Valley RN

Staff NurseThe staff nurse is a professional Registered Nurse (RN) who provides direct nursing care to an assigned patient population, service line or clinic department. The staff nurse, utilizing the nursing process, plans and delivers effective patient care within the Texas Nursing Practice Act scope of practice and within the framework of Driscoll Health System's vision and mission of excellence and integrated care delivery. The staff nurse practices within the established standards of practice, ethical guidelines, policies and guidelines reflective of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and their specialty service line. The staff nurse completes specific duties and maintains current competence in the skills and nursing practice according to the service line or area of primary work assignment.Standards of Nursing PracticeAssessment: Collects pertinent data through initial and ongoing focused assessments to analyze the patient's condition and follows through with appropriate reporting and actions. Conducts comprehensive assessments of patients' physical, psychosocial, and emotional needsUtilizes appropriate tools to gather relevant data to inform patient care decisionsDiagnosis/Analysis: Analyzes assessment data to determine actual or potential diagnoses, problems, and issuesVerifies the diagnoses, problems, and issues with the healthcare consumer and interprofessional colleaguesOutcomes Identification: Identifies expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the patient or situationCollaborates with the patient/family to define outcomes integrating culture, values, and ethical considerationsWorks collaboratively with other healthcare team members which may include other RNs, Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners (NP), Physician Assistants (PA), Physicians and Medical/Nursing Assistants and administrative support staff to address patient needs promptlyPlanning: Develops, prioritizes, implements, and modifies an individualized evidence-based plan of care in partnership with the person, family and healthcare teamContributes to creating an environment that is patient focused, family centered and is designed to provide continuation of care and patient transition managementAdvocates for compassion, responsibility, and appropriate use of interventionsImplementation: Administers medications and therapeutic treatments using appropriate devices per clinical guidelines and ordersRecognizes and intervenes to address abnormal responses to medication therapy and initiates' corrective therapyEscalates patient care concerns or changing status until resolution is achievedCoordination of Care: Initiates appropriate referrals to the healthcare team based on assessed patient needsCommunicates with the patient/family, interprofessional team, and community-based resources for safe transitions in continuity of careEnsures continuity of care by communicating effectively with patients, families, and healthcare providersActs as a liaison between specialties and sub-specialties, coordinating referrals and follow-up appointments as needed to support the patient continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient carePerforms phone triage, manages prescription renewals, and coordinates follow-up appointments and care plans tailored to patients' needs if working in an ambulatory settingHealth Teaching and Health Promotion: Identifies barriers to learning, develops and implements education plan based on assessed patient/family needs that reflects the patient/family values, beliefs, developmental level, learning needs, readiness and ability to learn, language preference, spirituality, culture and socioeconomic statusUses health promotion and teaching methods, including technologies to communicate health promotion and disease preventionEvaluation: Evaluates and reports pertinent patient response to interventions based on evidence-based best practiceEvaluates progress toward attainment of expected outcomes and revises plan as necessaryStandards of Professional PerformanceEthics: Integrates code of Ethics for Nurses to guide practice and decision-making in all areas of practiceAdvocacy: Functions as an advocate, seeking direction as needed to provide safe, effective, efficient, and timely careDemonstrates a willingness to address persistent, pervasive systemic issuesEmbraces diversity, equity, inclusivity, health promotion for individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, ethnic, racial, gender, and spiritual backgrounds across the life spanRespectful and Equitable Practice: Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with patient/family to ensure patient comfort and dignity without biasCommunication: Use clear, closed loop communication that enhances team information sharing and decision making. Uses language translation resources to ensure effective communicationDocuments according to policy or guidelines in a timely and accurate manner in the medical record to communicate with the healthcare teamCollaboration: Supports goals through participation and compliance in unit activities, shared governance and decision-makingLeadership: Identifies conflict and helps to initiate resolution, seeking assistance when appropriateDemonstrates authority, ownership, accountability and responsibility for appropriate delegation of nursing care to unlicensed assistive personnelAssists by assuming a lead role as needs or schedule variances ariseAssumes charge nurse role by completing additional training and competency to support the unit as requestedEducation: Seeks experiences that reflect current practice to maintain and advance knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgment in clinical practice or role performanceMentors and/or trains new nurses to their roles for the purpose of ensuring successful enculturation, orientation, competence and emotional supportSupports the acculturation of nurses new to their roles by role modeling, encouraging, advocating, and sharing pertinent information relative to optimal care deliveryScholarly Inquiry: Participates in clinical research by following specific protocolsUses current evidence-based knowledge, combined with clinical expertise to guide practiceQuality of Practice: Complies with and supports regulatory and organizational policies and professional standardsParticipates in Quality ImprovementIdentifies trends in patient care outcomes for QI monitoring, practice change, and/or staff educationProfessional Practice Evaluation: Participates in improving patient care by engaging in reviewing and supporting practice change based on evidence-based practiceCompletes required ongoing development and education/competency/certifications as requiredResource Stewardship: Ensures the correct functioning of equipment, identifies deficits and reports appropriatelyIntegrates connected health technologies into practice to promote positive interactions between patients and care providersSubmits required tasks and documentation to support chargeable and billable care activitiesEnvironmental Health: Creates a safe and healthy workplace and professional practice environment void of abusive, destructive or oppressive behaviorsStaffing to Demand & FloatingDemonstrates flexibility in staffing, scheduling and traveling as needed to meet unit and the hospital system staffing needs for the greater goodWilling to float between various care areas, departments, subspecialty clinics or ambulatory clinics as directed by supervisor and according to scope and competencyNurses may be floated, flexed off or to stand-by according to policy based on schedule, volume and patient care needs and/or work activity demands to optimize resource allocation and maintain quality of careSupports staffing needs as deemed necessary by each individual Department or Service line. May be required to work alternating shifts or flexible hours including days, nights, weekends, or take on-call and/or call-back shifts to support regular and surge volume needs. These staffing changes will fluctuate with patient volume, acuity and staffing matricesTravel RequirementsMay be required to travel to satellite locations to support clinical practice care services as needed to ensure patient access and continuity of careClinic nursing staff are required to travel to satellite outpatient clinics as needed to ensure patient access and continuity of care. Supports the coordination of patient care and services at these sites.License, Education and/or Experience:BSN preferred.Current RN license in the State of Texas.Certificates, Registrations:American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR) continuously maintained. May onboard with AHA or Red Cross CPR and then transition to AHA upon first renewal.Advanced Specialty Courses (ASC) according to Attachment AASC courses should be taken at earliest opportunity but must be completed within timeframes specified on Attachment A and continuously maintained ongoing.National Certification in specialty must be attempted within 4 years of hire date for eligible role and continuously