Registered Nurse 4

EXAMPLES OF WORK:
EXAMPLES BELOW ARE A BRIEF SAMPLE OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE. NOT ALL POSSIBLE TASKS ARE INCLUDED.

Provides direct care to specific patients, i.e.  neo-natal intensive care, medical surgery (O.R.), psychiatric, or oncology.

Prepares individual nursing care plans.

Writes standards of care for patients with specialized illnesses or conditions.

May provide nursing care to the most severe and/or terminal patients.

Confers with head nurse to provide support services that facilitate the delivery of patient care.

Monitors the implementation and quality of patient care.

Assists nursing staff to increase clinical competence.

Initiates evaluation and revision of standards of care.

Evaluates patient care practices according to established nursing care standards and performs quality assurance controls to ensure that standards of care are being met.

Plans and maintains an effective unit orientation program.

Plans, develops, and implements the nursing education program of a facility.

Develops and conducts orientation programs for new employees.

Coordinates and develops patient education programs and trains nurse instructors.

Determines needs for in-service training and continuing education courses for professional and non-professional employees.

Conducts research for the development of training courses.

Serves as consultant to nursing staff on specific educational needs or problems.

Develops and conducts in-service training and patient education programs, including the production of educational media.

Presents specific certification programs, e.g., cardiopulmonary resuscitation, medication administration, etc.

Assists in developing and updating nursing policies and procedures manuals.

Maintains records of employees' participation in in-service and continuing education programs.

PUBLIC HEALTH OPTION:

Serves as assistant supervisor or as regional staff nurse in establishing short and long-term goals and work planning for any OPH program.

Assist in the supervision of activities in clinics to ensure that patients receive needed services, program requirements are maintained, and appropriate follow-up appointments or treatment are provided.  Monitors compliance of medical records.

Assists in the preparation of budget and management reports, in staff scheduling, and continuous quality improvement activities. 

Provides professional nursing care to individuals, families, and communities in public health program clinics, communities, shelters and/or any additional site needed for public health services.

Collaborates with environmental health personnel and regional epidemiologist in the collection of data, case management, follow-up, community education, and referral of those at risk for exposure to environmental and disease entities.

Participates and collaborates with Disease Intervention Specialists in the contact investigation, treatment and education of individuals infected with communicable diseases. 

Conducts infectious disease and bioterrorism surveillance activities and follow-up on household and community contacts of cases.  Facilitates the reportable disease and syndromic surveillance in emergency rooms.  Assists in the development, implementation, and maintenance of a surveillance system that tracks hospital and ICU admissions and hospital beds occupied.

Provides care coordination services for vulnerable populations.

Provides in-service training and orientation to new personnel as needed; assists the supervisor in providing in-service instruction for public health program requirements, policies and protocols; assists with caseload management.

Instructs patients on prevention and health maintenance on specific health conditions.  Coordinates patient access to care, as well as referral to community resources.

Advises official bodies and civic, private or public agencies regarding community health issues, outbreaks, and national health objectives.

Supervises, educates, and provides professional nursing care in response to emergency situations in the community and statewide on a 24-hour basis.  Ensures emergency care equipment is available.  Participates in Emergency Preparedness, in the staffing of Special Needs Shelters, Bioterrorism Preparedness, and other public health responses to Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Responds to emergencies and public health/bioterrorist threats on a 24-hour basis.