Registered Professional Nurse Job Description
Adult Medical-Surgical
Job Summary:
The Adult Medical-Surgical RN is responsible for managing the care of the adult or elderly patient experiencing general medical conditions or following surgical procedures, which require general assessments, therapies, and interventions related to specific conditions. The Adult Medical-Surgical RN is responsible to the Clinical Manager of the assigned Adult Medical-Surgical unit.
Qualifications
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Current licensure in good standing in the state of practice
• Evidence of 1 year of adult medical-surgical nursing practice within the past two years
• Evidence of BLS completion mandatory
• Additionally, the RN may have professional certifications, including but not limited to RNBC-MS, RNBCGERI, RNC-MS, RNC-GERI, OCN, ONC, CURN, CRRN, CPDN, CORLN, CNN, ACRN, CGRN, CHN, or CPDN
Responsibilities
• Conducts an individualized patient assessment, prioritizing the data collection based on the adult or elderly patient’s immediate condition or needs within the time frame specified by client facility’s policies, procedures or protocols.
• Conducts ongoing assessments as determined by the adult or elderly patient’s condition and/or the facility's policies, procedures or protocols and reprioritizes care accordingly.
• Develops plan of care that is individualized for the adult or elderly patient reflecting collaboration with other members of the healthcare team.
• Performs appropriate treatments as ordered by physician in an accurate and timely manner.
• Performs therapeutic nursing interventions as established by individualized plan of care for the adult or elderly patient and his/her family.
• Provides individualized patient/family education customized to the adult or elderly patient and his/her family.
• Documents patient assessment findings, physical/psychosocial responses to nursing intervention and progress towards problem resolution.
• Initiates emergency resuscitative measures according to adult resuscitation protocols.
• Maintains confidentiality in matters related to patient, family and staff.
• Provides care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner that is sensitive to the adult or elderly patient’s and family’s diversity, preserving their autonomy, dignity and rights.
• Reports patient condition to appropriate personnel during each shift.
• Maintains current competency in adult medical-surgical nursing.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS CHECKLIST
ASSESSMENT & CARE OF PATIENT W/ OR REQUIRING:

1. Acute Cholecystitis
2. Adrenal Disorders
3. Angina
4. Amputation
5. Arthroscopic Surgery
6. Asthma
7. Basal Skull Fracture
8. Bowel Obstruction
9. Bronchoscopy
10. Burns
11. Cardiac Arrest
12. Cardiac Catheterization
13. Cardiomyopathy
14. Carotid Endarterectomy
15. Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA)
16. Cirrhosis
17. Coma
18. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
19. COPD
20. Delirium Tremens
21. Diabetes Insipidus
22. Diabetes Mellitus
23. Encephalitis
24. Femoral-Popliteal Bypass
25. GI Bleeding
26. Hepatic Failure
27. Hepatitis
28. HIV/AIDS
29. Hyperthyroidism
30. Hypothyroidism
31. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
32. Leukemia
33. Lobectomy
34. Malignant Tumors
35. Meningitis
36. Multiple Sclerosis
37. Neuromuscular Disease
38. Osteoporosis
39. Paralytic Ileus
40. Pinned Fractures
41. Pituitary Disorders
42. Pneumonectomy
43. Pneumonia
44. Post Acute MI (>48 Hrs)
45. Post Angioplasty
46. Post Hypophysectomy
47. Post Thyroidectomy
48. Post-Operative Care
a) GI Surgery
b) Orthopedic Surgery
c) Ostomy
d) Vascular Surgery
49. Renal Failure
50. Renal Transplant
51. Rheumatic/Arthritic Disease
52. Seizures
53. Spinal Cord Injury
54. Thrombophlebitis
55. Total Hip Replacement
56. Total Knee Replacement
57. Tuberculosis
58. TURP/TURBP
59. Thyroid Dysfunction
60. Urinary Tract Infection
SKILLS
1. Admission Process
2. A-V Fistula Care
3. Brace/Splint Application
4. Catheter insertion & care
