POSITION SUMMARY

The Undergraduate Nurse (UN) works as a member of the care team, collaborating on the delivery of client care to meet individual needs and within his/her level of competency. He/She integrates and applies the knowledge, skills, judgment and interpersonal attributes required to provide a safe and ethical professional service to clients under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN).

The UN will be assigned duties reflective of his/her level of education preparation, demonstrated skill level, AgeCare policies and procedures and the collaborative care model.

Within the scope of this position, the UN takes on a key role to continually provide an environment promoting a culture of client safety and freedom from harm and injury.

The UN promotes health and safety awareness in the workplace, promotes teamwork and spirit, encourages client independence, respects clients’ rights and individuality, assists them to meet their basic needs and applies understanding of life cycle and aging to current practice.

VALUE BASED WORK

All positions must work demonstrating AgeCare’s values of Trust, Respect, Quality and Teamwork. AgeCare is committed to providing a respectful environment, and we believe that when we work together and live our values, we honour our rights and responsibilities.

CORE OUTCOMES

Assessment

• Collects relevant data and contributes to the comprehensive assessment of the health status of each assigned client
• Assesses client and collaborates with the RN by providing a physical assessment of major body systems for which he/she has had instruction and has demonstrated competence in his/her education program:
  • Respiratory (pneumonia)
  • Circulatory (possible MI, CHF)
  • Integumentary (risk of skin breakdown)
  • Sensory (hearing, visual losses)
  • Muscular – skeletal (mobility, pain)
  • Elimination (bowel, bladder)
• Ensures all newly admitted clients and those clients with changing, complex, unpredictable, unstable health care needs have a comprehensive nursing assessment including physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and well being

Planning

• In collaboration with the client, family, members of the care team, identifies, relates, interprets, and integrates the client’s needs
• Utilizes data collected from assessments to establish a plan of care in collaboration with the RN
• Records identified needs on the client’s care plan
• Contributes to the establishment of client goals and outcome measures for the identified interventions
• Ensures revisions to car plans are made, in collaboration with the RN

Implementation

• Provides care in accordance with AgeCare policies and procedures under the direction of the RN
• Modifies nursing actions according to changes in client health status under the direction of the RN
• Provides care to stable clients to further assess individual clients and/or to coach other nursing staff in the provision of quality care
• Documents nursing actions in the 24-hr report and TTR indicating collaboration with the RN
• Administers medications which are not considered restricted activities, to assigned clients
• Evaluates the effectiveness of all medications
• Documents administration of medications according to AgeCare policies and procedures

Evaluation

• Assists the RN in the evaluation of client care regularly based on expected outcomes: monthly, quarterly, annually, after significant changes to a client’s condition
• Collaborates with the RN to evaluate the care of groups of clients based on best practice standards established for the group

Documentation

• Assists the RN in maintaining accurate, clear, concise documentation that meets legislative and legal requirements as well as the standards identified by AgeCare

Communication on the Nursing Team

• Assists the RN to ensure that all relevant information is communicated to the next shifts – verbal shift report / 24 hr report (along with documentation on the clinical record)
• Collaborates with the RN to assess nursing workloads and plans staff assignments to best meet the overall needs of clients (group assignments, unit / neighborhood assignments relative to overall Nursing Department workloads/needs)

Collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Team

• Consults with other members of the professional health care team as appropriate

Continuing Competence

• Maintains individual, specialized and workplace specific competencies to carry out the functions expected in the GN role at AgeCare
• Attends mandatory and continuing education inservices provided by AgeCare and ensures number of education hours meet AgeCare guidelines
• Identifies own learning needs by soliciting feedback from others
• Seeks ways to address own learning needs to ensure personal professional competence to provide client care required by AgeCare, current legislation and professional colleges (CARNA, CRPNA)

Restricted Activities:

• The UN under the supervision of a RN may perform duties for which he/she has had instruction and has demonstrated competence in his/her education program. Competencies are determined in collaboration with the Unit Manager, Director of Care or designate. UN’s are not to take verbal telephone physician orders and cannot perform any specialized clinical competency

