Per Diem Clinical Nurse - Neonatal ICU (NICU)

Interviews patient and/or family to obtain data for nursing assessment; records and reports data;Utilizes assessment data to formulate nursing diagnosis;Applies knowledge of normal parameters; identifies deviation from normal, obvious patient problems, symptoms, and/or behavioral changes; reports these to the appropriate authority;Makes observations about physical, psycho-social, cultural, learning needs, and response of patient and families; documents in a clear, concise manner.Planning Identifies patient care problems and establishes priorities for care based on nursing and medical diagnosis;Understands goals and plans of care for the typical patient population;Initiates a patient care plan and collaborates when appropriate;Contributes to the revision of the initial patient care plan dependent upon the changing needs of the patient;Contributes to the development of unit standards of care;Plans patient teaching activities.Implementation Establishes priorities and gives nursing care based on the patient care plan;Implements the patient care plan;Seeks supervision and guidance in further developing nursing skills, in performing procedures not yet mastered, and/or in functioning in unfamiliar situations;Accepts accountability for all nursing care provided;Monitors compliance with safety standards and care protocols for self and others;Records nursing care given and patient's response to care;Assists in coordinating the activities needed to implement the patient care plan;Participates in implementation of patient discharge plan;Teaches patient and families;Complies with external and internal regulations pertaining to nursing practice; recognizes legal and ethical duties and responsibilities of registered nurses;May participate in research projects.Evaluation Evaluates the patient's response to care provided;Communicates evaluation outcomes;Evaluates teaching provided by self and others;May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;Performs other related duties, as required.

Qualifications Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through possession of an active California Registered Nurse (RN) license without restrictions;andOne (1) year, within the last three (3) years of full-time Registered Nurse (RN) experience in an accredited hospital, clinic, or healthcare setting.andOne (1) year, within the last three (3) years of full-time RN experience in the NICU specialty.

A nursing specialty is a field of nursing that focuses on either a particular patient population or a health condition.

Possession of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is preferred.Special RequirementsMust possess and maintain the following certification(s) during employment:

• For clinical specialty areas, must possess and maintain the following certification(s) during employment:

• Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver’s license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.

*As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help.

A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

• California Nurse Practice Act;

• American Nursing Association Code of Ethics;

• Nursing Professional Practice Model;

• Federal and State healthcare laws and regulations appropriate to the operation of California hospitals;

• Current nursing and related medical theory necessary to administer nursing care within assigned clinical setting;

• Principles, practices, and methods of acute and primary care clinical nursing, including community aspects and continuity of patient care;

• Diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems as related to a clinical specialty area;

• Clinical systems, supplies, and equipment;

• Safety and Infection Control practices;

• Sciences basic to nursing (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology);

• English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;

• Common computer systems and charting applications.

• Adapt approach readily and consistently when patient/family displays unexpected response;

• Monitor patient satisfaction and take action to improve care;

• Use creative strategies to ensure patient/family possess understanding of the plan;

• Provide guidance to new staff;

• Serve as coach or preceptor to evaluate and validate a colleague’s clinical judgment;

• Identify changes that require actions other than those anticipated or planned;

• Utilize critical thinking skills to interpret complex data;

• Foster an environment that promotes mutual respect and professional growth;

• Balance competing demands;

• Plan and coordinate multiple patient needs and reshuffle their priorities in the midst of constant patient changes;

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.

• Ability to work alternate work schedules, weekends, and holidays as necessary;

• Ability to perform physical skills required to deliver patient care;

• Bend, stoop, reach, perform fine motor movements, see, hear, and touch;

• Strength to lift, move, and transfer most patients; to restrain and carry children; to move and carry equipment; and to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which requires sufficient body weight and adequate lung expansion;

• Mobility: bend, stoop, get down on the floor; combination of strength, dexterity, mobility, and coordination to assist patients; ability to move around physically and adequately in confined spaces (patient rooms, bathrooms, treatment settings, around patient equipment, etc.);

• Fine Motor Movements: manipulate syringes and IVs; assist patients with feeding and hygiene; write appropriate notations; document in health record; and perform sterile procedures and other skilled procedures;

• Vision: Visualize patients in order to assess and observe their health status, skin tone, color changes, dermatological conditions, non-verbal behaviors, changes in signs and symptoms of illness, health improvement or deterioration, etc.;

• Hearing: Hear and see patients, monitor signs and symptoms, hear alarms, patient voices, call lights, and assess patient conditions, non-verbal behaviors, changes in signs and symptoms of illness, health improvement or deterioration, hear through the stethoscope to discriminate sounds, and accurately hear on the telephone;

• Touch: Ability to palpate both superficially and deeply and to discriminate tactile sensations.