Staff Nurse

Job Summary

• Individualized assessment is made by the SICU nurse to determine the immediate needs of the critical care patient.
• Ongoing assessment is then established to keep tabs on the patients condition and make any changes in treatment based on hospital policy procedure and protocol.
• Assessment helps the nurse and other hospital staff determines what plan of action to take in care of the patient.
• Assessment also allows the SICU nurse to educate the patient and her family on what to expect in the days weeks and months following SICU treatment.
• Following doctor or head nurse instructions the SICU nurse performs treatments and therapies for the patient.
• She gives the patient all necessary medication. If the patient lapses into cardiac arrest or another condition that requires resuscitation the nurse follow hospital protocols and administers life-saving techniques.
• When a patients condition changes rapidly the nurse makes quick decisions to treat the patient effectively.
• As shift changes occur it is the nurses duty to inform the relief nurse of all patient care information.
• If the patient requires special procedures the SICU nurse acts as an assistant to the doctor or head nurse.
• Documentation of assessments and drug therapy is recorded by the SICU nurse.
• She also makes documentation of physical therapy and other treatments given.
• The nurse must also keep all patient clinical records with doctor orders confidentially secure.
• The SICU nurse must be no discriminative and nonjudgmental when dealing with patients.
• In some cases the SICU nurse is the team leader on the nursing staff and reports directly to the head or charge nurse.
• In this position she has the duty of directing and developing the skills and abilities of the staff under her.
• She is also responsible for giving the team assignments as directed by the head nurse.
• The nurse plays an active role in team conferences participating in in-service trainings and initiating CPR and codes classes when needed.