Job Category:

Clinical Support

Work Shift/Schedule:

12 Hr Evening - Morning

Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities.

About the Role:

Job Summary

The Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU) provides comprehensive care to surgical, trauma, orthopedic and neurological patients requiring intense monitoring and nursing care. The 16 beds have bedside monitors. Patient care in the STICU includes early detection and prevention of complications, management of complex physiological problems, patient/family education and family psychosocial support systems.

• Critically ill, unstable patients in the need of intensive treatment such as ventilator support and continuous vasoactive drug therapy. As well as other critical medications.

• Patients who suffer from traumatic injuries or reversible diseases are admitted for aggressive medical and surgical treatment that cannot be provided elsewhere in the hospital. Examples are patients with:

  • Critically injured multi-traumas

  • Orthopedic trauma

  • Respiratory failure

  • Hemodynamically unstable patients requiring invasive monitoring and/or close observation

  • Acute neurological and/or traumatic events requiring continuous observation

  • Emergent or invasive surgical cases

Therapies in the STICU may include hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy, and ventilation support which may include proning. Monitoring provided includes central venous pressure, arterial line, electrocardiogram, pulse oximetry, intracranial pressure monitoring, and apnea monitoring. We do a wide variety of bedside procedures including chest tube insertions, tracheostomy, peg tube placement, invasive wound care, external ventricular drain placement as well as other conscious sedation procedures.

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications:

• Educational Requirements: High School Diploma, GED, or high school transcript showing completion of at least the sophomore level of high school.  

• Minimum Experience: No previous experience is required.  Candidates who have not successfully completed the Foundations of Nursing course (RN students only), have less than six months of PCT experience within the past two years, or do not hold a current and active CNA certification will be enrolled in the PCT Academy, NGHS’s in-house training program. 

• Other:

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications:

• Preferred Educational Requirements:

• Preferred Experience:

• Other:

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work effectively with other departments and the general public

• Ability to accept direction from the nursing staff; ability to perform the basic skills and procedures designated for unit

• assistants

• Typing skills preferred but not required; ability to operate the electronic medical record (EMR)

• Good interpersonal skills & adaptable in changing situations & work assignments

• Must be able to concentrate during multiple interactions & interruptions

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Obtains and reports basic patient physiological data (such as vital signs, weight, skin condition, color and character of urine and stool.

• Utilizes proper body mechanics, provides for positioning, mobility, hygiene, ADL, and/or comfort needs according to procedure and direction.

• Monitors fluids intake and output and documenting.

• Promptly identifies and reports physical and mental status changes to licensed staff assigned to the patient.

• Organizes patient care and sets appropriate priorities by implementing physician and nursing orders within prescribed time frames.

• Performs therapeutic procedures within the parameters of the job description; reporting patient's response to supervising nurse.

• Makes frequent rounds to patient's room in addition to responding without prompting to patient call lights, instituting appropriate actions.

• Explains procedure or care to be provided to patient prior to start of procedure such a mobilizing patient.

• Accurately & timely records patient data and forwards to supervisory staff within established time frames.  

• Promptly answers patien