RN - 2 Center - Intermediate Surgical Care Unit

Intermediate Surgical Care Unit Nurse

The Intermediate Surgical Care Unit (ISCU) provides specialized care for post-operative surgical patients requiring a level of support between intensive care and acute care. With a 1:4 nurse-to-patient ratio, the unit offers enhanced monitoring and clinical oversight for individuals recovering from complex surgical procedures. ISCU nurses are trained in intermediate-level interventions and collaborate closely with surgical teams, hospitalists, and ancillary staff to ensure safe transitions and optimal recovery. This unit emphasizes individualized care planning, interdisciplinary coordination, and vigilant assessment to support patients through critical phases of post-operative healing.

Responsibilities

Plans, coordinates and directs quality, compassionate care by maintaining standards of professional nursing practice and creating positive therapeutic relationships with patients/families. Provides leadership to other team members by articulating and delegating expected standards of care, supervising and encouraging team members, and supporting their contributions. Supervises LPNs, PCAs, PCAs/US, US, Ortho Techs and other non-licensed staff.

• Assesses condition on each assigned patient on admission and on an ongoing basis to include but not limited to the patient's physical condition, psychological status, social status, spiritual and cultural needs, pain assessment/management, nutritional and functional status, developmental or age related factors, and discharge planning needs.
• Plans, provides, and documents patient and/or significant other education based on physical, behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors, after identifying barriers to learning.
• Evaluates and regularly reevaluates patient care; coordinates care planning with patient, family, providers and other disciplines to achieve patient-centered outcomes.
• Assigns and delegates nursing care to team members in accordance with the patient's needs and the capabilities of the team members.
• Applies safety principles when performing care
• Accurately documents observations, care provided, and changes in care plan.
• Provides accurate handoff reports and participates in unit based huddles
• Assists in performance improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.
• Performs initial and annual competency per job class.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Current approved Alabama Board of Nursing RN license or multi-state license required or ability to obtain prior to start
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required
• BSN preferred, minimum Associates required
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English

Required within 6 months of start date: American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted

Cardiac/Critical Care:

• ACLS

Emergency Department-both campuses:

• ACLS
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Emergency Department – Regional Campus only:

• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)

Perioperative:

• ACLS
• PACU –PALS; ACLS

Women's/Children:

• NICU –Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP)
• Labor & Delivery –ACLS, NRP, and Intermediate Fetal Monitoring
• Mother Baby Unit – NRP
• Pediatrics – PALS

Clinical Support:

• Cardiac Monitoring Unit –ACLS

International RNs:

• Current approved Alabama Board of Nursing RN license or multi-state license required or ability to obtain prior to start.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required or obtain within 30 days of start date.
• BSN preferred, minimum Associates required
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

Work Context

• Demonstrate leadership skills
• Requires decision making that will affect others
• Responsible to achieve outcomes
• Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately
• Ability to delegate to team members and students
• Must be able to receive delegation
• Address conflict and stressful situation
• Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion
• Dealing with unpleasant or verbally/physically aggressive personalities
• Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting
• Must be able to work in groups
• Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work
• Must be able to meet time pressure and time lines
• Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions
• Requires wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.

Physical Factors

• Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking
• Must be able to reach reasonable distances in any direction
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit and stoop
• Must be able to run in an emergency
• Must have the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull and carry objects
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner and must be able to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation
• Must possess stamina to work prolonged shifts
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.