Registered Nurse - Correctional Health West

Registered Nurse

Location: Jail West Tower Work Schedule: Days Shift - 6AM - 6PM (Rotational)

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The RN is a licensed professional who uses the Parkland nursing professional practice model to coordinate patient care delivery by the health care team. Using the nursing process, the RN assesses the patient, identifies nursing diagnoses based on responses to health problems, develops and implements an individualized plan of care, and evaluates the patient's response. The RN utilizes knowledge of patient needs and the healthcare environment to assist patients to transition through the healthcare encounter without any preventable complications or delays. The RN delegates interventions to health care personnel based on the Texas Nursing Practice Act, each patient's condition and the competencies of the employee.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing.

Experience

• Nine (9) months of professional nursing experience preferred.
• If less than 9 months RN experience, a Nurse residency is required. LVN experience does not waive this requirement.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

• None.

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must have current RN license or valid temporary permit with the Texas Board of Nursing or valid Compact RN license.

Must have current healthcare provider BLS for Healthcare Providers certification from one of the following:

• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Military Training Network

Skills or Special Abilities

• Provides care to assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nursing Practice Act, established protocols, multidisciplinary plan of care, and clinical area specific standards.
• Provides continuous assessment, consults with other team members as required and provides nursing care which demonstrates patient centered/patient valued care.
• Exercises independent judgment in providing nursing care.
• Must be able to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and possess basic computer literacy and written communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with patients. As applicable, will be required to demonstrate acceptable knowledge of nursing standards of care for specialty care area.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a patient advocate, by focusing on patient needs, patient rights, confidentiality, and religious and cultural preferences.
• Maintains positive working relationships with all Parkland internal and external customers, employees, etc. Serves as a resource for patients and other healthcare team members. Provides patient care educational information and training to patient and family members.
• May serve as a resource for specific clinical patient care issues. May participate in community outreach activities (such as health fairs, community collaborations or outreach clinics) as assigned.
• Maintains and updates knowledge of sanitation, infection control, safety, supplies, equipment, appropriate utilization of supplies and materials.
• Completes appropriate documentation. Maintains accurate and timely entries and notations in patient care records and hospital documents. Ensures that all records and documents meet the standards, goals, and objectives of the assigned department and Parkland.
• Seeks and utilizes direction from more experience staff and team members as needed. May work with other staff in providing direction to non-nursing staff. Participates in information exchanges with nursing and other Parkland staff to support the mission, vision, and values of the department and Parkland.