Registered Nurse - ICU and Critical Care Unit - Central Staffing Unit

ICU/CCU Nurse

Location: Main Hospital Bldg - 1st Flr

Primary Purpose:

Provides care to assigned patient population in accordance with established protocols and multidisciplinary plan of care utilizing independent, dependent, and interdependent interventions to restore stability, prevent complications, and achieve and maintain optimal patient responses for all patients through patient centered/patient valued care.

Minimum Specifications

Education:

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
• Prefer Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Experience:

• Must have two years of ICU/CCU experience; OR
• Must have successfully completed an ICU/CCU Residency program and one year of ICU/CCU experience; OR
• Must have successfully completed a Nurse Internship Program and one year of ICU/CCU experience.

Certification/Registration/Licensure:

• Must have current RN license or valid temporary permit with the Texas Board of Nursing; or, valid Compact RN license.
• Must have current healthcare provider CPR course completion card from one of the following:
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Military Training Network.
• Must have current Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification on hire or placement in role. Certification must be from one of the following:
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Military Training Network
• May be required to have additional specialty certifications.

Skills or Special Abilities:

• Provides care for assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, established protocols, multidisciplinary plan of care, and clinical area specific standards.
• Must be able to provide continuous assessment, consult with other team members as required and provide nursing care which demonstrates patient centered/patient valued care.
• Must exercise independent judgment in providing nursing care.
• Must be able to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, and hospital staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• May be required to communicate effectively, via the overhead paging system.
• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to provide direction to non-nursing staff and serve as a preceptor.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors.
• As applicable, will be required to demonstrate acceptable knowledge of nursing standards of care for specialty care area.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as a patient advocate, by focusing on patient needs, patient rights, confidentiality, and religious and cultural preferences. Maintains positive working relationships with all Parkland internal and external customers, employees, etc. Serves as a resource for patients and other healthcare team members. Serves as a resource for specific clinical patient care issues. Provides patient care educational information and training to patient and family members.
• Performs appropriate patient assessments including continuous surveillance. Recognizes changes in a patient's condition and provides appropriate interventions as necessary. Consults with other team members as required, notifies providers to report changes in patient condition and implements orders in a timely manner. Exercises independent judgment in providing safe nursing care to the critically ill/stable patient.
• Must be able to manage an adult ICU patient with neurological, pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary disorders/conditions. Must provide safe medical administration using the patient's six (6) rights, provide maintenance and management of IV access, must be able to perform POC monitoring, demonstrate safe infection control practices and CRRT for the adult ICU patient. Supports pain management as appropriate for each individual patient, provides emergency resuscitation care of an adult and provides an individualized plan of care.
• Maintains and implements knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact or govern nursing practice, and ensures the hospital and Parkland are in compliance. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. Maintains and updates knowledge of sanitation, infection control, safety, supplies, equipment, appropriate utilization of supplies and materials.
• Completes appropriate documentation. Maintains accurate and timely entries and notations in patient care records and hospital documents. Ensures that all records and documents meet the standards, goals, and objectives of the Adult ICU/Critical Care department and Parkland.
• Works with other staff in providing direction to non-nursing staff. Participates in information exchanges with nursing and other Parkland staff that support the standards, missions, goals and objectives of the Adult ICU/Critical Care department and Parkland. Seeks and utilizes direction from more experience staff and team members as needed. Provides appropriate hand off any time care is relinquished. Serves as a preceptor or trainer to newer nursing staff members, as needed.
• Identifies ways to improve work process and improve patient and customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the Adult ICU/Critical Care department and Parkland.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements and trends in nursing practice by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals and actively participating in professional organizations. Maintains State of Texas Licensure as a Registered Nurse, plus any additional required licensures/certifications. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• May also be required to perform duties on inpatient units (with a modified patient assignment) as directed by the Centralized Staffing Office.
• Employee commits to working a minimum of two shifts per pay period when the Hospital has the need. These shifts may include weekends, and one major and minor holidays. Employee will be required to float to areas within skillset.
• The employee will not be eligible for pay increases with evaluations.
• The employee will be required to float to areas within skillset as needed and must maintain competency.
• Employees in the RN PRN program will be classified in a regular relief status with no benefit eligibility.
• Employees in this program will accept the assignments given by the Hospital, to include accepting on-call assignments. Employees will be expected to float as needed to clinical departments for which the Hospital has deemed them qualified and competent.
• The Hospital does not guarantee any work or minimum number of hours per week.
• Employees must have two years of prior work experience in their specialty area to be eligible to participate in the RN PRN program but also must have two years overall nursing experience.
• Employees identified as not meeting the scheduling requirements set forth in the job description. Should they not meet the scheduling requirements, staff will be performance managed and encouraged to seek roles for which they can meet the scheduling requirements.