Rehab Nurse/RN/Per Diem

Job Summary:
This professional nurse supervises and administers the nursing service of a single rehabilitation care unit. Provides for the nursing care of patients and cooperates with other members of the nursing care team and personnel from other departments in providing for the patient's total needs. Assist in the orientation of new personnel and any other tasks assigned by their supervisor.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:
The Rehab Nurse performs the following duties listed and others as required to improve the standard of life for our patients. This list does not include all duties required but serves as a basis of expectations. Addition or modification of duties made as deemed necessary by the facility or supervisor.

• Responsible for direct supervision of assigned unit's patient care in accordance with established operating procedures and policies.
• Maintains quality of patient care, in conformance with recognized standard for medical services, including compliance with physician orders and facility procedures.
• Assign duties to non-professional personnel according to the needs of the patients and the preparation and competency of available staff.
• Supervises Rehabilitation Care Technicians daily work performance and provides direction as indicated.
• Administers medications. Accepts telephone orders from physicians.
• Performs assigned treatments per physician orders.
• Assist the physician with rounds, physical examinations, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of patients.
• Informs physician, family, and Director of Clinical Services of all significant changes in a patient's behavior and condition and completes appropriate documentation.
• Completes required charting such as Medicare, nursing assessments and other charting required. Ensures the availability of supplies, equipment, including the stocking of the Med Cart.
• Supervises necessary transfers/room changes.
• Know the patient's therapy goal and review on a daily basis.
• Reinforce therapy teaching/goals.
• Knowledgeable of fracture precautions.
• Work cooperatively with therapy as a team.
• Reports to therapy, via phone, immediately any patients who are put on therapy hold per the Therapy Hold policy and procedure.
• Encourages staff and patients to adhere to the therapy schedule daily.
• Reinforces facility view on rehabilitation patient leisurely outings and provides education to patient and family/DPOA/responsible party.
• Use appropriate communication to encourage patient participation with therapy goals.
• Complete blood draws.
• Review patient's labs daily and as results are competed. Documents and reports any abnormal labs and radiology findings to the physician.
• Reviews required weekly and or daily weights, reports and charting any significant change per policy.
• Works closely providing necessary information to the discharge planning team.
• Attends and participates in Medicare meeting and as scheduled for patients on assigned units.
• Assists with research relative to improvement in nursing care.
• Adhere and promotes nursing and administrative policy.
• Encourage and support peers, supervisor and others.
• Maintain a positive attitude and behavior. There is no toleration of any form of negativity and gossiping.
• Be able to work in a fast paced environment under stressful conditions.
• Responsible in keeping the facility clean, orderly and safe.
• Interacts with patients to determine their needs and provides words of encouragement and support.
• Maintain public relations.
• Provide services to all patients regardless to race, religion, color, national origin, sex age, handicap, marital status, sexual preference or source of payment.
• Responsible to assure the safety of the patients and staff by ensuring the following:

1. Pick up unsafe items off the floor and wiping up spills.
2. Keeping fire exits clear.
3. Making sure that patients and staff are assisted when needed.
4. Removing all broken equipment from use and reporting it to the maintenance department.
5. Knowing the location of all emergency equipment and fire extinguishers.
6. Following fire and tornado procedures.
7. Report all incidents by completing an incident report.

• Following Infection Control Procedures:

1. Keep work area clean.
2. Collect and properly bag soiled items.
3. Store supplies in appropriated areas.
4. Frequently wash hands to prevent the transfer of infection and germs.
5. Practice universal precautions.
6. Know, follow and maintain facility isolation policy and procedures.

• Observe and report health and maintenance problems to one's immediate supervisor.
• Maintain equipment by proper use, cleaning and reporting equipment to be services.
• Staff members will be clean and neat, and to adhere to the uniform policy, including the wearing of hair restraints when needed.
• Monitors patients for any changes in skin condition/sensitivity, pain during movements or other problem area and reports and documents any abnormal findings.
• Show respect and concern for the patients well being at all times.
• Assist with meals in the patient dining room.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Distinguishes between low and high priority activities.
• Makes effective use of discretionary time.

Competency:
To perform job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Compliant Clinical Practices-Delivers care in an ethical and legal manner.
• Competent Clinical Skills-Consistently performs tasks and procedures safely, correctly and effectively to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
• Communication-documentation is current, concise, meaningful, and legible. Able to read and interpret written information. Delivers clear verbal messages using appropriate grammar and tone.
• Interpersonal Skills-Maintains confidentiality. Keeps emotions under control.
• Customer Service-Manages difficult or emotional customer situations. Responds promptly to customer needs. Solicits customer feedback to improve service. Responds to requests for service and assistance. Meets commitments.
• Adaptability-Adapts to changes in the work environment. Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Teamwork-Bypasses personal wants, when needed, for the good of the whole. Shares in the work to achieve team goals. Supports projects and extra duties as needed. Once team decisions are made, supports them. Participates in giving feedback for performance review as requested.
• Delegation-Delegates work assignments. Matches the responsibility of the person. Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities. Provides recognition for results.
• Professionalism-Exhibits professional demeanor. Assesses own strengths and weaknesses. Pursues training and development opportunities. Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills. Shares expertise with others.
• Teaching and Learning Initiative-Teaches and supports other team members. Encourages team members to enhance competencies. Asks for and offers help when needed. Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities. Is active in learning and applying new skills. Keeps up to date on industry and professional trends.
• Time Management-Plans with the end in mind. Ensures clear priorities. Uses appropriate resources to clarify and resolve problems. Ensures deadlines are met. Is dependable.
• Attendance/Punctuality-Is consistently at work and on time. Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Quantity- Completes work in a timely manner.
• Process Improvement-Recognizes and communicates the opportunity to improve. Analyzes problems and offers solutions using data. Voluntarily assumes or seeks additional responsibilities.

Working Conditions:

• Inpatient rehabilitation setting.
• Possible exposure to patients with communicable disease and irrational patients.
• Prolonged standing, walking, bends, lifts, carries, pushes, pulls patients, and various equipment throughout the workday. Extended, unusual or mandated working hours when required.
• Lifting 50+ pounds when assisting and or repositioning patients and equipment.
• Highly stressful and fast-paced environment.

Qualifications:
Must have a genuine interest in the public and in a rehabilitation setting. Must have the ability to cooperate with others and use tact and patience in dealing with patients, their families and visitors. Ability to be flexible to meet changing demands as necessitated by variations in the rehabilitation routine. Capable to adapt to frequent changes in routine. Competent in mechanical lift operations. Competent in computer applications.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and response to questions from groups of managers, customers, and the general public.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute percentages.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Computer Skills: Knowledgeable in Internet navigation using Internet Explorer and basic computer skills to utilize email, and open and close documents.
• Licenses & Registrations: Must be licensed or registered as a nurse per the State of Michigan regulations.

Experience:

• Preferred experience of at least one year of rehab nursing or acute care nursing. Minimum required experience as a general staff nurse, with demonstration of administrative and supervisory ability.

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing and current registration/licensing with the States Board of Nurse Examiners. Attends continuing education seminars and workshops as required to maintain current licensing, in addition to participation in-house and computerized in-service workshops. In addition to State Required CEUs of 24 hours every 2 years, an additional 12 hours per year rehabilitation in-service and/or educations are required.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. Finger and hand dexterity are required in the handling of delicate instruments and other equipment. Visual and hearing acuity are necessary in detecting changes in the condition of patients. Ability to bend, lift, carry, walk, climb stairs, push and or pull patients and equipment as required. Prolonged standing or walking. This position requires the ability to perform the essential functions described. These functions are not limited to the following requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made to otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these physical requirements.