Job Summary:

The Acute Care Nurse provides advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions including pre- and post-operative patients or performs advanced, invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Diagnoses acute or chronic conditions that could result in rapid physiological deterioration or life-threatening instability.
• Performs emergency medical procedures such as basic cardiac life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and documents data related to patients care.
• Administers blood and blood product transfusions or intravenous infusions and manages patients pain relief and sedation, monitoring patients responses and changing care plans accordingly.
• Assesses urgent and emergent health conditions and interprets the results of diagnostic tests and screening procedures based on assessment results.
• Interprets information obtained from electrocardiograms (EKGs) or radiographs (X rays) and sets up, operates, and/or monitors invasive equipment and devices.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to create a caring, compassionate relationship with the patients and families.
• Ability to collaborate with the healthcare team to use evidence-based practice in providing care.
• Trained to adhere to medications or therapies with complex protocols.
• Expertise in handling sophisticated medical equipment.
• Flexibility to work nights, weekends, and holidays and on-call duty.

Education and Experience:

• Registered nurse (RN) with appropriate state license or compact licensure with multistate privileges.
• Must possess a National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
• Completion of an accredited Associates or Bachelors degree in nursing or a diploma in nursing.
• Certification by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
• At least two years of experience in an acute care environment.

Physical Requirements:

• May be exposed to infectious diseases and occupational dangers like accidental needle pricks, radiation, and electric shocks.
• Must be able to withstand physical and emotional stress.
• Requires long hours of standing and moving.