Registered Nurse (RN)

Covenant College Job Description

Registered Nurse (RN)

Join a team of employees who are committed to an exciting mission to offer the world biblically grounded men and women equipped to live out extraordinary callings in ordinary places. Covenant College is a community committed to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, and everything we do is grounded in our Reformed theology and worldview.

Covenant has a beautiful 400-acre campus that stretches atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia, on the Georgia/Tennessee border, just outside of Chattanooga. The community is a hub of vibrant cultural, educational, business, high-tech, and entertainment activity and is an affordable place to live or raise a family. The campus enjoys incredible vistas of the Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau with views that span across several states. The region is widely known as an outdoor recreational paradise for campers, boaters, cyclists, climbers, cavers, and hikers, all this while being conveniently located within two hours of Atlanta, Nashville, and Knoxville.

Summary:

The Registered Nurse provides nursing care and health services to Covenant College students, faculty, and staff through Health Services. This position performs patient intake and assessment; administers medications and performs onsite testing as ordered by the Family Nurse Practitioner; responds to urgent needs and emergencies on campus; evaluates isolation and quarantine needs during periods of contagious illness; and supports the Director of Health Services with health education programs for the college community.

Essential Functions:

• Performs intake measures of students, faculty, and staff who seek health services for acute or chronic illnesses (obtains chief complaint, current allergies/medications, takes vital signs, focused assessment, and documents findings into patient EMR and updates PMH as needed).
• Evaluates and assesses assigned patients and recommends over-the-counter medications, if necessary, using Health Services Policies and Procedure Manual.
• Consults or refers patients to clinic Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) as necessary or to other health care clinics if FNP is not available.
• Assists FNP during exams and/or procedures as needed. Performs various patient tests onsite such as rapid Strep, flu test, Covid-19, urinalysis, etc., and performs venipuncture for lab tests that are ordered, and completes the requisition process to Quest Laboratory.
• Administers medications as ordered by FNP within the scope of practice of the Registered Nurse. Assists with calling in Rx. medications, as ordered.
• Promotes patients' independence by establishing patient care goals and teaching patients to understand conditions, medications, and self-care skills. Responds to urgent needs or emergencies on Covenant campus in a timely manner, as made aware of incidents. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals; refers to clinic FNP, urgent care, outside agency, or emergency room as needed. Calls 911 if necessary.
• Evaluates need for isolation or quarantine, when necessary, during periods of contagious illness such as influenza, Covid-19, etc. Provides affected students with verification notes to validate the time he/she was under the care of Health Services.
• Assists the Director of Health Services in planning and administering health education programs to raise the college community's health awareness. Provides students with health and wellness information about a wide variety of topics, including nutrition, stress management, etc. May meet and confer with faculty and staff to develop and evaluate health education programs and services which address identified areas of student need. Assists in the development or presents health-related subject matter to classes, student organizations, and staff groups upon request.
• Complies with OSHA regulations for bloodborne pathogens.
• Performs a variety of clerical tasks as needed; maintains a variety of files.
• Performs other tasks as assigned by the Director of Health Services.

Core Competencies

• Clinical Judgment - Assesses patient needs accurately, works within the Registered Nurse scope of practice, and refers patients to the FNP or outside care when appropriate.
• Responsiveness and Composure - Responds to urgent needs and emergencies on campus promptly and calmly, with patient safety as the priority.
• Patient Education and Care - Helps patients understand their conditions, medications, and self-care, and promotes their independence.
• Confidentiality and Compliance - Handles patient information and records with discretion and follows OSHA bloodborne pathogen requirements and Health Services policies and procedures.
• Communication and Collaboration - Communicates clearly with patients, the FNP, and College departments, and works cooperatively across campus.

Working Conditions:

• This role is expected to be performed on campus unless otherwise directed or arranged for and operates primarily in a professional clinical office environment using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, fax machines, and other job-related technology, machinery, and devices.
• Subject to frequent in-person meetings and contact with patients and on the telephone with management, supervisory, academic, and staff and representatives of external agencies and organizations.
• Generally, college hours of operation for full-time staff are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Alternative hours or schedules may apply. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required, as job duties demand.
• Travel is not required for this position.

Physical Demands

There is a mix of standing and sitting for this particular role, frequently moving around campus to other offices or locations to attend to urgent acute care situations. Classified as light, occasional lifting or lowering of an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling) up to 10 lbs. At times, work may involve moderate to heavy lifting while assisting patients. Expressing or exchanging ideas and conversation by means of the spoken word; needs to be fluent and conversant in the English language.

Qualifications

• A valid, current Georgia license as a Registered Nurse.

• Two years of recent experience in a hospital, clinic, or physician's practice.

• CPR certification with the American Heart Association.

• Understand OSHA Regulations for Bloodborne Pathogens.

• Demonstrated commitment to serving patients with diverse backgrounds, interests, goals, and abilities.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

• Ability to work cooperatively with other college departments.

• Ability to deal responsibly with confidential matters.

• Proficient computer experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, e-mail, and Electronic Medical Records (EMR).

• Preferred:

• Experience as a registered nurse in an educational setting, preferably in higher education.

• Understanding college health functions that help facilitate student health and wellness and how these contribute to overall student success.

• Knowledge of legal requirements and regulations for assigned programs and services.

• Faith and Mission Alignment

• A personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

• An understanding of and commitment to the mission and purpose of Covenant College.

• Ability to affirm and support Covenant College's Staff Commitments and to perform the responsibilities of the position in a manner consistent with the College's Christian mission and community.

• Must be able to assent to Covenant College's Staff Commitments

Position Classification:

• Department/Unit: Student Development/Health Services
• Job Title: Registered Nurse
• Job Status: Regular full-time, 10 month, FLSA Non-Exempt
• Reports to Director of Health Services
• Job Class: Professional
• Job Type: Permanent
• Benefit Eligible: Yes