization and safety in the physical environment of care.
• Demonstrates knowledge of proper body mechanics.
• Utilizes Safe Patient Handling devices correctly to minimize risk of injury.
• Disposes of sharps and infectious waste appropriately.
• Maintains calm and safe approach with those patients that display violent or aggressive
behavior.

Patient Safety
• Demonstrates knowledge of patient two unique identifiers.
• Utilizes SBAR approach to patient hand off communication.
• Follows policy and procedure in the administration of medication.  Abides by policies/procedures for Isolation.
• Consistently follows CDC guidelines for hand hygiene.
• Knowledgeable of their role in patient evacuation plan.
• Utilizes Safe Patient Handling Equipment appropriately
• Documents appropriately by not using an abbreviation from standard "Do Not Use Abbreviation List".
• Implements fall preventions.
• Assure patient rounds by policy.
• Involve family in prevention measures.
• Demonstrates appropriate use of restraints.
• Provides written plan of care based on patient problems/diagnosis.
• Assures Kardex and intervention list up to date.
• Labels all specimens appropriately at bedside.
• Completes ".Time Out". and documentation for all invasive procedures.

Assess/Plan- Assess and develop individualized needs and plan of care:
• Assessments are complete and appropriate for patients age, special care needs, and patient' s
knowledge level, psychosocial, emotional, physical, and spiritual status.
• Reassessment is timely and performed as patient condition warrants.
• Documentation of assessment is timely.
• Communicates assessment data as necessary to team members and anesthesiologist/surgeon.
• Appropriate referrals are made early in the hospital stay with evidence of follow-up
documentation in the medical record.

Personal Growth
• Assumes responsibility for own personal education and developmental needs.
• Assesses personal learning needs and initiates methods to meet the identified needs through
formal or informal education.
• Displays positive attitude and flexibility toward work unit.
• Cooperates with interdisciplinary team members and other units to meet the needs of the
patient.
• No complaints from patients/family, other units, physicians or staff.
• Attends 80% of staff meetings.
• Attends in-services as required or requested by clinical coordinator.

QI- Participate in quality improvement processes.
• Participates in staff satisfaction projects
• Assist Clinical Coordinator on quality improvement projects when requested.
• Knowledgeable of unit PI projects.
• Provides suggestions for cost containment.
• Assist unit in DNV preparedness by maintaining environment and practicing within established
standards.
• Knowledgeable of NPSGs and other JCAHO standards as it relates to everyday work practices.
• Awareness of patient satisfaction goals to meet individual patient needs on a daily basis.

Leadership- Demonstrates effective skills to be a leader within the unit.
• Able to function as a team leader ensuring optimal patient care while supervising the work of
other nurses and supportive nursing staff.
• Demonstrates ability and knowledge to be a resource and mentor for other staff.
• Minimizes absences and reports to work in a dependable manner.
• Communicates effectively with physicians utilizing SBAR approach.
• Able to function calmly and promptly while demonstrating appropriate knowledge and skill in
emergency situations.
• Maintains responsible attitude towards management and cost containment.
• Serves on organizational committees as requested by Department Director.
• Participates in Clinical Ladder.
• Attains certification in specialty.

Evaluation- Evaluate patient outcome:
• Updates plan of care based on continuing assessment of patient outcomes.
• Documentation reflects nursing interventions, patient responses, as well as follow through with
patient outcomes.
• Evaluation of age specific instruction/teaching is demonstrated and documented through
monitoring of the learning process, seeking feedback from patient and family, and return
demonstration if appropriate

Augusta Health is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit, community health system located in Fishersville Virginia in Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley. Augusta Health offers a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient services which includes Augusta Medical Center a 255-bed inpatient facility and Augusta Medical Group which is comprised of 40 practice locations and four urgent care locations.

Augusta Health recruits, hires and promotes qualified candidates for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran or military discharge status, and family medical or genetic information.