Registered Nurse II (RN)- Cardiothoracic Surgery Acute

Job Overview At Houston Methodist, the Registered Nurse (RN) II position is a licensed staff nurse, an experienced clinician, functioning at the Competent to Proficient stage of Benner's model of clinical practice. The RN II provides professional nursing care to a diverse patient population, conducts nursing assessments, assists with exams and treatment, provides patient education, and maintains medical records. The RN II delivers direct patient care effectively and efficiently to patients with varied and complex needs, communicating and collaborating with physicians and the interprofessional health care team to facilitate, coordinate, and maintain compassionate, efficient, high‑quality care and to achieve desired treatment outcomes. The RN II demonstrates clinical competence in providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures, managing emergencies, and acting as a patient and family advocate to monitor and maintain patient rights. The RN II assumes leadership roles, including contributing to unit and shared governance initiatives, serving as charge nurse or preceptor to students or new employees, and possibly supporting service line or hospital‑wide initiatives in partnership with management. FLSA Status Non‑exempt Qualifications Education: Graduate of an accredited education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s). Experience: Twelve months registered nurse experience in a healthcare environment. Licenses and Certifications – Required: RN – Registered Nurse – Texas State Licensure (Texas Board of Nursing), PSI Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days if establishing Texas residency. BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA). ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) within four months. Licenses and Certifications – Preferred: NIH Stroke – National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Certification (AHA) if floating to unit or caring for patients requiring NIHSS within four months. Magnet – ANCC Recognized Certification. Knowledge and Abilities Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, as determined through ongoing assessments. Proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English to perform essential functions, especially where patient or employee safety is involved. Effectively communicates with patients, physicians, family members, and co‑workers, applying customer service focus and positive language principles. Strong assessment, organizational, and problem‑solving skills; prioritizes multiple tasks and role components. Functions independently and exercises judgment in interactions with physicians, the interprofessional team, patients, and families. Uses critical thinking and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act. Demonstrates proficient time‑management skills. Maintains professional contributions as defined in the Clinical Career Path program guide. Working knowledge of Microsoft products, including Outlook. Essential Functions People Essential Functions Uses therapeutic communication, including active listening and teaching, to establish relationships with patients, families, and the interprofessional health care team and collaborate on the plan of care. Contributes to teamwork by maintaining awareness of overall unit acuity, consistently offering assistance, and responding positively to requests for assistance. Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment and applies feedback to improve patient outcomes. Implements staff education specific to patient populations and unit processes; coaches and mentors other staff and students; may include preceptorship; uses peer‑to‑peer accountability to improve department scores for turnover, retention, and employee engagement on the unit‑based scorecard. Service Essential Functions Follows patient and family‑centered care standards, conducts nursing assessments, assists with exams and treatment, and maintains medical records, practicing in a manner congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles. Develops, updates, and communicates the plan of care, including discharge, in partnership with the patient, family, and the interprofessional health care team, using the nursing process and prioritizes care based on the patient’s needs, abilities, and preferences. Advocates on the patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns, utilizing appropriate resources. Provides patient teaching based on learning needs, uses appropriate resources, incorporates planning for care after discharge, and consistently evaluates the patient’s comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly. Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction on the unit‑based scorecard through peer‑to‑peer accountability to service standards. Quality/Safety Essential Functions Follows the standards of care related to the nursing process as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Follows regulatory requirements and professional practice standards; identifies areas for practice improvement with research‑based evidence to achieve core measures and patient safety outcomes, supported by accurate documentation. Provides and modifies care to complex patients and coordinates care with the interprofessional team based on evaluation of the patient’s condition, supported by accurate documentation, utilizing clinical judgment and evidence‑based analysis. Improves quality and safety scores on the unit‑based scorecard through peer‑to‑peer accountability, reporting near misses, and collaborating with the interprofessional health care team. Finance Essential Functions Displays self‑motivation to independently manage time, document care timely, minimize incidental overtime, and prioritize daily tasks; provides input into unit resource utilization, including capital and operational budget needs. Contributes towards meeting department financial targets on the unit‑based scorecard through decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas per department specifications. Growth/Innovation Essential Functions Identifies and presents areas for innovation, efficiency, and improvement in patient care or unit operations using evidence‑based practice literature; offers innovative solutions through evidence‑based practice/performance improvement projects and shared governance activities. Champions new care pathways or service line implementation to improve service to the community; identifies trends for improvement opportunities or practice changes, supports initiatives, researches changes, and presents options to shared governance and leadership. Supplemental Requirements Work Attire: Uniform: No Scrubs: Yes Business Professional: No 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: Yes Travel: May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes; May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: No #J-18808-Ljbffr Houston Methodist