Registered Nurse (RN) Med/Surg

Job Description

The Registered Nurse (RN) provides professional nursing care across the lifespan in accordance with organizational standards, policies, and evidence-based practices. The RN utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care while delivering high-quality, culturally sensitive, and patient-centered services. The RN collaborates with providers and interdisciplinary teams to promote optimal patient outcomes, safety, and a positive patient experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and develop individualized plans of care.
• Implement and evaluate nursing interventions and patient responses.
• Administer medications and treatments safely and accurately per provider orders and policy.
• Recognize changes in patient condition and initiate appropriate interventions or escalation of care.
• Provide patient and family education related to care, medications, and discharge needs.
• Deliver culturally responsive, patient-centered care.

Nursing Judgment & Clinical Decision-Making

The RN independently applies critical thinking and professional judgment to:

• Perform and interpret comprehensive assessments and recognize significant changes in patient condition requiring nursing intervention or provider notification.
• Exercise independent nursing judgment in determining appropriate nursing actions, interventions, and priorities, and in identifying when consultation, collaboration, or escalation to a licensed independent provider is required.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and revise individualized nursing plans of care based on patient needs, responses, preferences, and clinical circumstances.
• Integrate clinical findings with ethical principles, cultural considerations, patient safety standards, and regulatory requirements when making nursing decisions.
• Accept accountability for nursing decisions, delegated tasks, and outcomes of nursing care.

Care Coordination & Documentation

• Collaborate with providers and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care.
• Facilitate referrals, follow-up care, and continuity of services.
• Document assessments, interventions, and outcomes accurately and timely in the electronic health record.
• Advocate for patient care and assist patients in navigating the healthcare system.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Practice within nursing scope of practice and adhere to regulatory, safety, and infection prevention requirements.
• Participate in quality and performance improvement activities.
• Maintain required competencies and certifications.
• Report adverse events, near misses, and unsafe conditions per policy.

Teamwork & Professional Practice

• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, flexibility, and teamwork.
• Provide appropriate guidance and delegation to ancillary staff.
• Support orientation, mentoring, and education of staff, students, and peers.
• Float to other departments or assignments as needed.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Nursing from an accredited program.
• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the State of Alaska.
• Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are required.
• Clinical competency required within 3 months and every 3 years.
• High Risk Competency required within 3 months and annually thereafter.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of nursing principles, evidence-based practice, medication safety, and infection prevention.
• Strong clinical judgment, organization, prioritization, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical systems.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to lift, push, pull, and move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform bending, stooping, and kneeling.
• Ability to work in a moderate-to-high noise clinical environment.

Safety Responsibility

Employees are responsible for complying with safe work practices, reporting injuries and unsafe conditions, and cooperating in safety investigations.