Registered Nurse II; RN - Cardiac ICU

JOB OVERVIEW

At Houston Methodist, the Registered Nurse (II) position is a licensed staff nurse, an experienced clinician, functioning at the Competent to Proficient stage of Benner's model of clinical practice. The RN II provides professional nursing care to a diverse patient population, conducts nursing assessments, assists with examinations and treatments, educates patients, and maintains medical records. The RN II delivers direct patient care efficiently, may care for patients with varied and complex needs, and collaborates with physicians and the interprofessional health care team to coordinate compassionate, quality care and achieve treatment outcomes.

The RN II demonstrates clinical competence when providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures and managing emergencies, while acting as a patient and family advocate. The RN II assumes leadership roles, including charge nurse or preceptor, and may contribute to service line or hospital‑wide initiatives in partnership with management.

Non‑exempt

• Education:
  
  Graduate of a education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Licenses and Certifications section.
• Experience:
  
  Twelve months registered nurse experience in a healthcare environment.
• Licenses and
  
  Certifications:
  • Required:
    
    RN – Registered Nurse – Texas State Licensure – Texas Board of Nursing; BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA); ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA); NIHSTROKE – National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Certification (AHA).
  • Preferred:
    Magnet – ANCC Recognized Certification; NVCRISIS – Nonviolent Crisis Intervention or Instructor (CPI).
• Skills and Abilities:
  • Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job.
  • Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English.
  • Communicates effectively with patients, physicians, families, and co‑workers.
  • Strong assessment, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
  • Functions independently and exercises judgment.
  • Uses critical thinking and clinical judgment autonomously.
  • Proficient time management.
  • Maintains professional contributions as defined in the Clinical Career Path program guide.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft products including Outlook.

• Uses therapeutic communication, including active listening and teaching, to establish relationships with patients, families, and the interprofessional health care team.
• Contributes to teamwork by being aware of overall unit acuity, offering assistance, and responding positively to requests for help.
• Implements staff education specific to patient populations and unit processes; coaches and mentors staff and students.

• Follows patient- and family-centered care standards and maintains accurate medical records.
• Develops, updates, and communicates plans of care, including discharge instructions, in partnership with the patient and the health care team.
• Provides patient teaching based on learning needs and evaluates comprehension, adapting methods accordingly.
• Helps drive improvement of the department's patient satisfaction score.

• Follows nursing process standards and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Identifies areas for improvement with evidence-based research.
• Provides coordinated care for complex patients, utilizing evidence-based practice.
• Improves quality and safety scores through peer accountability and near-miss reporting.

• Manages time, documents care promptly, and minimizes overtime.
• Contributes to unit resource utilization and meets financial targets by decreasing length of stay and optimizing efficiency.

• Identifies and presents areas for innovation and improvement in patient care or unit operations.
• Champions new care pathways or service line implementations to improve community service.
• Researches changes and presents options to shared governance and leadership.

• Uniform:
  No
• Scrubs:
  Yes
• Business professional:
  No
• Other (department approved):
  No

• On Call:
  Yes (employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies regardless of selection).

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area:
  Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area:
  No