Akeso Registered Nurse

JOB SUMMARY

The Registered Nurse (RN), as shift leader, plays a pivotal role in managing the nursing team to ensure that each patient is treated with dignity and respect at all times. The RN ensures that the patient is in a safe environment and that their individual needs are addressed, thereby delivering high quality mental health care and physical health care to patients within Akeso Clinics. The RN has knowledge and skills to confidently role-model a high standard of nursing practice at all times.

The position description is a broad indication of the work required from individual personnel holding a particular position. The personnel may be required to undertake certain duties which may not be indicated in this description. No Job Description is regarded as a precise specification of duties but should be regarded as a guide to the main responsibilities.

The Registered Nurse will be responsible for assisting with improved quality nursing care by ensuring compliance to professional and ethical practice, Nursing act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), all Health Care legislation, Basic Conditions of Employment, Policies and Procedures and Core Standards.

The Registered Nurse will also be responsible for assisting with monitoring and ensuring that nursing care and service delivery is implemented and practised within a multi-disciplinary quality assurance team.

The incumbent also fulfils the role by the use of scientifically-based nursing theories and processes, treating the patients as a physical, social and spiritual individual, and by use of educational and technical means applicable to health care practice.

CONSISTANCY OF CARE

Administrative responsibilities

• Ensure that task allocation of subordinates, ie Enrolled Nurses (ENs), Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries (ENAs) and Health Care Workers (HCWs) is done at the start of each shift.
• Ensure that proper handover takes place at the start of and during the shift.
• Participate in twice-yearly appraisals of subordinates.
• Responsible for ensuring that the Policy and Procedure file is kept intact and well-maintained.
• Familiarity with the content of the Policy and Procedure file, and ensure that implementation of the policies and procedures are adhered to by self and subordinates.

Meetings

• Attend meetings as delegated by the Nursing Unit Manager, in her absence or as part of the nursing team, e.g. Ward Rounds, Nursing Management meetings, Administration meetings, Health and Safety Committee meetings, Infection Control Committee meetings, Employment Equity Committee meetings, Risk Management Committee meetings.
• Actively participate in the meetings by making suggestions, offering contributions and being involved in problem-solving with regard to improving the patients' experience whilst patients at Akeso clinics.
• Responsible for giving feedback to other members of the nursing team by means of verbal and written handovers in respect of changes in a patient's treatment, any new decisions that have been taken, or any management changes.

Finances

• Although the RN is not directly involved with financial estimates, he/she is expected to be prudent in the supervision of human resources, ensuring that personal attendance is good, with judicious use of sick leave, and encouraging the above in subordinates.
• Prudent in the utilisation, control and management of material resources:
• Ensure that medication and medical consumables are managed and controlled as per policy.
• Ensure that patients are billed for ward-stock medication and medical consumables.
• Assist with equipment need analysis for budget / capital expenditure purposes - new medical equipment, preventative services and repair and maintenance within legal specifications.
• Ensure items for repair are reported promptly

Organisation

• In the absence of the Nursing Unit Manager, or as a delegated duty, the RN will be able to plan systematically, adapt as circumstances change, and successfully carry a greater workload.
• Delegate duties in accordance with the knowledge, skills and competencies of subordinates, thus maximising the utilisation of manpower and improving productivity.

Control

• Exercise control over all available resources in a responsible manner:
• Medication
• - The ordering of medication for patients to be done according to policy.
• - Ensure safekeeping of medicines as per policy.
• Medical consumables
• - Medical supplies to be kept at a manageable level and controlled as per policy.
• - Prevent stock shortages through planned ordering.
• Equipment
• - Ensure that equipment is used correctly.
• - Ensure maintenance of equipment.
• - Ensure safekeeping of equipment as per policy.
• Environment
• - Ensure that electric lights, heaters and air-conditioners are turned off when not in use.
• - Report maintenance issues.
• Comply with the Health and Safety Representative role and function.

Personnel administration

• Responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the RN's subordinates.
• The delegation and supervision of subordinates is done according to their knowledge, skills and competencies, in order to ensure that quality nursing care is rendered.

Educational responsibility

• Be aware of the importance and implications of staff development, and the responsibility towards the development of self and subordinates.

In-service training

• Lead by example and monitor subordinates.
• Be involved in the planning of the in-service training programme, in conjunction with the NUM and NSM, taking into account the needs of the group and planning accordingly.
• The in-service training programme is a participatory function and therefore all RNs are encouraged to make contributions towards the development, implementation and evaluation of the programme.
• The RN is expected to be on time for the in-service training / journal club and to encourage colleagues and subordinates to do likewise.
• The RN will prepare for and present at the in-service training if so requested.
• The RN is involved in the day-to-day in-service training of the assistant nurse and health care worker by making maximum use of the teachable moment for subordinates. This is done by placing emphasis on basic nursing skills, basic psychiatric nursing skills, incident-reporting, record-keeping and computer literacy.
• The training register is to be completed and signed after each training session, be it formal or informal (the teachable moment).

