Registered Nurse II; PRN - Heart and Kidney Unit

About the Unit

Heart and Kidney Unit (HKU) is a 20‑bed unit focusing on family‑centered care for children with cardiac and renal diseases. Patients range in age from neonates through adults and may be receiving care for heart surgery, diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterizations, dialysis, acute or chronic renal failure, nephrotic or nephritic disorders, or organ transplantation.

All patient beds have cardiac and respiratory monitoring. The HKU primarily admits patients from the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Ambulatory Clinic, PACU, and EMTC, and also admits 23‑hour patients with cardiac and renal disease.

All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, Children’s National Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The professional model of care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice. The RN will successfully complete hospital orientation, keep knowledge base current, and maintain regulatory requirements.

ASN (Minimum), BSN (Preferred)

Not specified (implied entry level)

2 years registered nurse experience in a comparable setting (Required).

Registered Nurse license in the District of Columbia (Required);
Cardio‑Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR); BLS (required).

• Contribute to Magnet re‑designation by updating professional profile, initiating council involvement, and serving on committees, task forces, or community outreach.
• Demonstrate critical thinking by problem‑solving appropriately during patient care.
• Communicate to reflect development of a plan of care and ability to advocate to meet patients’ needs.
• Independently initiate escalation of issues utilizing the chain of command.
• Demonstrate proper use of the current hand‑off processes.
• Maintain a collegial and respectful relationship with ancillary staff.
• Participate in implementing change and support management decisions.
• Role model behavior that reflects empathy, concern, and a desire to help others.

• Independently maintain regulatory requirements such as license and BLS.
• Plan for attendance at mandatory education and professional activities to enhance nursing practice.
• Demonstrate professional review of peers through timely participation in evaluations.
• Seek opportunities to enhance departmental goals by ensuring adherence to national safety and service excellence standards and supporting education and certification advancement.
• Collaborate with the healthcare team and model professional behavior and teamwork with coworkers.
• Utilize resources as needed and know when to elevate to the next level.

• Use assessment data gathered from patient and family to ensure completion of the database and plan of care within identified time frames.
• Demonstrate clinical skills with complex patients that reflect analysis of patient status and appropriate interventions.
• Role model skill in prioritization and organization for complex patients with rapidly changing needs.
• Documentation exemplifies adherence to the highest standards of practice.
• Anticipate and proactively plan for educational needs verified with patient and family throughout the hospital or outpatient stay and prior to discharge.
• Role model organizational skills, adjust for changes, and complete assignments on time.
• Demonstrate caring in all encounters with patient and family as evidenced by feedback from parents and increased patient satisfaction scores.

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance.
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation.
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and take time to resolve the situation.
• Demonstrate accurate, clear, and timely verbal and written communication.
• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors, and co‑workers.
• Attend carefully to important details — practicing Stop, Think, Act, and Review to self‑check behavior and performance.