Plan and provide professional nursing services and patient care for students, staff, and faculty. Ensure compliance with clinicians’ orders and follow established nursing processes, including patient assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Nurse Leader, the Registered Nurse at HUHS works collaboratively with the members of the health care team to support the delivery of care including health maintenance, episodic, acute and chronic care to the adolescent, adult, and older adult population of the University Community. The Registered Nurse utilizes evidence to drive clinical decisions and practice related to individual and population health according to department guidelines, policies and procedures. The Registered Nurse also assists and provides coverage and support to other clinical areas at HUHS as needed.
Clinical Practice and Quality of Care
- Assesses and systemically collects any data related to patient health status and works in collaboration with the care team to develop the plan of care
- Collaborates with the healthcare team incorporating appropriate standards of care for practice and patient outcomes
- Assumes responsibility and accountability for effectively managing nursing care of individual patients
- Documents nursing assessment, interventions and evaluations to reflect comprehensive and integrated approach to patient care
- Provides care that is safe, ethical, patient- and family-centered, culturally competent and evidence-based
There are skills and responsibilities that are common across the ambulatory setting (primary or specialty care). The RN at HUHS may perform any or all of these skills and responsibilities. These may include but are not limited to:
- Telephone, Secure message and in-person triage
- Reviews and acts on test results (lab, x-ray)
- Reviews and manages communications from internal and external “customers”
- Initiates and monitors intravenous (IV) infusions
- Assists or performs procedures (e.g., ECGs, dressing changes, subcutaneous or intra-muscular injections, etc.)
- Provides patient education
- Assists with medication management
- Completes accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record
- Assists with management of urgent and emergent patient care situations
- Serves as a mentor and resource to others
- Assists with the coordination of care across the continuum of care
- Assists with the management of patients with multiple chronic health conditions, acute episodes of care, behavioral health challenges while promoting and supporting prevention and wellness
- May float to other clinics on as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Professionalism
- Works independently within their scope of practice to achieve clinical outcomes
- Maintains a level of professional development through continuing education, quality improvement initiatives and sharing of knowledge
- Leadership through collaborative partnerships.
- Reflects understanding and strive to meet the Mission and Vision of Harvard University Health services
- Utilizes evidence and science to guide practice
- Completes and complies with HUHS training requirements including HIPAA, privacy and security
- Reports non-compliance incidents to manager and/ or Compliance Officer
Age-Specific Competencies
Identifies age specific competencies for direct and indirect patient care
- Adolescent (13 – 19 years)
- Young Adult (20 – 40 years)
- Middle Adult (41 – 65 years)
- Older Adult (Over 65 years)
Additional Department-Specific Responsibilities
Allergy Nurse
- Performs allergy testing according to policy and procedure.
- Performs allergy immunotherapy according to policy and procedure.
- Manages HUHS ordered and patient provided allergy serum and testing materials
Anticoagulation Management Nurse
- Provides initial and continuing patient education regarding the use and management of anticoagulants and their inherent risks, as outlined in Anticoagulation Protocols.
- Receives and interprets daily laboratory results relating to those patients enrolled in the anticoagulation service.
- Uses policy algorithms and best clinical judgment in making decisions regarding anticoagulant dosage adjustments and patient reevaluation.
- Considers and refers any patient appropriate for independent INR monitoring.
- Reassesses patient understanding and compliance on a periodic and as needed basis, particularly in response to unexpected INR results or patient non-adherence.
- Collaborates with primary care physicians in the initiation and ongoing management of patients’ anticoagulation, duration of treatment, special considerations, and patient adherence.
Working Conditions:
- May be required to work evenings and weekends
Physical Requirements:
- Lifting (approximately 20 to 30 pounds), bending, and other physical exertion
- Ability to stand for extended periods