RN Registered Nurse, Rapid Transfer Unit (Nights) - West Penn Hospital

Job Title

Rapid Transfer Unit

Job Description

The Rapid Transfer Unit (RTU) is a specialized area of variable acuity designed to quickly evaluate and triage patients with acute medical conditions. The primary goal of the RTU is to expedite patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment decisions, leading to more efficient patient flow and improved outcomes. Nurses will be required to have ACLS and NIHSS certifications before coming off of orientation. Nurses will be cross-trained to work on Med/Obs/Tele.

RTU employs a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive, yet expedited, assessments of patients presenting with acute or sub-acute conditions. The unit utilizes standardized protocols and point-of-care testing to facilitate rapid diagnosis and triage, ensuring patients receive the appropriate level of care in a timely manner.

RTU is a vital component of the healthcare system, focusing on the rapid evaluation of patients to improve outcomes. By quickly assessing patients and initiating timely treatment, the team aims to reduce complications, shorten hospital stays, and enhance overall patient well-being.

RTU provides a streamlined process for evaluating patients with a wide spectrum of medical conditions. The unit's focus is on prompt assessment and efficient decision-making to determine the appropriate course of treatment and level of care required.

RTU is a dedicated healthcare space designed to quickly evaluate patients presenting with a variety of medical concerns. The goal is to expedite assessment, diagnosis, and treatment decisions, reducing wait times and improving patient flow throughout the facility.

Hospital Information

WEST PENN HOSPITAL:

West Penn Hospital has Magnet recognition, private patient rooms, free employee parking and a generous benefit package (for full-time and part-time status employees).

ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK:

At AHN, employees trust working together and place patients at the center of all they do. This 9 Hospital system, a part of Highmark Health, is transforming the future of healthcare by providing highly effective services to customers, patients, and communities. AHN has commitment and dedication to being inclusive, valuing fresh perspectives, and offering the best growth and educational opportunities to employees.

General Overview

The Registered Nurse assesses human responses and plans, implements and evaluates nursing care for individuals or families for whom the nurse is responsible. The Registered Nurse is fully responsible for all actions as a licensed nurse and is accountable to patients for the quality of care delivered.

Essential Responsibilities

• The registered nurse provides leadership in a professional practice setting.
• Team player who contributes to building the team by helping others succeed through role modeling and mentoring.
• Assigns or delegates tasks based on the needs of the patient and skill level of the RN, LPN or support staff. Assigns duties and lunches for staff when performing charge role.
• Considers maintenance of a safe environment, patient condition, complexity of the intervention and predictability of the outcome.
• Provides peers with both verbal and written feedback regarding clinical practice and role performance.
• Shares knowledge and skills with peers and colleagues.
• Willingly accepts mistakes of self and others, creating a culture in which risk taking is not only safe but expected.
• Participates on interdisciplinary team to evaluate clinical care or health services.
• Promotes patient safety initiatives (ex: National Patient Safety Goals).
• Participates in department specific quality initiatives ( ex: EBP population specific). Assures appropriate order sets are used.
• Supervises delegates and evaluates assigned LPN scope of practice as appropriate.
• Utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, evaluate and implement a patient plan of care according to the individual needs of the patient as prescribed by physician, nurse and hospital policy including patient and family.
• Derives culturally and age appropriate expected outcomes involving the patient, family and other health care providers.
• Analyzes the health status of the individuals and families comparing the data with the norm, when possible, to determine patient care needs.
• Assesses patient reports/records change of condition and notifies physician and/or supervisor and intervenes appropriately and documents accordingly.
• Accepts assignments in areas other than primary unit, and performs duties within individualized competency.
• Demonstrates a commitment to continuous lifelong learning for self and others.
• Promotes advancement of the profession through participation in professional organizations.
• Seeks both formal and independent learning activities using current research findings and other evidence to maintain and develop clinical and professional skills and knowledge.
• Participates in systematic peer review and obtains informal feedback regarding one's own practice from patients, peers, professional colleagues and others. Identifies areas of strength, as well as, areas in which professional development would be beneficial.
• Meets time and attendance guidelines per hospital policy.
• Continuously evaluates and assesses patient and family satisfaction.
• Participates I department specific patient satisfaction initiatives.
• Promotes compassionate communication that is patient and family centered.
• Assesses for and attempts to resolve patient/family concerns.
• Utilizes effective time management skills to complete assigned duties and responsibilities within established work shift.

Qualifications

Minimum

• Act 34 Criminal Background Clearance Certificate
• Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance Certificate
• Act 73 FBI Fingerprinting Criminal Background Clearance Certificate
• Current State of PA RN licensure OR Current multi-state licensure through the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
• CPR certification
• One year of general RN experience

Preferred

• Certification in area of specialty