WHY NURSING AT RMC?
Nursing Culture, Values and Guiding Principles – Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations (Nursing Social Policy Statement, 2003). The practice of nursing by a registered nurse is defined as the process of diagnosing human responses to actual or potential health problems, providing supportive and restorative care, health counseling and teaching, case finding and referral, collaborating in the implementation of the total health care regimen, and executing the medical regimen under the direction of a licensed physician, [or] dentist, or advanced practice registered nurse (Georgia Nurse Practice Act).
Henceforth, Nursing Services at Rockdale Medical Center will create and maintain a culture that is innovative and patient-centered in all aspects of patient care delivery. In doing so, we strive to be a hospital-wide care delivery system that includes the RN, LPN, Unit Secretary, and nursing technician who continuously utilize costs effectively, and who provide and promote an environment of high quality, reliable, accessible, timely, and efficient care in all settings through leadership and knowledge, centered around uncompromised patient satisfaction. At the center of all patient care delivery are the core values of caring and compassion, innovation, and community responsibility.
Our goal is to partner with other healthcare workers and establish caring relationships whereby patient care outcomes are achieved and individualized according to patient and situation with attention to resource management. A long-range goal is to apply evidenced-based practice to optimize the role of the registered nurse, including the role of the advanced practice RN as allowed by the State of Georgia Nurse Practice Act.
As a patient care delivery unit, the Division of Nursing pursues excellence and preeminence in all its endeavors. We are open to change and encourage continuous quality improvement. We value learning as a way of life and promote habits of critical thinking, continuing education, and strong decision making skills. We offer our staff a warm and friendly working atmosphere whereby they may practice the latest trends in nursing based on evidence-based practice. We are sensitive to the abilities, needs, and interests of our nursing staff.
Nursing Orientation Program
When you join the RMC family, we want you to feel welcome. To that end, we provide an extensive orientation including classroom and hands-on instruction. Your orientation is tailored to your specific needs so that you can progress at a pace that is just right for you. You will be partnered with a preceptor who has been specially trained in adult learning, is passionate about teaching, and is proficient in his or her area of expertise. In many nursing departments we welcome and encourage both experienced and novice nurses to join or family.
NPAP Clinical Ladder Program
As a member of our family you will also have many opportunities to grow. One way to do this is through our Nurse Professional Advancement Program (NPAP). NPAP is designed to foster each individual nurse's professional development. Similar to clinical ladders, each candidate has the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the profession of nursing and to our organization through committee participation, additional education, joining their professional organization, sharing their knowledge with peers, and serving as a positive role model for fellow employees.
Nursing Disciplines
Clinical Decision Unit (CDU)
The CDU is a 14-bed unit that provides specialty care to Medical Outpatients and Procedural Outpatients. It is also home to the Chest Pain Center which opened in September 2006. This center is modeled after a new concept in patient care that manages patients who present to the hospital with the primary complaint of chest pain. Typically, low risk patients with complaints of chest pain are triaged in the ED, and then transferred to the CDU for serial testing. Treating patients through this center expedites evaluation, diagnosis, and potential treatments and prevents premature discharge of patients who might be at risk for a heart attack. It is a fast paced unit where skilled staff care for a variety of patients.
Medical/Telemetry Unit (Med/Tele)
The Med/Tele department is a 31-bed unit located on the second floor of the main building. The nurses on this unit provide care for general medical patients of various ages and acuities. In addition, most patient requiring cardiac monitoring will be admitted to this unit. This department provides an excellent opportunity for new nurses to obtain basic skills. This department also has career med/tele nurses that have called RMC home for more than 20 years. This blending of new and seasoned staff members provides a diverse and rich work environment for all who chose to join us.
Medical/Oncology Unit
The Medical Oncology Unit is a 31-bed unit located on the third floor of the main building. Department staff cares for patients with varied medical diagnoses. In addition, it is the dedicated unit for all patients with oncology diagnoses. Our staff is comprised of both med/surg nurses and also nurses who have a special affinity for the care and treatment of cancer patients. We welcome both med/surg and oncology nurses to join our team.
