Point of Entry Nurse

At Houston Methodist, the Point of Entry Nurse (POE) is a licensed registered nurse (RN) responsible for facilitating the functional and operational aspects of patient entrance into the hospital. The POE Nurse supports hospital units by coordinating patient flow and bed utilization, collaborating with clinical staff and the interprofessional health care team to ensure resource utilization is appropriate to the patient's clinical needs and within covered benefits. FLSA Status Non-exempt Qualifications Education Graduate of an approved education program for the required credential(s) indicated below Bachelor’s degree preferred Experience Two years as a registered nurse in an acute care hospital setting Bed placement experience highly preferred Licenses and Certifications Required RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure - Texas Board of Nursing_PSV Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency) Preferred Magnet - ANCC Recognized Certification Skills and Abilities Demonstrates necessary skills and competencies to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing assessments. Proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English necessary for patient and employee safety. Effective communication with patients, physicians, family members, and co‑workers with a customer service focus. Understanding of pre‑acute and post‑acute care venues and community resources. Strong assessment, organizational, and problem‑solving skills; prioritizes multiple tasks. Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment with physicians, payors, and families. Critical thinking, advanced communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills. Good organizational and time‑management skills. Adheres to all pertinent federal, state, and Houston Methodist regulations, laws, and policies. Well‑versed in Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word). Knowledge of obtaining information from the electronic medical record. Essential Functions People Essential Functions Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment; maintains rapport with the Emergency Department (ED), physicians, and office staff to streamline patient entry. Works closely with ED physicians, social workers, and case managers to identify alternate levels of care for patients who do not require admission. Identifies organizational conflicts and applies tools to resolve concerns with patients, families, physicians, and team members; facilitates bed issue resolution. Service Essential Functions Oversees patient placement in appropriate beds based on admission criteria, diagnosis, medical necessity, clinical needs, bed availability, and staffing. Coordinates patient flow and bed utilization through frequent and timely communication with unit departments. Reviews orders at admission access points to ensure appropriate level of care; documents working diagnoses for ED placements (e.g., surgery schedule, PACU patients, ED, transfer center, physician offices). Quality/Safety Essential Functions Evaluates transfers for clinical, financial, and social appropriateness and coordinates with unit and Operations Administrator within EMTALA guidelines. Obtains relevant clinical data from sending facilities and collaborates with accepting physicians and nurses for clear communication and correct clinical placement. Participates in quality improvement activities, collecting and analyzing data related to patient throughput, identifying trends, and suggesting improvement plans. Promotes accuracy and completeness of clinical documentation to reflect appropriate Severity of Illness (SOI) and Intensity of Service (IOS) for all patients. Assesses current and future bed supply to anticipate congestion and obstacles to patient flow when clinical leadership is unavailable. Finance Essential Functions Consistently reviews all admissions for medical necessity and appropriateness of care based on nationally recognized criteria. Documents all aspects of the transfer in the appropriate location and ensures system accuracy of patient level of care status. Growth/Innovation Essential Functions Identifies and presents areas for improvement in patient care or department operations; offers solutions through department projects and activities. Participates on clinical process improvement teams and oversees implementation of medical management tools for assigned areas. Supplemental Requirements Work Attire Uniform: No Scrubs: Yes Business professional: Yes Other (department approved): No On‑Call Employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies (e.g., Disaster, Severe Weather Events) regardless of selection below. On Call: No Travel Travel specifications may vary by department. May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: No May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: No #J-18808-Ljbffr