Clinical Care Graduate Nurse

Join Palestine Regional Medical Center in Palestine, TX, a 150-bed hospital that has recently earned the prestigious Leapfrog “A” Safety Grade, the Platinum Award for quality from parent-company ScionHealth, and certification as a Chest Pain Center and Level IV Trauma facility. Palestine Regional provides a range of comprehensive care, including the latest in diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services, both on an inpatient and outpatient basis. Palestine Regional is an integral part of the local community, giving you the chance to grow your career while making a real impact close to home.

Job Summary

Provides basic nursing care support to patients and assists in maintenance of a safe and clean environment under the direction and supervision of the registered nurse in charge of the team and/or unit. This position allows those staff enrolled and accepted into a LPN/LVN, ADN, or BSN nursing program to gain skills and experience within their scope while enhancing their knowledge base during their nursing program education. The experience allows the graduate to build a better understanding of their long-term nursing clinical care vision to identify a skillset track upon graduation for streamlined full-time employment.

Essential Functions

• To perform this job, an individual must perform each essential function satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Performs basic medical tasks such as measuring and recording vital signs, temperature, pulse, respiration, weight, blood pressure and intake- output, turning, moving or repositioning patients necessary for comfort or medical care.
• Answers patients call lights, anticipates patient's needs and makes rounds of assigned patients.
• Assists with patient admissions, discharges and transfers.
• Transports patients to various departments for ordered tests/procedures.
• Performs patient care responsibilities considering needs specific to the standard of care for patient's age.
• Provides patient care that meets the psychosocial and physical needs of the patient within the scope of practice for a certified nursing assistant/nursing assistant.
• Provides general nursing assistant care such as positioning patients, lifting and turning patients, applying/ utilizing special equipment, assisting in use of bedpan, commode, and ambulating patients.
• Provides morning care which may include bed bath, shower, whirlpool, oral hygiene, combing hair, back care, dressing patients, changing bed linen, cleaning over bed table and bedside stand, straightening room and other general care as necessary throughout the shift.
• Provides evening care which includes hands/ face washing as needed, oral hygiene, back rubs, peri-care, refreshing linen, cleaning over bed tables, straightening room, and other general care as needed.
• Prepares patients for meals, serves, and removes food trays and assists with meals or feeds patients as necessary.
• Practices sterile techniques and infection control procedures.
• Maintains accurate and continued documentation. Documentation meets current standards and policies
• Communicates in a clear and concise manner with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles.
• Observes patients mental and physical conditions, reports any changes to supervising nursing staff.
• Interacts professionally with patients/families; treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and their families.
• Reports patient complaints of pain to supervising nursing staff.
• Performs other reasonably related job duties as assigned or requested, within scope of practice.
• Keeps current with principles and practices, regulations, and standards that apply to healthcare.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Expectations

• Requirements will include successful completion of orientation checklist and skills/credentials/competency requirements of specific area of work.
• Able to maintain a high awareness of patient satisfaction and teamwork.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to respond to and cope with emergency situations professionally and calmly.
• Adaptable to performing well under pressure in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.
• Must be flexible, able to work as needed for appropriate departmental coverage.
• Basic computer knowledge; become proficient in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems.
• Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrates proficient time management skills.
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially in regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.
• Participates in nursing learning opportunities that will benefit employee during their tenure in nursing school.

Education

• High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED), or equivalent.
• Currently enrolled and accepted into a LPN/LVN, ADN or BSN nursing program.
• Expecting to graduate from an LPN/LVN, ADN, or BSN nursing program.

Licenses/Certifications

• Temporary Nurse Practice Permit or Graduate Nursing Permit is required upon graduation based on the state where you are practicing; advanced skills will be allowed with and without exclusions based on State regulations.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within 90 days of hire or transfer.
• Blood Glucose Monitoring Training Program certification required within 90 days of hire.
• Expected to complete and pass nursing boards within 90 days of nursing program graduation
• Certain certifications may be required based on state locations or other state regulatory bodies. 
  
  Experience
• Currently accepted and enrolled in a nursing program.