Intensive Care Unit
This spacious 16-bed unit is located in the East Tower. The new and relaxing accommodations provide an optimal environment for healing. We provide nursing care for a varied patient population including coronary, medical, and surgical patients needing intensive care. Our state of the art unit offers opportunity for the goal oriented nurse who demonstrates excellent critical thinking skills. At present, we are actively pursuing the Beacon Award. This award is presented to departments that are recognized for the highest level of clinical excellence.
Surgical East Unit
This 31-bed unit is also located in the East Tower. The staff in this department specialize in providing quality care for post operative patients. The department also cares for medical overflow patients as needed. This beautifully appointed setting provides space for patients to thrive during their healing and recovery and for families to support them during this time. We welcome nurses with an interest in the care of the post-operative patient to join us in this endeavor.
Labor and Delivery
This unit, located in the Birth Center, has ten LDR rooms and seven triage rooms, in addition to two OR suites. On the average the department has approximately 180 deliveries a month. Because we have an on-site NICU, we frequently care for high risk antepartum patients, and maintain a 6-bed antepartum unit within the Mother-Baby unit. We follow AWHONN standards for staffing with a 1:2 ratio.
Mother / Baby Unit (MBU)
This unit has 23 beautiful new postpartum rooms located in the East Tower. The department uses the Mother Baby model of care. This model couples the postpartum mother with her newborn to provide optimal bonding time for the new family. We also have a transition nursery that is staffed by a unit nurse. Our typical assignment is 1:4 mother baby couplets. In addition, a discharge class is taught by our nurses, and a lactation consultant is available for assistance with breastfeeding issues.
NICU
The Neonatal Intensive Care unit is comprised of 8 intensive beds and 8 intermediate beds. We maintain neonates as young as 23 weeks gestation and older. We utilize both traditional and high frequency ventilators. We work closely with our neonatology group which is comprised of both Nurse Practitioners as well as a team of neonatologists. This group is available around the clock to provide additional care and support. Finally, as additional members of the healthcare team, we have dedicated respiratory therapists specially trained to work with the neonates.
Emergency Department
The Emergency Department is a newly renovated nursing unit with 19 acute care beds plus a 12-bed Minor Care Unit. This busy, state of the art unit affords the professional nurse an opportunity to utilize his or her nursing skills to provide high quality nursing care in a timely, friendly, and patient-centered environment to a varied patient population. With over 45,000 visits annually, our ED welcomes nurses who prefer a faced-past environment to join our team.
Surgical Services
The Surgical Services Division comprises the following departments: Pre-Assessment, Same Day Surgery, Pre-operative Holding Area, Operating Room, PACU, Endoscopy, and the Pain Clinic. The Operating Room performs nearly 8,000 procedures a year in six surgical suites. Endoscopy recently relocated to a new area in the East Wing and provides care for over 2,500 patients per year. Both the OR and Endoscopy Departments are highly technical areas and offer rewarding career paths for nurses interested in care for patients throughout the Perioperative nursing process.
RMC Education Department
Just like your parents, we value education highly and we want to ensure that you continue to learn and grow. We have an active and well-staffed education department who bring a variety of learning opportunities to you. We not only ensure you have the basic skills you need to do your job, but we also provide opportunities for you to learn new skills and obtain certifications. For example, several in-services are offered monthly on-site and free of charge, covering a variety of topics from advanced fetal monitoring, to care of the telemetry patient, to coping with death and dying. Annually, our education department conducts credentialing to review important skills and update you on the latest techniques and procedures. We encourage our staff to obtain certifications in their specialty area. We also offer in-house, required certifications such as ACLS, NRP, BLS, PALs, and TNCC. Full time employees can also benefit from the tuition reimbursement program to advance their education. In short, opportunities for learning exist around every corner and we hope you’ll take advantage of all we have to offer.