Registered Nurse - Intermediate Medical Unit; Nights

Registered Nurse - Intermediate Medical Unit (Nights)

Under general supervision of the Nurse Manager, the Charge Nurse provides professional nursing skills utilizing the nursing process in the delivery of patient care. Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates the care for assigned patients. Serves as a patient advocate within the health care system. Responsible for performing patient care requiring specialized training and skill. Acquires and maintains knowledge and skill required to perform patient care in a specialty service/area.

Accountable for assuring the safety, comfort, care, and treatment of patients according to legal, ethical, professional and institutional standards. Participates in the hospital's Quality Improvement and Service Excellence programs. Demonstrates understanding of the philosophy and objectives, and adheres to policies and procedures of the department and organization. Acts as unit shift supervisor to ensure safe effective patient care and adherence to all Joint Commission standards.

• Completes daily assignment sheets and updates patient assignments on white board as soon as assignments are made. Rounds on patients.
• Monitors patient care activities by the staff and ensuring completion (e.g., baths, turning). Ensures all staff members follow policy and procedure, assists with unit flow including admissions and discharges, encourages teamwork, and reports concerns or disciplinary issues to manager or director.
• Troubleshoots problems on the unit and informs management of potential issues.
• Provides shift report to oncoming charge nurse; ensures change-of-shift rounds are done together.
• Delivers appropriate care to patients at a competent level according to patient needs and population served; utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, provide, document and evaluate care.
• Coordinates planning for nursing care with a multidisciplinary team and makes appropriate clinical decisions in patient care delivery.
• Collaborates and directs the healthcare team to attain positive outcomes based on data, research, and professional standards; meets treatment goals; develops/implements discharge/transfer plans; evaluates the quality of patient care and contributes to standards revisions.
• Ensures safe care adhering to policies, procedures and standards of care within budgetary specifications, including time/supply management and accuracy of practice.
• Adheres to hospital policy on assessment, ordering, application, consent, and monitoring of the patient when restraints are employed.
• Performs patient care and infection control audits as assigned, including weekly hand hygiene audits, daily central line audits, and ensures narcotic discrepancies are resolved each shift.
• Demonstrates understanding of patient rights, including confidentiality, informed consent and privacy.
• Demonstrates adaptability, problem solving and professional behavior at all times.
• Participates in systemic, interdisciplinary evaluation of programs, process improvement, and client-centered outcomes.
• Promotes professional growth, meets mandatory/continuing education requirements, supports department goals, and serves as a preceptor or mentor as appropriate.
• Participates in survey readiness activities and ensures unit compliance with regulatory standards.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and appropriate handling of PHI; ensures a safe work environment and reports safety concerns appropriately.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Education: Graduate of a school of professional nursing.

Experience: Three years of nursing experience preferred.

Licensure/Certification: Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Texas, or immediately eligible. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within 30 days of employment, before patient care is administered independently. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) required within 90 days of employment.

Frequent: standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling and reaching. Occasional: sitting, bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, twisting. Visual and hearing acuity required; color vision required for perceiving changes in patients' skin color and colors of medicines and solutions. Work is mostly inside, with good ventilation and comfortable temperature. Possible exposure to toxic/caustic chemicals or detergents, moving mechanical parts, potential electric shock, radiant energy, communicable diseases, and blood borne pathogens.

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources