RN Break Nurse Addendum
Job Objective :
The RN Break Nurse is responsible for the nursing care of patients as established by the Nursing Practice Act of the Board of Registered Nursing of the State of California and as guided by policies and procedures of the hospital.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Arrive to the assigned unit prepared to work for scheduled shift.
- Obtain a copy of the completed Lunch Breaks Schedule from the Charge Nurse (CN) or a designee.
- Break Nurse will introduce him/herself and inform the Primary Care Nurses (PCN) of their role as the Break Nurse (BN).
- Receive a brief 3-5min report, accept the PCN’s phone and assume care of the patients on his/her assignment.
- Break Nurse will assume full responsibility of the patients during the PCN’s break and provide the care necessary, including but not limited to, providing ADLs, assisting in procedures, transferring/receiving of the patient to/from another department, and speaking with physicians, family members and other members of healthcare team.
- Break Nurse must review all orders in the electronic medical record and complete any tasks which are due.
- Document break relief in the staff management system.
- In the event that there is no nurse to break, inform the Charge Nurse and House Supervisor. Break Nurse may stay in the initially assigned department as a Resource Nurse, unless redirected by the unit Manager or HS to provide breaks in different department.
- A Break Nurse may only perform as such, during the times PCNs are in need of meal break relief, unless redirected and approved by the unit Manager or HS (Charge Nurses are not authorized to change the Break Nurse’s role/assignment). Whenever a decision is made to change the BN’s role, the Staffing Office must be informed, so the role change can be documented in the staff management system.
- Notify the Charge Nurse immediately if problems are encountered with providing breaks at the assigned times.
- In the event that a PCN doesn’t return on time for his/her break, Break Nurse must notify the Charge Nurse or a designee. A Break Nurse may give the phone and a handoff report to the Charge Nurse and then proceed to relieve the next nurse. Not doing so will disrupt the remaining nurses’ breaks.
Non-Essential Duties:
- Other duties as assigned within compliance with Title 22, The Joint Commission, and CMS.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge
- Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVH Board of Directors.
- Conforms to required accreditation standards.
- Conforms with and supports hospital quality management and performance improvement guidelines.
Skills
- Skill and ability to follow telephone etiquette/standards.
- Displays a willingness to work as a team player.
- Safely and effectively uses all equipment necessary to carry out duties.
Abilities
- Ability to adhere to all established AVH policies and procedures and to interpret and function under these.
- Ability to organize work and establish priorities.
- Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties.
- Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters.
- Ability to relieve clerical staff at desk, or to adopt any function commonly assigned to unlicensed assistive personnel, or as allowed within scope of nursing practice, as needed.
- Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times.
- Ability to be flexible in meeting staffing requirements of the facility.
- Ability to meet basic health requirements and physical job standards.
AVH Values:
- Patients Come First – We listen actively and communicate with our patients and families, placing safety as a top priority.
- Accountability & Ownership – We fully complete tasks, are transparent, effectively communicate, and recognize that what we do reflects on us.
- Teamwork – We build trusting relationships, promote a sense of community, and are respectful of everyone. Success is about the whole team.
- Integrity & Honesty – We tell the truth at all times, speak up when something is wrong, and do the right thing when no one is looking.
- Excellence – We take pride in our work, are goal-oriented, and on a never-ending quest for top tier quality.
- Initiative & Innovation – Our can-do attitudes, creativity, and resourcefulness empower us to improve the patient’s experience, solve our own problems, make timely decisions, and look for opportunities to add value.
- Tenderness & Compassion – We have genuine empathy, show kindness, and encourage and advocate for each other.
Education and Experience:
Education:
- National certifications are desirable.
Experience:
- Minimum of one year of experience in an acute care setting.
Required Licensure and/or Certifications:
- Registered Nurse.
- BCLS required.
- ACLS, NRP and PALS certification may be required, dependent upon practice area.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- May be required to take call shifts per department policy.
- Mandatory weekend and holiday rotation.
A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.
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