Graduate Nurse

Under general supervision of the Charge Nurse, the Graduate Nurse provides professional nursing skills utilizing the nursing process in the delivery of patient care.  Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates the care for assigned patients.  Serves as a patient advocate within the health care system.  Responsible for performing patient care requiring specialized training and skill.  Acquires and maintains knowledge and skill required to perform patient care in a specialty service/area.  Accountable for assuring the safety, comfort, care, and treatment of patients according to legal, ethical, professional and institutional standards.  Participates in the hospital’s Quality Improvement and Service Excellence programs.  Demonstrates understanding of the philosophy and objectives, and adheres to policies and procedures of the department and organization.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Every effort has been made to make this job description as complete as possible.  However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties the incumbent will be required to perform.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or is a logical assignment to the position.

• Utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, provide, document and evaluate care.
• Assessment:  Conducts an ongoing and systematic collection of data, guided by the application of knowledge of physiological and psychological principles and experience, and uses the data to establish a nursing diagnosis and predict outcomes.
• Nursing Diagnosis and Outcome Identification: Coordinates and analyzes the assessment data in determining diagnoses and establishes patient goals based on nursing diagnosis.
• Coordinates and plans delivery of nursing care with a multidisciplinary team and administers appropriate clinical decisions in the delivery of patient care.  Collaborates with the entire healthcare team to develop a plan of care that prescribes interventions to attain expected outcomes.
• Delivers appropriate care to patients, at a competent level, according to the needs of the patient and population served.  Implements the interventions identified in the Plan of Care.
• Evaluates the patient’s progress toward attainment of outcomes.  Effectively communicates with physicians and other team members.
• Provides patient/family teaching based on the needs of each patient and plans ways to meet those needs.
• Administers and reconciles medications appropriately.
• Adheres to infection prevention protocols.
• Demonstrates an understanding of patient rights, including those pertaining to confidentiality, informed consent and privacy.
• Demonstrates adaptability, problem solving and professional behavior at all times.
• Participates in a systemic, interdisciplinary, and ongoing evaluation of programs, process improvement, and desired client-centered outcomes.
• Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education, competence validation; supports department-based goals which contributed to the success of the organization; serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced staff.
• Actively participates in survey readiness activities and ensures that department is compliant with all regulatory standards.
• Abides by the HMH Legal Compliance Code of Conduct.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and appropriate handling of PHI.
• Maintains a safe work environment and reports safety concerns appropriately.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

LATITUDE, CONTACTS/INTERACTIONS

• All positions of Huntsville Memorial Hospital are part of an interdisciplinary team, and as such, participate in the care and service delivery process through effective interaction with other team members.  Primarily interacts with hospital staff, medical staff, patients, and visitors.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Graduate of a school of professional nursing required.
• Experience: None required.
• Licensure/Certification: Current Graduate Nurse permit in the State of Texas.  Basic Life Support certification required within 30 days of employment, before patient care is administered independently. Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification required within 90 days of employment. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Frequent: standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling & reaching.
• Occasional: sitting, bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, & twisting.
• Visual and hearing acuity required; Color vision required for perceiving changes in patients’ skin color and colors of medicines and solutions.  Work is mostly inside, with good ventilation and comfortable temperature.
• Possible exposure to: toxic/caustic chemicals or detergents, moving mechanical parts, potential electric shock, radiant energy, communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources