UNIT SUMMARY:

Urgent Care sees more than 50,000 patients a year with 30% of those patients being children. The Urgent Care is fully staffed with physicians and nurses who are highly trained in emergency medicine and equipped to perform assessments as a result of blood tests, x-rays and other diagnostic tests. Urgent Care serves patients with non-threatening injuries and illnesses. Some types of illness or injuries treated include: lacerations, sprains, ear infections, coughs and congestion, sore throats, etc.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) is a role model of professional values, beliefs and attributes and practices in accordance with the SJHH mission and values, policies and procedures, and College of Nurses Standards and Guidelines.
The RPN provides nursing care to clients in order to promote health and assess the need for the provision of care and the treatment of health conditions by supportive, preventive, therapeutic, palliative and rehabilitation means in order to attain or maintain optimal function of clients.
In an acute care practice setting, a high level of collaboration between the RPN and RN is required to ensure safe and effective care. Consistent with guidelines provided by the College of Nurses of Ontario (2014), RPNs provide care for less complex clients whose outcomes are more predictable and where there is a low risk for negative outcomes. The RPN is accountable to recognize changing acuity or complexity in the needs of the client. The more complex the care requirements of the client, the higher the need for the RPN to recognize the need to consult with a Registered Nurse in determining next steps in the provision of care.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Current College of Nurses of Ontario registration as a Registered Practical Nurse with no restrictions on registration or professional practice conduct hearings pending, AND
b) Practical Nursing Diploma from an accredited Community College program with evidence of IV medication administration as part of the basic educational curriculum OR
c) Practical Nursing Diploma from an accredited Community College program and IV medication administration certificate from an accredited Community College program if this content was not included in the basic diploma educational curriculum OR

d) Practical Nursing Certificate from an accredited Community College program, a medication administration certificate and an IV medication administration certificate from an accredited Community College program

• Current BCLS/HCP certification required
• Demonstrated knowledge, sensitivity and expertise in the care of seniors and their families
• Gentle Persuasive Approach training preferred
• Ability to function to the full scope of nursing practice as per the College of Nurses of Ontario
• Recent acute, medical /surgical experience is required
• Emergency experience an asset
• Experience with Dovetale an asset
• Ability to communicate (written and verbal) effectively with patients/clients, families, and other members of the health care team
• Ability to set priorities and organize work in response to patient/client needs
• Demonstrated knowledge of transfers and lifts
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning, professional development, and continuous quality improvement
• Basic skill level with computers, MS Word, internet searches, data entry and patient information systems
• Good work performance and attendance record are essential

• Practices collaboratively with members of the interdisciplinary health care team to provide care for stable patients/clients who have predictable outcomes.
• Practices collaboratively with Registered Nurses (RNs) to provide elements of care for patients/clients with complex health issues and with less predictable outcomes.
• Provides excellent patient/client and family-centered nursing care to patients/clients who have been identified as having less complex health needs and more predictable outcomes in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Establishes caring, therapeutic relationships with patients/clients, residents and their families to attain or maintain optimal functioning by promoting health and/or treating health conditions through supportive, preventative, therapeutic, palliative and rehabilitative means.
• Assists with the provision of nursing care in accordance with established standards of nursing practice set by the College of Nurses of Ontario and Hospital policies and procedures.
• Contributes to the assessment and documentation of each patient’s/client’s health status on an ongoing basis.
• Assists in the development and implementation of the Plan of Care and evaluates its ongoing effectiveness.
• Communicates effectively with patients/clients, staff, families, physicians and team members.
• Administers medication as ordered and required by the Standards of Practice of the College of Nurses of Ontario. As such, the RPN is responsible for maintaining the security of drugs and narcotics according to applicable policies and legislation.
• Participates in Quality Improvement and Risk Management activities.
• Recommends changes to nursing practice, care policies and procedures as the need arises.
• Represents nursing and nursing care issues (e.g., participates in committees, workgroups, union/regulatory activities)
• Acts as a preceptor to students and novice nurses and directs unregulated care providers, as appropriate
• Participates in data collection for research and uses research to inform practice (e.g., practice guidelines)
• Ability to incorporate tracking into patients care plan i.e. crutches
• Venipuncture and intravenous starts
• Ability to perform visual acuities, electrocardiograms
• Assist physicians as needed in treatment.
• Acts as a role model and champion to identify and integrate safe, best practices into daily activities to foster the delivery of safe and exemplary care.