I.Position Identification
Position Title: Staff Nurse
Job Level: Rank and File
Department: Nursing Service Department
Reports to: Head Nurse
II. Position Summary
Senior Staff Nurse
Responsible for supporting the Head Nurse and provides effective leadership to team members by ensuring that continuity of care with other shifts and teamwork is maintained and promoted at all times. He/ she serves as a resource person to Junior Staff Nurse and delegate tasks based on their capabilities. Senior Nurses may be required to conduct education or training programs for new nurses in their respective areas. The focus of this role is to deliver quality care to patient everyday and to assume the position in the absence of the Head Nurse.
Junior Staff Nurse
The Junior Staff Nurse is under the supervision of the Head Nurse and/or Senior Staff Nurses. Usually works as a group and are responsible of the day-to-day nursing care plans in assessing, recording, implementing and evaluating patient's conditions. Any changes and problems observed and raised concerns about the patient's health must be reported immediately to the Senior Nurse/Head Nurse/Attending Physician/s. They need to accomplish paperwork and reports before their shift ends. Dedicated to bring and ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.
III.Position Objectives
Senior Staff Nurse
1.Maintains attentiveness to customer's needs; initiates steps that will comply with their requirements to meet and exceed their expectation.
2.Assesses the number and level of personnel needed to provide quality patient care. Prepares and adjusts staffing and assignments in the absence of the Head Nurse.
3.Prepares staff assignment for the shift.
4.Adjusts staffing and assignments appropriately.
5.Assesses the health status of patient per nursing standards of the unit.
6.Ensures that:
6.1A comprehensive history and physical examination is completed in each patient.
6.2Data are organized, accurate, complete, accessible and confidential.
6.3Reports and records are assessed and interpreted.
6.4Pertinent information are communicated among the members of the health team, such as:
6.4.1Accurate identification of patient
6.4.2Complete consent form
6.4.3Vital signs and time taken
6.4.4Laboratory / diagnostic results
6.4.5Nurse's progress notes
7.Plans nursing care as follows:
7.1Directs/ supervises staff nurses in the formulation of nursing care plan.
7.2Ensures that salient patient's problems are identified.
8.Formulates specific desired outcomes to the problem.
9.Documents nursing care plan accurately.
10.Demonstrates knowledge and skills in the following:
10.1All unit- specific nursing procedures
10.2Proper cares and use of all unit-specific equipment/supplies
11.Plans ways to solve problems and make improvements in the delivery of patient care.
12.Participates in the orientation and evaluation of new employees and other in-service training programs.
13.Supervises personnel in the implementation of nursing standards and procedures of the unit.
14.Keeps the Head Nurse informed of needs, problems, incidents and other reportable situations at all times.
15.Ensures that doctor's orders are carried out and implemented as prescribed.
16.Assists in the investigation of problems, irregularities and non-conformances.
17.Adheres to the standard protocol on the guidelines of the Hospital Infection Control Committee
17.1Demonstrates effective infection control practices conscientiously (e.g. waste disposal, correct hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment).
17.2Ensures monitoring in the use of refrigerator for medication storage only.
18.Performs daily routine nursing audit and patient rounds with the incoming and outgoing shift by:
18.1Making nursing rounds to assess quality of patient care and to identify problems and needs.
18.2Performing random chart audits to assure complete and accurate documentation of care plan during the shift.
18.3Makes rounds with the Attending Physician.
19.Endorses all completed and contemplated procedures and all pertinent data of all patient to the incoming shift and whenever he/ she goes out of the unit.
20.Verifies emergency cart monitoring by the Junior Nurse.
21.Responds to and provide appropriate nursing action for emergent situations.
22.Demonstrates understanding of the role in hospital emergencies, fire and disaster.
23.Ensures that all physicians are notified of the admission, transfer and discharge.
24.Demonstrates responsibility and accountability through the effective and efficient use of resources in daily procedures practices and processes.
25.Actively participates and assist in quality improvement activities.
26.Performs other tasks as assigned.
27.Reports patient status and other pertinent data gathered to appropriate authority.
28.Assumes the responsibility of the Head Nurse when the latter is not around.
29.Maintains cleanliness and orderliness of the Nurse Station.
Junior Staff Nurse
1.Works effectively within the team to ensure that the nursing standards and best practices comply with the policies and procedures.
2.Fosters and promotes a team culture of inquiry and learning that enables individual to openly question, reflect and learn from their practice.
3.Knowledge and training of all equipment used in the area.
4.Correctly administers oral and IV medication on time as ordered.
5.Contributes to policy and practice changes arising from audits, complaints and inspection visits.
6.Ensures nurse's notes are informative and descriptive that could help the Physician's management.
7.Secure patients consent for treatment, with proper explanation and prepare patients for the operations or procedures.
8.Set up drips for intravenous infusions and observes proper technique for blood transfusions.
9.Observes strict hygiene and safety measures by ensuring that visitors also follow ward or unit regulations.
10.Responds quickly to emergencies and performs emergency procedures within the scope of nursing practice.
11.Checks and cleans emergency equipment every night (10-6 shift) or as needed.
12.Attends all in-service training programs and nursing continuous quality improvement initiatives.
13.Completes all nursing documentation as required. Reviews all nursing documentation for accuracy and makes updates to the nursing report.
14.Maintains attentiveness to customer's needs; initiates steps that will comply with their requirements to meet and exceed their expectation.
15.Assess the health status of patient per nursing standards of the unit. Ensures that:
15.1A comprehensive history and physical examination is completed in each patient.
15.2Assessment data are organized, accurate, complete, accessible and confidential.
15.3Reports and records are assessed and interpreted.
15.4Pertinent information are communicated among the members of the health team, such as:
15.4.1Accurate identification of patient
15.4.2Complete consent form
15.4.3Vital signs and time taken
15.4.4Laboratory / diagnostic results
15.4.5Nurses progress notes
16.Plans nursing care as follows:
16.1Ensures that salient patient's problems are identified
16.2Desired outcomes specific to the problems are formulated
16.3Nursing care plan is documented.
17.Demonstrates knowledge and skills in the following:
17.1All unit- specific nursing procedures
17.2Proper care and use of all unit-specific equipment/ supplies
18.Keeps the Head Nurse/Senior Staff Nurse informed of the needs, problems, incidents and other reportable situations during the shift.
19.Adheres to the standard protocol on the guidelines of the Hospital Infection Control Committee:
19.1Demonstrates effective infection control practices conscientiously (e.g. waste disposal, correct hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment).
19.2Knows the proper use of refrigerator for medication storage.
20.Endorses all completed and contemplated procedures and all pertinent data of the patients to the incoming shift and whenever he/ she goes out of the unit.
21.Checks and monitors emergency cart for the following:
21.1Completeness of content
21.2Expiration date
21.3Secured with lock
22.Demonstrates understanding of the role in hospital emergencies, fire and disaster.
23.Demonstrates responsibility and accountability through the effective and efficient use of resources in daily procedures, practices and processes.
24.Actively participates and assist in quality improvement activities.
25.Maintains orderliness and cleanliness of nursing station, as well as patient’s bedside.
26.Complies with other duties and functions as delegated or as maybe required of the job by the Assistant Director of Nursing, Supervisors, Head Nurse and the Clinical Nurse Educator.