Responsible Organizational Behavior

• Participates in and supports the development and implementations of the service area/program’s plans (including Emergency Response Plan), goals and objectives
• Guides and supports students and other personnel as appropriate
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality to all clients and staff to ensure individual rights are respected and protected
• Promotes a positive work environment by:
  • Respecting other’s opinions, judgments, and abilities
  • Using proper channels of communication
  • Managing conflict effectively
  • Demonstrating flexibility and reliability
  • Treats other team members, clients and families with dignity and respect
• Recognizes when to seek assistance
• Provides input into the development of AgeCare policies, procedures and practices
• Participates actively in meetings, attends assigned teams, as able, and carries out assigned responsibilities
• Participates in quality improvement activities (TQM Program)
• Promotes health and safety awareness, establishes, instructs and monitors staff for safe work practices and compliance with all regulations
• Conducts environmental safety inspections on a daily basis, including monitoring of equipment and hazard identification and hazard control
• Corrects unsafe conditions and practices among employees including investigation and Disciplinary action according to AgeCare policies and procedures and in collaboration with the Director of Care / Clinical Resource Nurse / Unit Manager
• Supervises client care assigned to appropriate, competent nursing staff, including the supervision of restricted activities supported by AgeCare that are assigned to other regulated health care professionals
• Supervises competent unregulated workers (HCA’s) to provide client care interventions supported by AgeCare as defined as “activities of daily living”
• Reassigns care, as required, based on the changing needs of the client or the assessed deficit of competence of the particular staff assigned to carry on the care
• Monitors the care provided by the entire team to ensure the client care plan is followed

Client Safety

• Perform all duties in a manner in which client safety is the focus
• Report any unsafe activities that may cause harm or injury to a client
• Educate other co-workers / colleagues on the proper safety techniques when there is a possibility of endangering a client
• Observe and correct any unsafe behavior demonstrated by clients

QUALIFICATIONS

Special Job Characteristics

• Job flexibility in the work assigned
• Good communication and interpersonal skills dealing with clients, families, physicians and other staff
• Demonstrates a caring and empathetic attitude in a professional, mature manner
• Critical thinking skills, within the scope of the practice (including clinical judgment and problem solving) and in collaboration with the RN

Experience

• Prior health care experience in a long-term care facility preferred

Education / Designation Requirements:

• Completion of year 3 of nursing program in accredited school
• Proof of completion of 3rd or 4th year nursing program or proof of enrollment in refresher program

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Job requires a significant amount of lifting, bending, and walking
• According to the Canadian Classification and Dictionary of Occupations, this job is considered “medium”
  • Lifting 50 lbs maximum
  • Frequent lifting and/or carrying up to 20 lbs
  • May involve sitting with pushing and pulling or arm and/or leg controls
  • Must be able to handle stressful situations in the workplace

HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS

• Physical

  • Muscle strain from lifting, transferring, turning clients
  • Dealing with aggressive clients
  • Repetitive strain injuries
  • Ergonomic concerns re: desk/computer work

• Chemical

  • Working with WHMIS and Control products

• Biological

  • Contact with blood and body fluids
  • Exposure to illnesses seen in a communal living environment i.e. influenza, colds, GI
  • Needle stick injuries

• Environmental

  • Slippery floors
  • Bed cranks
  • Bed rails
  • Working alone situations
  • Using specialized equipment
  • Plants and animals

• Radiation

  • None

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Is responsible for own health and safety by complying with all policies and procedures.
• Attends health and safety training and education sessions
• Reports all incidents, injuries, and illness to Supervisor immediately
• Reports all substandard practices, conditions, and potential hazards
• Works within the Occupational Health & Safety Legislation: specific job responsibilities, daily identification of hazards and controls as required
• Complies with OH&S documentation including Near Misses, Employee Unusual Incident Investigation Reports
• Ensures equipment is maintained in good working order
• Uses and operates equipment in a safe and proper manner and for the intended purpose, according to policies and procedures
• Refuses unsafe work

If you’re motivated by the privilege of serving our seniors with dignity, respect and compassion, come join us!