Registered Nurse Third Shift-ED - South Shore Health

Job Description Summary

Applicants MUST have at least one full year of department-specific experience (working in an Emergency Department as a Registered Nurse) to be considered for this role. South Shore Hospital's Emergency Center is ready to meet life-threatening conditions with lightning-fast care. Our Emergency Department is one of the busiest in eastern Massachusetts.We’re staffed 24/7 with more than 350 health professionals—including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, case managers, and other specialists that support our team of board-certified emergency physicians. For the region's youngest patients, our pediatric emergency service is the only one of its kind in the area, staffed around the clock by board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians and board-certified pediatricians affiliated with Boston Children's Hospital. South Shore Hospital is the first and only verified and designated Level II Trauma Center south of Boston, including the Cape and Islands. This means we are equipped to handle all critical injuries, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Our designation as a Trauma Center also means our team can be paged by paramedics before a patient arrives, allowing these specialists to get prepared to deliver critical trauma treatment when seconds matter. Ambulances transporting injured patients follow the Massachusetts Trauma Field Triage and Point of Entry protocol. This outlines that critically injured and ill patients are transported to the closest Trauma Center rather than to the nearest hospital, which may not be equipped to treat such conditions.Stable and less critically injured patients from falls, car crashes and sports injuries also benefit from receiving care at a Trauma Center, because if needed, they will receive care by the same trauma experts and services. South Shore Hospital's Emergency Center is ready to meet life-threatening conditions with lightning-fast care. Our Emergency Department is one of the busiest in eastern Massachusetts.We’re staffed 24/7 with more than 350 health professionals—including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, case managers, and other specialists that support our team of board-certified emergency physicians. For the region's youngest patients, our pediatric emergency service is the only one of its kind in the area, staffed around the clock by board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians and board-certified pediatricians affiliated with Boston Children's Hospital. South Shore Hospital is the first and only verified and designated Level II Trauma Center south of Boston, including the Cape and Islands. This means we are equipped to handle all critical injuries, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Our designation as a Trauma Center also means our team can be paged by paramedics before a patient arrives, allowing these specialists to get prepared to deliver critical trauma treatment when seconds matter. Ambulances transporting injured patients follow the Massachusetts Trauma Field Triage and Point of Entry protocol. This outlines that critically injured and ill patients are transported to the closest Trauma Center rather than to the nearest hospital, which may not be equipped to treat such conditions.Stable and less critically injured patients from falls, car crashes and sports injuries also benefit from receiving care at a Trauma Center, because if needed, they will receive care by the same trauma experts and services. Manages individualized, outcome oriented nursing care through the use of the nursing process. Provides care, treatment and services through the successful coordination and completion of a series of processes that include assessment, planning care, providing care, in accordance with departmental and hospital policies and procedures

Job Description

Essential Functions

Essential functions are those tasks, duties and responsibilities that comprise the means of accomplishing the job's purpose and objectives. Essential functions are critical or fundamental to the performance of the job. They are the major functions that the person in the job is held accountable for. Following are the essential functions of the job.

1. Assessment/Reassessment

Assesses and diagnoses patient and family needs in order to provide quality care to assigned patients by:

a. Initiating admission assessment within 8 hours of admission, identifies and documents patient/family/significant other teaching needs upon admission and throughout hospitalization.

b. Continues assessment/reassessment and identifies care needs within established nursing practice standards.


2. Plan of Care/Documentation/Discharge Planning

Develops, discusses, and communicates a prioritized problem list/plan of care for each patient, in collaboration with designated support persons in order to address all identified needs.

a. Develop, evaluate and update individualized plan of care for patient and documents outcomes.

b. Actively communicates plan of day via white board updating every shift.

c. Facilitates discharge/transfers by goal of 12:00 pm, communicates barriers utilizing the Chain of Command.

d. Documents all patient care following the department of nursing policy, unit based standards and nurse sensitive indicators (falls, skin, pain).

e. Assesses/reassesses and documents patient's level of comfort utilizing the appropriate pain scale and the patient’s response to each intervention both pharmacological and non-pharmacological per South Shore Hospital policy.

f. Works on behalf of patient/family. Seeks help to represent patient/family when they are unable to represent themselves.

g. Raises ethical questions and concerns with clinical team. Seeks available resources to help formulate and understand ethical decisions.


3. Medication Administration

a. Demonstrates knowledge of and follows SSH policies and procedures for administering, transcribing, and recording medications.

b. Completes medication reconciliation process following SSH policy and procedure.

c. Demonstrates proper procedure for the documentation of narcotic withdrawal, administration, verifies count, wastes per policy and resolves narcotic discrepancy.

d. Initiates and maintains IV access according to SSH policy and procedure.


4. Safety/Quality

Fosters a "Culture of Safety" through personal ownership and commitment to a safe environment.

a. Verifies patient identification with two identifiers prior to the start of any invasive procedure, including "time out", administration of care, medications, labeled specimens and documents confirming the correct patient, procedure, site, equipment, and consent

b. Complies with the current CDC hand hygiene guidelines through proper handwashing. Adheres to universal precautions, makes appropriate use of personal protective equipment at all times and appropriately disposes of hazardous materials. Maintains awareness of MSDS sheets and how to access.

c. Assesses each patient’s risk of falling throughout hospitalization using appropriate interventions to prevent falls.

d. Ensures environment meets regulatory requirements at all times (ie: no cardboard boxes on floor, equipment cords are secured and plugged into foot of bed).

e. Understands and is able to demonstrate individual roles and responsibilities in the event of hospital codes/emergency preparedness.

f. Practices patient hand off utilizing the principles of SBAR including walk rounds.

g. Holds oneself and others accountable for meeting quality improvement/quality standards.


5. Professional Development

Assumes overall responsibility for own professional development by incorporating evidenced-based practice, research, and performance improvement initiatives as a part of ongoing nursing practice.

a. Obtains at least 5 contact hours per year in area of practice.

b. Practices within the legal boundaries of MA Nurse practice Act. Directs other licensed and non-licensed personnel as assigned.

c. Active participant in unit based initiatives and/or hospital committees.

d. Understands and demonstrates job responsibilities for charge nurse, preceptor and mentor role.

e. Analyzes causes of problems, identifies and evaluates alternative solutions, and selects appropriate solution, and communicates appropriately and effectively utilizing chain of command.

f. Assumes an active role in keeping informed about changes in hospital policy, procedure, and equipment.

g. Interacts with patient and families in a compassionate and humanistic manner, demonstrating empathy, sensitivity and patience.

h. Works with others/patients/families/healthcare providers/community to promote health and wellness.

6. Technology

Utilizes technological solutions to work processes and practices.

a. Access Lotus Notes to review e-mail, learning management and other resources as applicable to RN role.

b. Utilizes all Meditech applications required by department and unit standards. (PCS, Order Entry, EMR, etc.)


7. Compliance

a. Works within legal, regulatory and ethical practice standards relevant to the position.

b. Complies with applicable policies and procedures.

c. Safeguards the privacy and security of patient information. The employee compiles will policies and procedures relating to SSH’s privacy and security programs.

d. Brings potential compliance issues to a manager, supervisor, director or VP.

e. Complies with the mandatory education requirements of the compliance, privacy and security programs.


8. Patient and Family Centered Care

a. Conveys respect for values, preferences, and expressed needs of the patient and family.

b. Communicates and collaborates effectively with patients, families to promote patient health and well-being.


ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support,PALS or ENPC - Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course.
Demonstrated proficiency in acute care nursing, knowledge, and skills

Minimum Education - Preferred

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing-preferred

Minimum Work Experience

Previous Acute Care RN experience preferred