Job Summary:
A registered professional nurse employed by Erlanger Medical Center is responsible for direct and/or indirect care of the surgical patient.

Education:
Required:
Graduate from an accredited School of nursing

Preferred:
CNOR
Membership in professional organization

Experience:
Required:
Will accept new graduate from an accredited school of nursing with valid licensure.

Preferred:
Minimum of one (1) year of surgical experience

Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration
Required:
Current licensure to practice in the State of Tennessee
BLS completed prior to going to unit/department and maintained going forward.

The Nurse Licensure Compact will not change how to obtain or renew a Tennessee license. However, the Tennessee nursing license will be a single state license for Tennessee Residents or non-compact state residents. Tennessee licensure or multistate licensure from a compact state must be obtained within three months of hire for non-Tennessee residents.

Preferred:
N/A

Department Position Summary:
The Registered Professional Nurse is responsible for the assessment, documentation, and evaluation of the plan of care for the patient during the perioperative phase of surgery. This individual demonstrates the ability to prioritize duties and responsibilities in his/her performance as a patient advocate. The Registered Professional Nurse works in collaboration with the medical, anesthesia, managerial, and clinical staff in order to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

The Registered Professional Nurse must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. The Registered Professional Nurse must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span, possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status, interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's policies and procedures. This individual further contributes to nursing and the Medical Center through support of the philosophy and objectives.

The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's policies and procedures. This is done through evaluation of direct supervisor by direct observation, in a skills lab, or discussed verbally or written. Competency can also be evaluated by a formal peer review process and/or by self-assessment based on objective criteria that is reviewed and validated.