a) Bladder Irrigation
b) Foley
i. Female
ii. Male
c) Straight
i. Female
ii. Male
d) Suprapubic
5. Cast Care
6. Charge Nurse Routine
7. Chemotherapy – Adult Protocols
8. Chest Physiotherapy
9. Chest tube & drainage system
a) Care & maintenance
b) Removal
c) Set-up
10. EKG Interpretation
a) 12 Lead
b) Arrhythmia
c) Lead placement:
i. 5 electrode placement
ii. I, III, V-leads
iii. Lead II & MCL
11. Feedings
a) Continuous tube feeding
b) Gavage, intermittent
12. Gastric Lavage, Iced Saline
13. Gastric Suction
14. Glascow Coma Scale
15. Halo Traction/Cervical Tongs
16. Hemodialysis
17. Hemodynamic Monitoring, Noninvasive
a) Auscultation
b) Doppler
c) Electronic
d) Palpation
18. Incentive Spirometry
19. Interpretation of Lab Results
a) Blood Gases
b) Blood Chemistry
c) Cardiac enzymes & isoenzymes
d) CBC
e) Coagulation studies
f) Cultures
g) Electrolytes
h) Urine dipstick
20. Intestinal Tract Tubes, Placement &
Care
a) Gastrostomy
b) Jejunostomy
c) Nasogastric
d) Orogastric
e) T-Tube
21. Intravenous Infusion Therapy
a) Blood & blood products infusion
i. Albumin
ii. Cryoprecipitate
iii. FFP
iv. Packed RBCs
v. Whole blood
b) Central line site maintenance
i. Broviac
ii. Groshong
iii. Hickman
iv. PICC
v. Portacath
vi. Quinton
c) Heparin lock
d) Nutritional Infusions
i. Hyperalimentation
ii. Intralipids
e) Peripheral IV insertion &
maintenance
i. Angiocath
ii. Butterfly
22. Isolation Procedures
23. Lumbar Puncture (assist)
24. Nephrostomy Tube Care
25. Nerve Stimulators
26. Neurological Assessment
27. Nursing Assessment Care Planning
28. Oxygen Therapy Administration
a) Bag & mask
b) External CPAP
c) Face mask
d) Nasal cannula
e) Trach Collar
29. Pacemaker
a) Permanent
b) Temporary
30. Peritoneal Dialysis
a) Automatic cycler
b) Manual
31. Physical Assessment
32. Restraints
33. Specimen Collection
a) Blood
i. Central line
ii. Venous stick
b) Cultures
c) Sputum
d) Urine
i. Catheter
ii. 24 Hr Collection
34. Suctioning
a) Nasal-pharyngeal
b) Oral-pharyngeal
c) Tracheostomy
35. Temperature
a) Oral
b) Tympanic
36. Thoracentesis (assist)
37. Traction Application
38. Vital Signs
39. Wound/Ostomy Care
a) Colostomy site care/bag change
b) Decubitus ulcers
c) Ileostomy site care/bag change
d) Irrigations
e) Sterile Dressing Changes
f) Surgical wounds with drains
MEDICATIONS
1. Albuterol (Ventolin)
2. Aminophylline
3. Antibiotics
4. Anticoagulants
5. Anticonvulsants
6. Antihypertensives
7. Chemotherapeutic Agents
8. Corticosteroids
9. Digoxin
10. Heparin
11. Insulin
12. Lasix
13. Nitroglycerine
14. Oral Hypoglycemics
15. Thyroid Replacement
16. Delivery Methods
a) Eye/ear instillations
b) IM injections
c) Insulin pump
d) Meter dosed inhalers
e) Nebulizer
f) Oral
g) Piggy-back infusions
h) SQ injections
i) Z track injections
PAIN MANAGEMENT
1. Pain Level Assessment
2. Care of patient w/:
a) Epidural analgesia
b) IV conscious sedation
c) Patient controlled analgesia (PCA)
d) Narcotic agents
e) Non-narcotic agents
EQUIPMENT
1. Cardiac Monitor
2. Defibrillator
3. Glucometer
4. Hemodialysis Machine
5. Infusion Delivery Systems (Specify
manufacturer)
a) IV pump:
b) IV pump
c) IV pump
6. Oxygen Flow Meter
7. Pulse Oximeter
8. Specialty Beds
a) Air fluidized
b) Low air loss
c) Rotating
9. BP Transducer
10. Oxygen Analyzer
11. Oxygen Blender
12. Oxygen Flow Meter
13. Ventilator
a) CPAP
b) Pressure
c) T-Piece
d) Volume
e) Weaning modes
Age Specific Experiences
Adolescent (13-18 yrs)
Young Adult (19-39 yrs)
Middle Adults (40-64 yrs)
Older Adult (65+ yrs)
1. Understands the normal growth and development for each age group and adapts care accordingly
2. Understands the different communication needs for each age group and changes communication methods and terminology accordingly
3. Understands the different safety risks for each age group and alters the environment accordingly
4. Understands the different medications, dosages and possible side effects for each age group and administers medications appropriately

The information I have provided in this knowledge and skills checklist is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.