Registered Nurse Per Diem - Main ED

Overview

The TMC Emergency Department is the busiest Emergency Department in Southern Arizona, seeing at least 95,000 patients a year between both the adult and pediatric ED. We have a total of 54 beds separated into 4 pods (North, South, East, and West). Patients are placed into pods based on their triage acuity. The staffing ratio is 1:2 to 1:4 depending on the acuity of the patient.

We follow the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) Guidelines for triage of all ER patients. We see a variety of patients within the department – everything from sore throats and simple lacerations to respiratory failure and STEMI patients. TMC has earned certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, accreditation as a Chest Pain Center, and the Gold Plus Achievement Award for stroke programs from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

There is a separate Behavioral Health Observation Unit located within the Emergency Department. The ED embraces the Lean Methodology and strives for a culture of continuous process improvement to create the best patient care experience for our community and a work environment that excels in teamwork and collaboration. All nurses are required to be CPR, ACLS, PALS, CPI and NIHSS certified.

Summary
:
Coordinates patient care planning with other disciplines utilizing the principles of the nursing process and critical thinking skills in order to maintain patient safety and well-being.

• Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialists as required and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure safe patient care.
• Writes or obtains initial nursing histories, assesses patients' conditions and develops individual care plans; maintains patient documentation.
• Receives and reviews preceding shift reports and floor nurse reports; makes complete rounds of all units, and notes patients' condition.
• Notifies appropriate physician regarding any unusual or unexpected events or problems requiring direct physician consultation.
• Works with other members of the interdisciplinary patient care team, implements and reinforces patient instructional needs with patient and family offering informational material and pointing out special areas of concern.
• Evaluates outcomes of patient care, consults with other specialists as needed and adjusts nursing care processes as necessary to ensure optimal patient care.
• Identifies and resolves workplace health and safety issues.
• Provides appropriate, direct patient care utilizing appropriate aseptic techniques.
• May manage IV lines, ensure that sterile techniques are adhered to, and oversee patient movement and positioning to ensure that the patient is handled in a medically safe manner.
• May perform the administration of pharmacological vasodilator medications for the purpose of nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging; complies with examination competency as defined in the Imaging Services Practice Standards.
• Complies with policies, procedures, regulations, and standards and takes corrective action when violations occur.
• Orients, instructs, and educates assigned personnel.

• Education: Graduation from a qualified, nationally-accredited nursing program. Some positions may require additional training related to specific skill area, such as EP, which requires instructional programs in intra-cardio echocardiogram and electrophysiology, which includes 30 ablation procedures.
• Experience: One year of nursing experience in an acute care setting preferred.
• Licensure or Certification: Current RN licensure permitting work in the State of Arizona and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required. Some departments such as OR, Ambulatory Surgery, Pediatrics/PICU, PACU, and GI Lab will require advanced life support certification (ACLS and PALS).
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Knowledge of direct patient care and critical care procedures and techniques, tools, and responses required to ensure optimal patient care.
• Knowledge of exam indicators, contraindications and patient preparation.
• Skill in communicating in a clear and concise manner with staff involved in critical care, and physicians to ensure the proper care of patients.
• Skill in reading 12-lead EKG.
• Skill demonstrated in assigned disciplines such as EP, directly involved in patient care.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to complete routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to listen and accurately interpret others’ communication or instructions to take appropriate action.
• Ability to speak and communicate effectively.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.