Registered Nurse (RN) - General Surgery Stepdown

General Surgery Vascular/Trauma Stepdown 3300

Duke University Health System - Duke University Hospital seeks to hire a new graduate Registered Nurse who will embrace our mission of Advancing Health Together.

Unit Profile:

The General Surgery & Trauma Stepdown Unit (3300) at Duke strives to provide exceptional care to acutely ill patients. We are a 31 bed stepdown unit with a patient population consisting primarily of abdominal and vascular surgeries, abdominal oncology as well as a variety of trauma patients. Our unit offers an opportunity to cultivate critical thinking in a fast-paced environment that promotes team building and fosters learning. The RNs in our unit aim to provide the highest quality care to our patient population while serving as patient advocates.

On unit 3300, you will master skills such as:

• Tracheostomy care and maintenance
• Blood product administration
• Wound care including wound management systems
• Ostomy care and maintenance and patient education
• Management of chest tubes and various drains
• Maintenance of a variety of collars, braces, and orthopedic devices
• Polytrauma mobility
• Post-operative monitoring and care
• Various pain management techniques including Patient Controlled Analgesic (PCA), Epidural pumps, Ketamine, and Lidocaine infusions.
• Foley catheter insertion, maintenance, and removal
• Nasogastric tube insertion, maintenance, and removal
• Central and Peripheral IV maintenance and removal
• Administration of oral, intravenous, and via tube medications
• Collection of laboratory specimens, including but not limited to blood and urine
• Cardiac telemetry monitoring
• Parenteral and Enteral nutrition administration
• Coordination of patient and family education

Work Hours & Shifts:

3 12’s Night Shift

General Description of the Job Class:

Independently plan and provide professional nursing care for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures. Provide nursing services to patients and families in accordance with the scope of the RN as defined by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level:

• Plan, provide, supervise and document professional nursing care utilizing the nursing process for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures. Use professional nursing judgment to individualize the plan of care based on assessment of the patient's baseline needs and response to care.
• Delegate tasks and supervise the activities of other licensed and unlicensed care providers.
• Assist other nursing personnel in the delivery of nursing care and act as team leader or charge nurse for a group of patients or an entire unit as assigned.
• Monitor and initiate corrective action to maintain the environment of care including equipment and material resources.
• Participate in own professional development by maintaining required competencies, identifying learning needs and seeking appropriate assistance or educational offerings.
• Act as preceptor and support the development of other staff and formal learners.
• Participate in the identification of clinical or operational performance improvement opportunities and in performance improvement activities.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Required Qualifications at this Level:

Education:

• Work requires graduation from an accredited BSN program.
• Graduation from an accredited Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (or higher), Associate's Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma program is required.
• All registered nurses without a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (or higher) will be required to enroll in an appropriate BSN program within two years of their start date and to complete the program within seven years of their start date. Exception: Registered nurses hired between July 1, 2014 and April 11, 2021 without a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (or higher) are encouraged to enroll in an appropriate BSN program within two years of their start date but must complete the program within five years of their start date. Registered nurses hired before July 1, 2014 are not required to enroll in a BSN program to remain in this job classification.

Experience:

• No experience required.
• All CNIs will be enrolled in and must complete the DUHS Nurse Residency Program within 12 months of hire.
• CNIs are required to meet criteria set forth by the DUHS Nurse Residency Program within 18 months of hire to be promoted to CNII.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification:

• Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina. BLS required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of scope of the registered nurse, licensed practical nurse and unlicensed staff
• Knowledge of and appropriate application of the nursing process
• Knowledge of professional theory, practice and procedure
• Ability to assess nursing needs of acute and chronically ill patients and their families
• Ability to independently seek out resources and work collaboratively
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, visitors, healthcare team, physicians, administrators, leadership and others
• Ability to teach patients and families in accordance with the nursing plan of care
• Ability to use sensory and cognitive functions to process and prioritize information, treatment, and follow-up
• Ability to use fine motor skills
• Competent in BLS and/or other specialized life support requirements designated by work area
• Ability to record activities, document assessments, plan of care, interventions, evaluation and re-evaluation of patient status
• Ability to use computer and learn new software programs
• Able to document and communicate pertinent information using computer and/or paper documentation tools
• Ability to navigate the entity to provide clinical care for patients
• Ability to withstand prolonged standing and walking.
• Ability to remain focused and organized
• Working knowledge of procedures and techniques involved in administering routine and special treatments to patients
• Working knowledge of infection control procedures and safety precautions
• Working knowledge and completion of appropriate The Joint Commission (TJC) and other regulatory requirements
• Pre-employment Physical Capacity Testing Required

Distinguishing Characteristics of this Level:

N/A