Overview
The Registered Professional Nurse is responsible and accountable for prescribing, delegating and coordinating all nursing care as defined by The New York State Nursing Practice Act. Comprehensive Medical/Surgical nursing care focuses on helping each patient to achieve their optimum health potential. This is achieved within the framework of the nursing process. The Medical/Surgical Registered Professional Nurse is responsible and renders services to Adult Medical/Surgical patients ranging from 18 years and older.

Responsibilities
In accordance with professional nursing standards and practices, the Medical/Surgical nurse will provide nursing care to all patients with medical and surgical diagnoses.

The Medical/Surgical Nurse is responsible and accountable for the nursing care of the patients.

Assessment:
-Assesses patient’s physical, social and behavioral, mental status through direct observation, interview, and medical record review.
-Utilizes observational skills to assess patient’s needs.
-Documents a nursing assessment to include psychosocial, environmental factors, educational level and needs.
-Obtains and reviews available data base and any data collected by other members of the health team (medical/surgical/other history, physical exam mental status, therapist reports and community referrals).
-Identifies medical problems resulting from mental illness and use of medications.
-Communicates findings with other members of the health team. (Social Worker, Case managers, therapist, physician).

Planning
-Identifies and addresses needs for admission based on acute medical/surgical diagnoses and presenting physical/psychological symptoms
-Identifies and addresses patient level of education, learning needs.
-Makes appropriate referral to other disciplines and documents same.

Intervention/Implementation
-Management of clinical skills in the provision of nursing care and management of the patient including but not limited to:

--Identification of symptoms
--Management of the disease entity
--Treatment modalities
--Administration of medications


Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
- Minimum 2 years' medical-surgical nursing experience preferred.
-Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing

Licenses, Certifications:
-Current NY State RN License required.
-Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) required.