Guthrie Cortland Medical Center (GCMC) is searching for a compassionate & skilled per diem Registered Nurse (RN) to provide exceptional care in our Acute Care (Med/Surg) unit at our beautiful hospital in Cortland, NY. 

Our Acute Care (Med/Surg) department has been described by our staff as having a caring & comforting environment with an incredible team that feels like family. The department is fast-paced but has a strong focus on teaching and learning. Our RNs work on a Care Team with a LPN and a PCP sharing a patient load. 

Perks of Being an RN @ Guthrie:

Increased RN Per Diem Rates for 2024 with 3 Tiers, Pay & Commitment levels! Comprehensive Orientation and Nurses Training Friendly, Supportive and Diverse Work Family Quiet Suburban Neighborhood Free On-Site Parking Fantastic Onsite Coffee Shop

The Guthrie Clinic has been named one of Becker’s 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare for 2023.

 

Job Summary:

Responsible for delivery of patient care through the nursing process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.  Directs and guides patient teaching and the activities of ancillary personnel while maintaining standards of professional nursing.  Understands and adheres to GCMC’s Compliance Standards as they appear in GCMC’s Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy.   Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal, state and GCMC regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.

Education, License & Cert:

• Registered Nurse in the State of Practice.

• BSN in Nursing preferred.

• Any previously agreed upon effective date for obtaining a Bachelor's degree in nursing between individuals and facilities   will remain in effect, including those who transition to their position from the NLRN Program.

• Any contract with specific time frames for obtaining a bachelor's degree in nursing will supersede the above point and will remain in effect.

• Specialty Certification is preferred

• BLS certification.

• ACLS is unit dependent.

Experience:

The Registered Nurse must be a registered nurse currently licensed in the state of employment with at least one year of experience. Alternately, the Registered Nurse may have less than one year of experience if they have been transitioned to their position from the Newly Licensed Registered Nurse Residency (NLRN) Program. The Registered Nurse must meet the individual nursing unit specifications regarding educational requirements during employment. Must maintain BLS certification. ACLS is unit dependent. Specifications regarding educational requirements during employment are determined by the Nursing Department and Nursing Unit. 

Essential Job Functions:    

Assessment

Performs patient assessment and documents accurately in a timely manner per nursing and department policy. Performs nursing admission assessment thoroughly and within timeframe.  Documents the admission assessment accurately and completely. Performs skin risk assessment accurately and reassessment per policy and protocol. Performs pain assessment and reassessment per policy and utilizes hospital approved pain scale and documents appropriately.

Patient Monitoring

Monitors patient as appropriate for condition, status and safety according to nursing department policy. Monitors patient’s vital signs and systems per protocol and documents on appropriate forms. Recognizes change in patient’s condition or status and reports to charge nurse or physician as appropriate. Calls CAT team for patients who meet criteria. Works to ensure patient safety is maintained in all aspects of patient care, by following all policies related to National Patient Safety Goals, etc. Raises concern about patient care and utilizes the Chain of Command as needed to prevent patient harm.

Medication Administration

Performs safe administration and complete documentation of medications, IV fluids, and blood products in accordance with nursing policy. Follows medication administration policy using e-Mar, bar coding and scanning of medications and has at least an 85% scan rate. Insertion of IV’s under aseptic technique and follows IV policy by changing site, tubing and dressing and documents accordingly. Always follows hospital policy when administering blood products. Maintains security of electronic signature with Omnicell and accounts for all narcotics removed from automated dispensing system through proper waste/return administration documentation. 

Patient and Family Education

Assesses and addresses educational needs of patients and families to include disease state, care and treatment. Documents educational needs. Distributes appropriate teaching sheets. Includes evaluation of learner’s understanding post-teaching.

Safe Discharge/Discharge Planning  

Contributes to or initiates discharge plan upon day of admission and participates in interdisciplinary planning. Completes all pre-discharge checklist items. Always gives patient correct forms and discharge instructions by using 2 patient identifiers. Provides patient a safe discharge and appropriate follow-up information and community resources are in place.

Assist Providers

Assist providers in performing procedures and treatments per unit, department specific and hospital policy. Assist physicians/providers with beside procedures and remains competent with unit-specific procedures. Performs read back of critical values and telephone orders when interacting with physicians as warranted. Uses SBAR when giving physicians report on change in patient condition.

Equipment Use

Demonstrates knowledge and ability to use equipment safely and effectively. Utilizes hospital equipment per policy (i.e., guardrails for IV pumps, alarm settings). Uses patient lift equipment per policy at all times.

Nursing Clinical Skills

Demonstrates the ability to perform nursing treatments and procedures. Demonstrates competency, knowledge, and ability to perform nursing treatments and procedures safely and effectively. Conducts Hourly Rounds on patients using 4 “P’s” and documents on appropriate forms. Regularly uses patient room white boards to communicate information to patients and families.                                                      

Emergency Preparedness

Demonstrates working knowledge and understanding of emergency preparedness plans and operations. Aware of and actively participates in emergency preparedness procedures and operations. Aware of and actively participates in Code Blue, Green, Pink, Orange, White, and Silver drills and actual events.

Documentation

Completely and accurately documents patient care activities and response in a timely manner in accordance with department and hospital policy. Documents on a regular, real time basis all patient care activities in accordance to hospital policy.

Nursing Promotion

Promotion of professional nursing to include participation in PI/QI, Customer satisfaction, community involvement, committee activities and nursing continuing education. Actively sits on and attends at least 1 team or committee, or participates in unit PI activity or department team or projects Attends at least 75% of all staff meetings. Attends at least 1 clinical update and all mandatory in services. Participates in unit specific or hospital wide PI/QI activity.

Infection Control

Provide safe and effective patient care in accordance with hospital Infection Control policy and procedures.  Wears appropriate PPE as warranted. Follows hand hygiene protocol. Follows all isolation procedures.

Utilize nursing process

Identify patient needs and problems through assessment.  Implement nursing interventions based on nursing diagnosis.  Develop individualized patient care plan.  Provide appropriate discharge instructions to patient and family. Initiates individualized patient plan of care for all admissions. Edits Plan of Care on a regular basis per policy. Document’s interventions every shift based on nursing diagnosis.

Assist and provide for participation in clinical learning experiences.

Participates in learning experiences for orientees, nursing and ancillary staff and students by serving as a preceptor. Participates in Nursing Grand Rounds at least quarterly by either attending a session or assisting in preparing for unit topic. 

Provide for continuum of care

Assure safe patient hand off through effective communication of the treatment status of each patient. Participates in interdisciplinary care/discharge planning. Uses SBAR for patient handoffs. Uses Ticket to Ride and communicates important information to other departments.

 

Other Duties as Assigned

Employees may be asked to perform duties that are outside the specific functions that are listed.

 

The pay range for this position is $46.82 - $60.34 per hour.