RN- Rapid Response Nurse

Rapid Response Nurse

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community.

The Rapid Response Nurse utilizes the nursing process (assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation) to delegate, coordinate, collaborate and provide safe therapeutic nursing care to at-risk non-critical care patients early in their course and rapidly mobilize appropriate multidisciplinary resources. The Rapid Response Nurse will also respond to the patient in crisis. Once an RRT has been activated, the Rapid Response Nurse, acts as the leader of the multidisciplinary team, to assess the patient, make judgments/decisions, notifies the attending Physician/Intensivist and takes action regarding a wide range of routine and complex patient issues, operating under guidelines of the Rapid Response Team Standardized Procedures. In addition to assessment and treatment, the Rapid Response Nurse is responsible for documenting the interventions employed and providing a debriefing session for the bedside nursing staff as an educational opportunity.

Qualifications

License/Certification Required:

CA RN License

BLS

ACLS

NIHSS stroke certification from American Stroke Association within 60 days of hire/transfer.

Kaweah Health approved crisis intervention training within 60 days of hire/transfer.

CCRN from American Association of Critical-Care Nurses within one year of hire/transfer.

Preferred:

Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) provider card

PALS

Education Preferred: BSN, MSN or currently enrolled in RN-BSN program

Experience Required: Minimum of two years RN experience in Critical Care.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Critical Care clinical knowledge and experience of managing patients in crisis. Skills in handling emergency and life-threatening situations. Effective communicator in a multidisciplinary setting. Teamwork oriented. Positive, caring and customer service oriented attitude.

Job Responsibilities Essential

The nurse's practice is guided by the Code of Ethics. Professional Behavior including interactions with co-workers. Displays our values; treats everyone respectfully. Identifies high risk patients and initiates intervention of ancillary department:

Decisions and actions on behalf of patient/residents are determined in an ethical manner.

Maintains patient confidentiality within legal and regulatory parameters.

Acts as a patient advocate and assists patient in developing skills so they can advocate for themselves.

Delivers care in a nonjudgmental and nondiscriminatory manner that preserves patient autonomy, dignity and rights.

Utilizes the nursing process assessed via direct observation, peer reviews, audits, documentation:

Assessment-successful completion of Physical Assessment validation

Diagnosis

Planning

Outcome Identification

Implementation

Evaluation.

The nurse uses the results of quality of care/performance improvement activities to initiate changes in nursing practice:

Collections clinical data to monitor quality and effectiveness of nursing care.

Identifies aspects of care that are important for quality monitoring and formulates recommendations to improve nursing practice and/or patient outcomes.

Assists in development and implementation of policies, procedures and practice guidelines to improve quality of care and nursing practice.

Participates on interdisciplinary teams that evaluate clinical practice or health services relating to patient care.

Participates in QI studies; involved in task force or committee. Implements suggestions for improving outcomes per unit study results. Independently identifies the problematic areas and recommends problem solving. Shares findings of studies, audits with others. Seeks improvement independently.

Actively participates in outstanding customer service and accepts responsibility in maintaining relationships that are equally respectful to all. Collaborates and communicates with the patient, family and other health care providers. Utilizes peer review and observation. Monitors documentation for appropriate referrals:

Formulates the plan of care and involves patients in decisions related to care and the delivery of services.

Makes referrals, including provisions for continuity of care, as needed.

Demonstrates the ability to assess and interpret diagnostic data relative to patient age and condition, including, but not limited to lab results, non-invasive and invasive monitoring data and interdisciplinary team notes. Nursing practice reflects the application of knowledge and skills pertaining to all diagnoses, procedures, medications, complications and equipment associated with unit patient population.

Responds to all Code Blue, RRT, Sepsis Alert, Trauma Alert and Stroke Alert pages.

Directs care of the patient using advanced critical care assessment skills and standardized procedures for the stabilization of the medically compromised patient.

Communicates critical information with the primary care physician using SBAR format. Ensures orders are carried out. Uses Medical Staff chain of command when necessary.

Uses excellent communication and teamwork skills with the primary nursing team of the medically compromised patient. Directs the team in the care of the patient until transfer or stabilization.

Communicates clearly with the Intensivist in-house when needed, using SBAR format. Follows recommendations and ensures that orders are carried out.

Assists the primary nursing team in transport of the patient when ordered using appropriate emergency medical equipment and personnel.

Assists the primary nursing team in the hand off of the patient in the care of transfer. Assists with the care of the patient until successful hand off has occurred and adequate resources to attend to the patient are available.

Conducts debriefings with nurses involved in RRTs to evaluate the process and provide feedback and education. Provides positive feedback or constructive criticism, in an appropriate manner, to all involved in the event.

Functions as a resource for all RNs on duty.

Performs daily rounds for at-risk patients on in-patient units.

Serves as an "impact" nurse, assisting with patient care duties in all critical care areas (ICU, CVICU, ED, ICCU) as requested by team leads or house supervisor.

Provides bedside care and may be assigned patients in times of census need.

Attends 75% of RRT Quality Focus Team committee meetings and RRT staff meetings.

Assists with data collection and process improvement initiatives as needed. Reports data to appropriate committees as needed.

Conducts in-services to promote staff nurse education related to emergency situations including mock codes for in-patient units.

Attends quarterly departmental (for assigned in-patient departments) staff meetings to convey feedback from STARRS University and recent debriefings.

Maintains ongoing RRT education to continue to grow in the RRT field.

Pay Range $47.35 -$71.03

If you want to use your talents alongside people who face each day with courage and purpose, in an environment that empowers you to do your absolute best, this is where you belong.