Covenant Health

Shift Leader Registered Nurse, Orthopedic Med Surg

Full Time, 72 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Fort Sanders Regional Overview:

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is an award-winning, certified, and accredited facility with 468 beds. As a Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center, Fort Sanders offers state-of-the art care that maximizes recovery from stroke.  We are also the region’s leader in technology in areas such as bariatric surgery, robotic surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. Our door-to-balloon times for heart attack patients are below the national average, and our hip fracture center offers advanced diagnosis, surgery and recovery procedures for hip patients.

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is a member of Covenant Health, a locally-owned, non-profit health system based in Knoxville, TN, with a “patient-focused” culture. It has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as its 2020 “Best-in-State-Employer” for Tennessee. The CEO of our company, Jim VanderSteeg, attends every new employee orientation and will ask you to sign our pledge of excellence to always put patients first, strive for excellence in everything we do, and make Covenant Health the first and best choice for patients in our region. As you’d expect, we offer our employees a robust benefits package, including: offering unmatched medical insurance, tuition reimbursement; student loan repayment assistance, certification bonuses; leadership and professional development programs; an employer-matched 401(k); and a generous Combined Time Off (CTO) program.

Department Description:

Orthopedic Med Surg (5-West) is a 27-bed unit specializing in Orthopedic Joint/Spine and Bariatrics. The unit’s Joint and Bariatric patient’s average length of stay is 23 hours or less, leading to a fast turnover. The Orthopedic Med Surg team consist of RNs, Nurse Navigator, LPNs, Certified Nurses’ Aides, Patient Care Associates, Student Nurse Associate and Health Unit Coordinator.

Orthopedic Med Surg (5-West) is recognized as the “Joint Center.” Our Orthopedic Surgeons are well known in the East Tennessee region. Patient’s travel from multiple surrounding states for their expertise in total joint surgeries including hips (anterior and posterior), knees and shoulders. The team focus is providing excellent customer service, focused post-operative care, including ambulation, multi-modal pain management and standardized yet individualized patient home care education for our total joint/spine population. Orthopedic Med Surg team members encourage patient and family engagement in care and support of successful Bariatric and Joint/Spine outcomes.

The Fort Sanders Center for Bariatric Surgery is an Accredited Center by MBSAQIP. The bariatric surgeon at Fort Sanders performs a wide variety of procedures such as Gastric bypass, Gastric Sleeves and Duodenal Switch procedures. As a nurse on Orthopedic Med Surg you would be a part of an integral team who participate in the “RENEW” Program,” assisting patients postoperatively with the opportunity to achieve an obesity-free life through applied life-long education, motivation and the highest quality medical care delivered within a compassionate environment.

Joining the Orthopedic Med Surg (5-West) team, you will partner with nurses and other staff with over 20 plus years of Medical/Surgical experience who participate in unit decisions, process improvement and unit celebrations. Orthopedic Med Surg follows a multi-disciplinary approach to providing patient care to include our surgeons, physicians, pharmacy, case management plus physical and occupational therapy which is provided at bedside or in the unit’s gym. We strive to give every patient the highest level of care experience by practicing that the patient comes first, excellence in everything we do and making Fort Sanders Hospital and Orthopedic Med Surg the first and best choice. We are looking for professional individuals who like to work in a positive team environment with others who put their patients first: if that is you, please come join the Orthopedic Med Surg (5-West team).

Position Summary:

This position is designed to provide supervisory leadership to staff level employees, coordinating such activities with the department’s Manager.  The incumbent is expected to exercise independent judgement and discretion in performing the duties listed below.

Recruiter: Lacey Spoon || apply@covhlth.com

• Participates in performance appraisal of staff on applicable shift.
• Participates in hiring process, including providing hiring recommendations to the Manager.
• Prepares documentation for possible disciplinary actions and makes recommendations for such action to the Manager.
• Provides recommendations to the Manager for commendations, bonuses, or other appropriate forms of recognition for outstanding performance of employees on applicable shift.
• Makes work assignments and directs work activities. Coordinates staff relief for meals, breaks, and meetings.
• Projects staffing needs for next two shifts, coordinating adjustments in staffing level as needed.
• Serves as clinical resource for all staff.
• Checks the emergency crash cart or ascertains that the cart has been checked.
• Provides shift report to next Shift Leader or Charge Nurse.
• Participates in making work schedules.
• Completes all charge nurse duties as specified in nursing policy.
• Provides professional nursing care on assigned unit. Completes, on an annual basis, necessary education and competency documentation for applicable level on the nursing clinical ladder.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
•  Assists in maintaining a safe environment for all residents, which may include reporting to appropriate managerial staff equipment that is out of order, suspicion of resident abuse, mistreatment, neglect and reporting of suspicion of criminal activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education: 

None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and/or certification as required by the issuing authority.

Minimum Experience:

Must possess at least one to three (1-3) years of professional experience.

Licensure Requirement: 

Valid license in the State of Tennessee. CPR required.