The Registered Nurse (NICU) provides professional nursing care in an assigned clinical area within his/her scope of practice, including but not limited to, neonatal intensive care, labor and delivery, and mother baby units. They provide direct nursing care assessing patients' needs, performing physical examinations, and taking health history and demographic information. In addition, the Registered Nurse (NICU) plans, develops, implements, administers, evaluates and updates specialized plans of treatment and preventive care regimens in accordance with medical orders and nursing standards, and also annotates medical records in accordance with established procedures, implements infection control protocols, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.
RESPONSIBILITIES: - Provides direct nursing care to patients by assessing their physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual status.
- Develops a plan of care based on the patient's condition and annotates medical records in accordance with established procedures and regulatory requirements.
- Includes the patient and family in the process of care planning.
- Performs comprehensive patient assessments, noting any improvement or deterioration in the patient's condition and implements and evaluates nursing care accordingly.
- Assesses patients and administers treatments, medications, and general care according to the nursing plan of care, best practice protocols and medical orders to treat actual or potential disorders and to optimize the physical and mental well-being of the patients.
- Operates specialized medical equipment.
- Evaluates and documents patient's responses to care regimen and adds to, changes, or resolves interventions on the nursing plan of care and/or collaborates with physician regarding the need to revise the treatment plan.
- Collaborates with appropriate members of the health care team to coordinate care for patients.
- Serves as a liaison with other departments to ensure services are provided in a timely manner.
- Provides education to the patient and patient's family about medication, medical treatments, disease specific information, and follow up care on an ongoing basis.
- Participates in discharge planning in collaboration with other health care providers and community resources when indicated to ensure full utilization of support services to address patient needs.
- Participates in quality assurance activities to ensure provision of optimum care and follow-up for patients.
- Ensures continuity of patient care by communicating comprehensive handoff during transition to another nurse (change of shift, change in assignment, transfer of patient, etc.).
- Participates as a team member in a multi-disciplinary approach to nursing care.
- Advocates the patient bill of rights on behalf of patients and families to ensure continuity and understanding of care given.
- Participates in continuing education programs and in-service education to improve practice skills and knowledge and provide evidence based care and maintain positive patient outcomes.
- Completes required hospital/organizational continuing education programs on time.
- Complies with hospital policies and procedures.
- Participates in the performance improvement process including data collection, analysis, plans for change and implementation of changes.
- Attends staff meetings. May act as a preceptor to inexperienced or newly hired nurses to ensure appropriate orientation to assigned units.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications/Requirements:Experience: Previous professional nursing experience preferred. Previous NICU experience preferred.
Education: Graduation from an accredited school of Nursing required; a bachelor's degree or master's degree in Nursing preferred.
Licenses / Certifications: Current NYS nursing license required. Current BLS (Basic Life Support) certification and NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) certification required.
Other: N/A
Special Requirements: N/A
