Start Date: 09/25/2022

End Date: 12/24/2022

Status: Open

Total Positions: 4

Skill: RN Med/Surg

Duration: 13 - Weeks

Location: NY - St. Peter's Hospital

Shift Start Time: 19:00:00

Shift End Time: 07:30:00

Description:
Scope of Services
6 McAuley
2017


Type of Patients Served
6 McAuley is a 34 bed Medical/Surgical unit, which provides care to acutely ill patients. It offers care for the sub specialties of general surgery, urology, GYN/Oncology surgery, breast surgery, orthopedic overflow, and those patients requiring cardiac telemetry monitoring and continuous oximetry.

Ages of Patients Served
The primary population of 6 McAuley includes the adult and geriatric population.

Current Services for Patients and Patients’ Families:

Frequent Procedures, Processes, Services
• Post Op care
• Wound care
• Continuous pulse oximetry
• Telemetry
• Rehab therapies
• Respiratory therapy
• Spiritual care
• Patient education

Scope and Complexity of Patient’s Care Needs
Patient care is provided along the continuum, beginning with diagnosis, system management therapy, and provision of a safe discharge plan. Particularly complex patients such as those with radical prostatectomy, nephrectomy and GYN Oncology, are acutely ill and require frequent monitoring of all systems and extensive patient/family education and psychosocial support.

Criteria for Entry to Services
Patients may be admitted to the unit via the emergency department, the post anesthesia care unit, inter-unit transfer, and electively.

Hours of Operation
The unit operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Methods Used to Assess Patient/Patient Population Care Needs
Processes:
Evidence based assessment tools will be utilized in the assessment and evaluation of patient care needs. An individualized plan of care will be implemented upon admission and continuously updated to meet changes in the patient’s condition. The team leader and clinical care coordinator (C3) are responsible for collaborating with the nurse caring for the patient with the additional members of the health care team as indicated, such as respiratory therapy, nutrition, therapies, case management and spiritual care, in order to facilitate the patients’ progression of care.

Methods Used to Determine Extent to Which Patient Needs are Met and Services Adjusted
Services:
The Registered Professional Nurse, in collaboration with the patient, family, and other health care team members, establishes and modifies plans of care that are reflective of the knowledge of aggregate populations and comprehensive to the continuum. Each plan is developed to facilitate safe discharge.

Qualifications of Staff
Registered Nurse
• Current Basic Life Support
• Successful completion of the cardiac monitoring course
• Annual Cardiac Competency Validation
Patient Care Technician
• Current Basic Life Support
• Successful completion of orientation
• Annual Competency Validation
Information Associate/Senior Information Associate
• Successful completion of orientation.

Methods Used to Adjust Staffing
When census, case mix or other factors vary from the plan, the staffing level is adjusted through the use of excess hours, overtime, per diem staff, and redistribution of staff between units. Staffing on 6 McA will be adjusted every shift based on changes in the census and/or acuity. It will be the responsibility of the charge RN to determine the appropriate changes, accessing the Nurse Manager for assistance.



Methods for Communication, Collaboration, and Functional Relationship with Other Departments and Services

A. Internal: In order to provide for collaborative, informed, participation of all staff members within 6 McA, unit staff meetings are held monthly. There are several communication boards located within the unit. Notices for all meetings are posted and/or communicated by e-mail. Additional announcements, updates, and information is also shared via email.

B. External: Communication is accomplished through collaborative programs within the Medical/Surgical Centers. Communication between the Medical-Surgical units occurs at monthly meetings. Communication occurs between the Medical-Surgical units, other units within Patient Care Services, and other hospital departments, including divisional and hospital based committees is also a means of communication.

C. A collaborative relationship exists between the staff of 6 McAuley and various other hospital departments and services including, Pharmacy, Clinical Engineering, Cardiac Services, Nutrition, Social Work and Continuing Care, Rehab Services (PT, OT, Speech, and Auditory), Home Care, Medical Records, and Materials Management. Spiritual Care’s presence addresses the role of spirituality to team members, focusing on providing a holistic approach of care for patient and team. There is a sharing of resources and knowledge between units within Patient Care Services.


Medical Staff Integration/Relationship
Program of care meetings are convened to review outcomes, identify opportunities, action plans and to strategize for future programmatic growth. Active participation by physicians, professional and paraprofessional care givers allows for excellence in programmatic integrity as well as team relationships.

Plan to Improve Quality of Care:

Philosophy
The philosophy of the 6 McAuley quality improvement program is congruous with that of the hospital. We believe that continuous quality improvement is an essential component of patient care. Quality improvement is a creative, dynamic process by which standards are developed and actions are taken to ensure achievement of them. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is the responsibility of all professionals and all are expected to participate in creative planning, and execution at the staff nurse level. Comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of nursing (structure, process, outcome) and integration with higher level activities through communication systems and quarterly reporting.

Scope of the Quality Improvement Program
The 6 McAuley Quality Improvement program will include:
• The identification of unit based standards.
• The identification of actual or potential problems and documentation of problem solving and resolution.
• The monitoring of risk management activities, including review of event reports and use of indicator sheets.
• The use of pertinent audits, current or retrospective based on unit needs.
• The identification of unit goals with quarterly updates.
• Annual evaluation of QI process and outcomes.
• Patient satisfaction improvement process indicator.
• Information acquired from various means will be utilized to determine desired outcomes or opportunities for improvement.

Plan to Improve
Foster an environment where the best decisions are made by the right person, in the right time, and for the right reason.

• Patient Safety/Quality
1. Medication Safety
2. Patient Falls with Injury
3. Advanced Directives
4. JCAHO Patient Safety Standards

• Infection Control
1. Standard Precautions
2. Needle sticks
3. Nosocomial/Community Acquired Infections
4. Catheter Associated Infections

• Environmental Safety
1. Surveillance of the environment to optimize a safe work environment.

Standards Governing Department
• The Joint Commission (JC), Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP),
• New York State (NYS) Hospital Code
• 6 McAuley staff will follow the protocols and procedures contained within the Policy Council. 6 McA utilizes the standards and guidelines of professional organizations.