REGISTERED NURSE

7113F2

Pay Grade: 28

DEFINITION OF WORK

Summary

This is full performance professional nursing work. Work involves providing direct individual care and treatment, participating in the development and implementation of professional nursing practices and maintaining individual records and charts. Functional supervision may be exercised over direct care staff.

Standard Classification Factors

Supervision Received – LEVEL B: "Under general supervision…" Employees working under general supervision usually receive some instructions with respect to the details of most assignments but are free to develop their own work sequences within established procedures, methods and policies. They are often physically removed from their supervisor and subject to only periodic checks.

Difficulty – LEVEL B: Average… Where the employee is confronted with a variety of duties susceptible to different methods of solution which, in turn, places a correspondingly higher demand upon resourcefulness and concentration. Positions which require the analysis and evaluation of raw data and the rendering of conclusions would, in many instances, fall into this category.

Complexity – LEVEL B: Work is of a structured nature including duties that have several related steps. This level involves simple analysis of data, identification of easily distinguishable facts and recognition of differences in related situations. Workers at this level exercise limited independent judgment in determining methods or procedures to be used in making minor decisions. Work is normally controlled by frequent review and consultation with supervisors. When guidelines exist at this level, they are usually specific and aid in determining an approach to problems or situations. Workers at this level must be able to identify basic differences in situations to determine the actions which need to be taken.

Consequence of Actions or Decisions – LEVEL D: Consequences of actions or decisions at this level are significant as the work may be rarely if ever reviewed, making errors difficult to detect. Errors may cause major program failure or a high degree of confusion. Injuries to others due to errors are serious or incapacitating or both and costs due to errors are substantial.

Contacts – LEVEL C: The purpose of the contact is to influence, motivate, conduct interviews, make formal presentations or counsel to achieve common understanding or solutions to problems when the information is sensitive in nature or the individuals or groups are skeptical or uncooperative. Communication techniques and well developed communication skills become an important requirement at this level.

Physical Demands – LEVEL D: The work requires considerable physical exertion.

Environmental Conditions – LEVEL C: The work environment involves hazards, risks or discomforts typical of working with or around machinery with exposed moving parts, irritant chemicals, heavy equipment or abusive or hostile clientele and individuals. Exposure to disagreeable weather conditions and extreme levels of temperature, ventilation, lighting and sound are normal. Protective clothing or gear and specific safety standards or procedures may be required. Serious injury is possible.

Supervision/Leadership – LEVEL B: Involves functional leadership responsibility. As a "senior worker," performing essentially the same or similar work as those overseen, responsibility includes training, instructing, scheduling and reviewing. As a "project leader" may be responsible for a phase(s) of a single project which includes planning, coordinating and reviewing the work of others. This level may also involve limited administrative responsibility such as participating in the evaluation of work performance.

Distinguishing Features

Differs from the Registered Nurse Senior class which provides for full supervisory nursing work, or serves as a utilization review specialist.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED

Develops, implements, evaluates, and revises nursing care plans and communicates any changes verbally or in writing as necessary; makes bedside rounds; participates in nursing team and heath care team conferences; involves the individual and family in planning nursing care.

Interacts with individuals in a therapeutic manner, providing guidance, direction, and support to appropriate behavior, activities, and life processes.

Provides functional supervision to direct care staff.

Reports significant changes in the individual’s condition to the physician and other appropriate members of the health care team; records symptoms, reactions, and progress of the individual; administers medications and intravenous fluids and performs treatments safely, effectively, and therapeutically as ordered; maintains the individual’s safety, dignity, and privacy.

Provides nursing care according to accepted nursing standards and agency policies and procedures.

Evaluates the effectiveness of nursing care; collects data on the progress from individuals, family, and other staff; makes frequent individual rounds and makes direct observations; documents the effectiveness of nursing actions.

Takes and records individual history; performs initial hearing and vision screenings; refers individuals for dental, visual, and complete physical examinations, laboratory, and X-ray procedures.

Participates in agency meetings and committees; may serve as committee chairperson.

Oversees visiting periods, tactfully answering inquiries concerning individual welfare, care, and general progress.

Escorts individuals off grounds to appointments and activities.

Responsible for time management and prioritizing individual care activities.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS

Knowledge

*Knowledge of applicable Federal and State laws.

*Knowledge of professional nursing theory and practices.

*Knowledge of accreditation standards and regulations.

*Knowledge of basic human physical and psychosocial needs.

Abilities

*Ability to apply nursing techniques as directed to special patient care situations.

*Ability to follow oral and written directions in detail.

*Ability to prepare and maintain records, charts, and reports.

*Ability to maintain a helpful and sympathetic attitude toward patients under trying conditions and to maintain harmonious working relationships with professional and non-professional employees.

*Necessary at Entry

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Eligible to be licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of Kansas.

Necessary Special Requirements:

Some positions require an approved drug test unless promoting, transferring, or demoting from another designated position within the same agency.

NC: 12/87 REV: 12/95 REV: 09/96 REV: 10/98 REV: 02/00 REV: 04/01 REV: 09/03 REV: 08/05 REV: 05/06 REV: 10/07 REV: 06/09