Professional responsibility

• Legislation:
• All nursing activities must be executed according to the legislation application within the Scope of Practice for a Registered Nurse; ie The Nursing Act No. 33 of 2005, and the Nursing Act No. 50 of 1978 and Regulations, as well as the Mental Health Care Act No. 17 of 2002 and Regulations.
• Company and Clinic Policy:
• Responsible for ensuring that the Akeso Human Resources and Hospital Policy files, as well as the Akeso Clinics Policy file, are kept intact and well-maintained.
• The RN is expected to be familiar with the content of the above-mentioned policy files and to disseminate the contents to subordinates.
• Ensure the implementation of the above-mentioned policies and procedures and that these are adhered to by self and subordinates.
• Take an active role in policy and procedure review processes.

Clinical responsibilities

• To ensure that the patient receives the desired standard of nursing care, there must be active involvement in all aspects of clinical nursing which will fulfil the needs of each patient. In order to do this, the RN must develop the knowledge and skills required to successfully carry out all the aspects of clinical work delegated to him/her. This includes:
• Being responsible for giving feedback to other members of the nursing team by means of a verbal and written handover, especially with regard to changes in the patients' treatment programme.
• Performing the psychiatric nursing evaluation and comprehensively completing the documentation.
• Provision of a therapeutic environment.
• Execution of instructions from the patient's doctor and other members of the MDT.
• The therapeutic use of self.
• Forming therapeutic nurse-patient relationships.
• Performing crisis intervention.
• Appropriate counselling of patient where it is not in conflict with the patient's therapeutic programme.
• Providing psychiatric nursing care.
• Providing pre- and post-procedure care to the patient receiving Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT).
• Administering and evaluating the effect of medication.
• Critical analysis of the patient's vital signs and reporting of abnormalities.
• Providing health education to patients, families and the public when appropriate.
• Providing discharge education individually and by means of planned and specific nursing groups on a Saturday.
• Ensuring that all information pertaining to the patient is recorded chronologically, comprehensively, accurately, and legibly.
• Ensuring that confidentiality is maintained at all times.
• Carrying out patient care and specific duties as delegated by the Nursing Unit Manager.
• Ensuring that safe patient care is practised at all times, especially with regard to patients on Special Observation.
• Maintaining open communication with family members and significant others at all times, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality.

Emergency procedures

• Carry out the appropriate emergency procedure / treatment as directed by Akeso Clinics policy.
• Exhibit competence with regard to life-saving procedures.
• Ensure maintenance of stock, equipment and oxygen to facilitate a successful outcome of a medical emergency.
• Assist the NUM and NSM in being prepared for a potential disaster or emergency situation.

Research

• Actively participate, offering assistance and support, in any authorised nursing / medical research in the practical situation.

Expectations of the Registered Nurse towards the patient and significant others

• Interact in a polite and professional manner.
• Treat the patient and others with dignity and respect.
• Listen and be non-judgemental.
• Be an advocate of the patient.
• Establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship.
• Ensure safekeeping of patients' property that has been handed in / confiscated.

Expectations of the Registered Nurse whilst in the employment of Akeso Clinics

• Be an advocate of Akeso Clinics.
• Be a role model for peers and subordinates.
• Work within the framework of the Akeso company policies and procedures.
• Treat all clinic personnel with dignity and respect.
• Be non-judgemental towards your colleagues.
• Be helpful towards clinic personnel and the general public.

Clinical governance, OHS, Infection control and Core standards

• Assist with investigating of all negative clinical incidents.
• Assist with monitoring safety standards in accordance with the Machine and Occupational Safety Act (Act 6 of 1983).
• Report all accidents and incidents to Line Manager / Safety Representatives.
• Assist with compliance with protocols, policies and Acts.
• Report all equipment not in working order.
• Assist with the control of asset register
• Assist with Medical Healthcare waste management and compliance to legal requirements.
• Participation, representation and/or Chair on committees e.g. Occupational Health and safety, Infection and prevention, clinical governance.
• Assist with ensuring unit is providing safe, cost-effective quality patient care in line with Clinical Governance strategy and evidence-based practice.

Patient experience

• Assist with evaluating the patient’s journey through patient experience and stakeholder input.
• Assist with evaluation of nursing quality indicators and clinical outcomes.
• Effective communication with patients regarding their care.
• Promotion of health and wellbeing.
• Ensuring the principles of infection prevention and all standard precautions are adhered to; ensure clean hygienic environment.
• Promote good public relations with patients, relatives, visitors and sales representatives.
• Identify quality improvement opportunities and assist with ensuring that appropriate strategy and Quality Improvement initiatives are developed and measured.
• Assist with implementing group quality initiatives.

Client relationship

• Assist with effective and formal communication: Registered Nurse to attend relevant meetings.
• Assist and ensure a professional environment at all times

Patient care

• Serve as a clinical resource in assisting personnel to assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care in the unit.
• Ensure communication and interaction with family and health professionals regarding optimal patient care, thereby acting as a patient advocate when necessary.
• Ensure communication between nursing management and unit to eliminate patient care problems / issues.
• Assess, plan and implement advanced nursing care in a specialised field in accordance with standard nursing care procedures, as set out in the standards and procedures of MPH, as well as nursing care theory and medical direction.
• Initiate, direct and maintain emergency treatment (RESUS) as indicated to any patient / person in any ward / department of the hospital. To diagnose and treat the emergency patient quickly, effectively and as efficiently as possible within the Scope of Practice.
• Interview patient and family to obtain general