Registered Nurse Observation Unit

The Registered Nurse (RN) is a professional caregiver who assumes responsibility and accountability for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the care of patients. The staff RN utilizes the nursing process by use of technology, therapeutic intervention, evidence-based practice and coordination of care with other health team members.

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The Observation Unit is a 16-bed, nurse-led department dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centered care for adult patients requiring short-term observation, treatment, and ongoing assessment. The unit serves patients who are clinically stable but require additional monitoring, diagnostic testing, therapeutic interventions, or care coordination to determine the most appropriate next step in their care.

Our interdisciplinary team partners closely with physicians, advanced practice providers, case management, pharmacy, rehabilitation services, and ancillary departments to deliver efficient, evidence-based care with a focus on patient safety, quality outcomes, and timely disposition. Common patient populations include those requiring evaluation and treatment for chest pain, transient ischemic attack (TIA), dehydration, respiratory conditions, heart failure exacerbations, infections requiring short‑term IV therapy, pain management, blood transfusions, and other conditions appropriate for observation‑level care.

The Observation Unit emphasizes rapid assessment, frequent reassessment, patient education, and coordination of care to support safe discharge home or transition to a higher level of care when needed. Through collaborative teamwork and a commitment to clinical excellence, the unit promotes efficient throughput, enhances the patient experience, and supports optimal healthcare outcomes.

• Benefits Eligible:
  Yes
• Shift Details:
  Full time, 36 hours/week, variable shifts
• Department:
  Observation Unit
• Primary
  
  Location:
  
  Lutheran Hospital

• Assess:
  Performs appropriate assessment of physical, social, and psychological status (including cognitive, communicative, and developmental skills as appropriate). Seeks and evaluates information acquired from other members of interdisciplinary team: patient, family, physician, non‑nursing disciplines, support staff, others.
• Plan:
  Uses assessment information and critical thinking skills to collaboratively develop individualized plan of care. Actively seeks patient, family, team, and physician involvement to develop plan of care including needed education. Collaboratively plans and prepares patients for further support needs once the current episode of care outcomes are met (i.e., teaching, referrals, and follow‑up).
• Implement:
  Directs the interdisciplinary care team via delegation, coordination, and collaboration as appropriate. Provides or delegates care consistent with plan of care, guidelines of care and professional licensure provisions. Demonstrates the ability to set priorities and to coordinate and organize patient care delivery through effectively managing time, supplies, and resources.
• Evaluate:
  Evaluates patient response to interventions through review of achievement of goals, clinical outcomes, patient, and family satisfaction. Revises plan of care as indicated and reassesses changes as appropriate.
• Professionalism:
  Promotes nursing profession and participate in development of others. Integrates legal and ethical standards into practice, complies with regulatory standards, practices within scope of licensure, provides accurate & timely documentation, and understands legal…