Our Trauma Surgical Unit is primarily home to our acute care trauma and surgical patient population. Nurses in this area have a 1:6 ratio and specialize in an interdisciplinary team approach to each patient's specific needs. This unit's staff are experts in trauma but also ortho and urology patients as this unit will provide care to this population as well. This unit values collaboration with family practice physicians, hospitalists, as well as a variety of surgical specialists while proudly providing individualized attention to all patients who are hospitalized for illness, surgery, or testing and observation.

1. Performs basic and/or advanced nursing task, as appropriate for the department/unit.
2. Provides and documents patient (significant other) education based on physical, behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors, after identifying barriers to learning.

3. Records and reports to the RN all observed abnormal and/or significant findings to include but not limited to symptoms, abnormal drainage, reactions, responses to treatments, medications, and changes in the patient’s condition.

4. Documents all patient care activities and/or observations according to policies and procedures.
5. Supports care team with patient discharge process.
6. Collects and documents data on each assigned patient on an ongoing basis to include but not limited to the normal systems review, behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors. Specific ages: neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric.
7. Assists in performance improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.
8. Performs initial and annual competency per job class.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.

• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.

• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned

Current Alabama LPN License required.  As of March 1, 2019 current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required. Must have basic computer skills to support the use of electronic medical record, e- mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet. 

Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

WORKING CONDITIONS

WORK CONTEXT

• Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion
• Dealing with unpleasant or physically aggressive personalities
• Must be able to deal with conflict
• Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately
• Must be able to receive delegation
• Must be able to work in groups
• Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work
• Must be meet time pressure and time lines
• Must be able to perform in exact and accurate manner
• Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting
• Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions
• Requires wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking
• Must be able to reach reasonable distances in any direction
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit, stoop and lift
• Must be able to run in an emergency
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner and must be able to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range
• Must possess stamina to work 12-hour shift
• Physical presence onsite is essential