WEEKEND RN/BENEFITS

Riverside Healthcare is seeking a skilled and dedicated Registered Nurse (RN) to join our acute care team in Kankakee, Illinois. The RN will provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients undergoing various treatments. This role involves assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical and interpersonal skills, the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a commitment to excellence in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Essential Duties

• Patient Assessment and Care Planning: Conduct comprehensive assessments of patients physical, emotional, and psychological needs. Develop and implement individualized care plans in collaboration with patients, families, and the healthcare team.
• Treatment Administration: Administer medications, treatments, and procedures within scope as ordered by provider. Monitor patient responses to treatments and adjust care plans as necessary to ensure optimal outcomes.
• Patient Monitoring: Continuously monitor patients' vital signs, physical condition, and response to interventions. Document all observations and changes in patient status accurately and promptly.
• Coordination of Care: Collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care and manage treatment plans effectively. Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and contribute to discharge planning.
• Patient Education: Takes in consideration culture and age when educating patients and their families about their medical conditions, treatments, medication options, and post-discharge care. Provide support and resources to help patients manage their health and recovery.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes. Ensure compliance with all regulatory and hospital documentation standards. 
• Patient Experience: Engage with patients and their families in a manner that promotes comfort, trust, and understanding. Address patient concerns with empathy and professionalism, striving to create a positive and supportive environment that fosters a sense of security and well-being.
• Employee Experience: Contribute to a positive and collaborative work environment. Offer constructive feedback and assistance to peers, and engage in open communication to promote a culture of mutual respect and teamwork.
• Emergency Response: Respond to medical emergencies with quick and effective intervention, including performing life-saving procedures and stabilizing patients as needed.
• Infection Control: Adhere to infection control protocols and ensure a clean and safe environment for patients and staff. Implement standard precautions and safety measures to prevent the spread of infections. Leverages nurse driven protocols to reduce healthcare acquired infections.
• For all acute stroke units: Satisfactorily complete all required continuing education hours regarding the care of acute stroke patients.
• Team member will maintain annual education requirements for hospital-based certifications (e.g. DNV CARF and or others).

Non-essential Duties

• Participate in ongoing professional development and training to stay current with best practices and advancements in acute care nursing.
• Assist in the orientation and training of new staff members and students as needed.
• Contribute to quality improvement initiatives when applicable.

Preferred Experience

• Minimum of two years of acute care nursing experience preferred.

Required Licensure/Education

• Graduate of an approved school of nursing
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Illinois.* New Graduate RNs starting on or after 1/1/25 must earn Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) within 3 years of start date.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required
• For pediatric unit: PALS Certification required within 1 year of hire
• For intensive care unit: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification required within 1 year of hire 

Preferred Education

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree preferred*
• Professional nursing certification in area of specialty preferred
• Basic ECG recognition skills preferred

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements:

Exposure:

Chemicals: Refer to MSDS sheets

Video Display Terminals: Average

Blood and Body Fluids: Diagnostic composite of patients, frequent contact with intravenous devices, and high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids (blood, stool, vomitus) and administration of blood does create a high risk. use of needleless IV system, universal precautions and protective equipment minimize risk.

TB or Airborne Pathogens: Patient diagnostic presentations do pose high risk; however, usage of protective wear, appropriate size TB mask from fit test and universal precautions reduces risk.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

Speech: Required to communicate with patient/families/staff/doctors, coworkers, ancillary personnel and other department heads. Ability to ask for help. 

Vision: Required to observe patients and their physical assessment, ability to read reports, ability to read machines.

Smell: Helpful to note presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety. 

Hearing: Necessary to hear alarms, calls for help and to hear patient verbalizations; ability to listen for lung, bowel, heart sounds.

Touch: Necessary to assess patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Average Hours per Week: 6-40

Shift: Variable for 24-hour coverage

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

Sit: 10%

Twist: 4%

Stand: 40%

Crawl: 0%

Walk: 25%

Kneel: 1%

Lift: 10%

Drive: 0%

Squat: 1%

Climb: 1%

Bend: 30%

Reach above shoulders: 3%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

Up to 10 lbs: Frequently

Up to 20 lbs: Frequently

Up to 35 lbs: Frequently

Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally

Up to 75 lbs: Not Required

Up to 100 lbs: Not Required

Over 100lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements:

Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.

Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.

Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays).

Carry charts 25'- 150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs.

Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

Sit: 30

Twist: 15

Stand: 6

Crawl: 0

Walk: 10

Kneel: 0

Lift: 5

Drive: 0

Squat: 2

Climb: 1

Bend: 15

Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):

Simple grasp 10 lbs. Normal weight up to 5lbs

Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs. Occasionally

Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, medical/supply dispensing cabinet, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IV's.

Leg Strength: 

Up to 50 lbs. Occasionally- (repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.

Environmental Factors and Special Hazards:

Environmental Factors (Time Spent):

Inside hours: 6-40

Outside hours: 0

Temperature: Normal Range

Lighting: Average

Noise levels: Average

Humidity: Normal Range

Atmosphere: Odors

Special Hazards: Chemical -drugs/work with patients receiving chemotherapy-Explosive-oxygen; Radiation-cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy direct radiation for radiology equipment; mechanical- use of Hoover lift bed scales, motorized wheelchairs, bathtub lift chair.

Protective Clothing Required: As required for chemotherapy or in cases of isolation, i.e. gloves, gowns, masks, goggles.