Travel Nurse RN - ICU/Critical Care in Morristown, NJ

-Collects health history data from patient/family/significant other, and from previous medical records, while interacting with patient based on adolescent, adult or geriatric principles of communication.
Completes admission assessment within the acceptable time frame.
• Notifies consults when admitting criteria has been identified.
• Completes Braden scale.
• Continually reassesses the developmental biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational, and discharge needs of patients.
• Creates individualized age appropriate plan of care by involving patient family significant other, reflecting the need for safety, education, and a healing atmosphere.
• Updates and revises the plan of care as needed and as patient status changes,in consultation with patient, family and caregiver.
• Develops realistic outcomes/resolutions based on developmental stage in life, integrating into practice the physiological changes and psychological needs related to the elderly (i.e.
skin integrity, safety, depression).
• Continually reevaluates patients' needs accurately, initiating appropriate nursing actions to address needs.
• Delegates responsibilities for care, when applicable, and makes assignments according to skill level of care giver.
• Integrates, delegates and coordinates patient care using an interdisciplinary approach.
• Documentation reflects the patient's response to nursing interventions, medications, treatments and education while corresponding to age appropriate expectations.
• Documentation is legible, timely, accurate and in accordance with policy and procedure.
• Complies with Department of Health and other regulatory agency requirements.
Updates bed boards and communication of bedsides needs.
• Assesses patients/family's/significant others comprehension, skill level and barriers to learning.
Initiates and coordinates patient/family/significant other teaching utilizing age appropriate instructions and teaching tools to reinforce areas of knowledge deficit.
• Provides teaching bag to each patient, reviewing its contents upon unit admission.
Documents all teaching performed to both patients/families on interdisciplinary teaching record.
• Discharge plan is initiated at the time of admission and implemented throughout the hospital length of stay.
• Develops, initiates, and participates in the process of patient education, discharge instructions, and preparation of patient/family/significant other for discharge.
• Continues education and reinforcement of patient discharge plan with all involved.
• Signs off orders, using date, time, 1st initial, full last name and status correctly and in a timely manner.
• Coordinates with the Telemetry Technician individualized arrhythmic parameters for the patient's condition to ensure correct alarm settings are set.
• Interprets and documents telemetry monitoring strips accurately keeping attending Physician informed of ectopy.
• Initiates chest pain protocol as indicated utilizing appropriate nursing interventions and documenting outcomes.
Follows telemetry standing orders.
• Manages patients on high risk intravenous cardiac drugs and understands the implications of treatment and assists with elective cardioversion.
Other duties may be assigned.