Registered Nurse (RN) - Rapid Response

Major Responsibilities:

• Clinical and Professional Practice
  • 8)Work with specific critical care team members in response to a “CODE BLUE” or “RRT” to provide expert nursing intervention and support to clinical nurses and other specialties.
  • 9)Analyze challenging situations and intervene as appropriate to optimize patient outcomes. Implement strategies to reduce patient risk and increase patient safety. Ensure that patient care is delivered in accordance with the established policies and protocols and to the agreed standards.
  • 10)Be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, clinical skills and professional awareness in accordance with minimal position requirements. Strategically plans for ongoing education to acquire new knowledge and skills.
  • 1)Respond to all unplanned clinical events and potentially critical situations from the different clinical areas. Provide an expert initial assessment of any patient meeting the criteria for calling the critical care team.
  • 2)Based on the clinical assessment, initiate the level of support required, including airway management, oxygen therapy, advanced cardiac or basic life support interventions, etc.
  • 3)Participate in the multi-disciplinary review of patients on different clinical areas and emergency department working with the clinicians to support and participate in the delivery of care to critically ill patients requiring level 1 care or above.
  • 4)Act as an excellent clinical nursing role model in the management of patients requiring specialized critical care.
  • 5)Carry out nursing care that is based on the latest research findings, and constitutes best practice. Maintains critical care competencies to provide bedside care as assigned.
  • 6)Alert other members of medical/surgical staff from the patient’s own team to help expedite admission and transfer of patients to different levels of care. Where necessary, work directly with leaders to fast track patient into the appropriate unit and level of care.
  • 7)Provide follow-up care and monitoring to patients transferred from ICU to other units.
• Clinical Excellence and Leadership
  • 1)Participates in unit or organizational shared governance and leadership
  • 2)Promotes and supports growth of others through precepting and mentoring when appropriate.
  • 3)Accountable for activities that lead to excellent patient care outcomes through timely, effective, efficient and safe care.
  • 4)Actively participates in the improvement of national nursing quality indicators and outcomes and identifies opportunities for and participates in performance improvement activities related to capacity management, patient throughput/patient flow and other critical nursing initiatives to meet hospital strategic goals.
  • 10)Demonstrates proficient leadership skills at the unit level.
  • 5)Translates the nursing and corporate vision and strategic plan into measurable goals and sustainable programs.
  • 6)Creates and maintains a supportive and healthy work environment during highly stressful situations.
  • 7)Advances practice through the development of innovations incorporating the principles of change. Consistently applies evidence-based practice in patient care. Incorporates nursing standards of care into practice.
  • 8)Mentors and coaches nursing staff and creates an environment of professional growth. Serves as a role model whose beliefs, attitudes and actions support unit leadership and goals.
  • 9)Demonstrates accountability for own professional practice, including progress toward achievement of annual goals.
• Performance and Quality Improvement
  • 1)Participate in the audit and evaluation of the RESCUE team (e.g. Code Blue audits, RRT audits, Sepsis RRT audits, etc.) Assist in disseminating the results of such work throughout the different clinical areas and appropriate councils/committees.
  • 2)Work in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team to support and develop research projects.
  • 3)Work with the charge nurse, unit leaders, clinical facilitators in identifying areas of risk for patients and other team members taking appropriate action i.e identify training needs for staff caring for critically ill patients and providing this feedback to unit leadership.
  • 4)Participate in quality/process improvement initiatives to improve the functions of the department and the patient care experience.
• Innovation, Research and Technical Expertise
  • 1)Creatively uses knowledge, resources, and technology to transform care for the diverse patient population.
  • 2)Creates and promotes a culture of safety and accountability.
  • 3)Articulates standards and monitors compliance with the State Nurse Practice Act, State Board of Nursing Regulation, regulatory agency standards and the policies of the organization.
  • 4)Demonstrates information literacy skills in complex decision making.
  • 5)Utilizes clinical information systems and platforms, i.e., EMR, MIDAS, Teletracking to promote safety, quality and cost-effective care.

Licensure:

• Nurse, Registered (RN)

Education/Experience Required:

• • Graduate from an accredited school of nursing • 3+ years of ICU or ED experience. • See Education Addendum for site specific requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• • Excellent communication skills • Excellent computer skills • Excellent time management and organizational skills • Familiarity with patient care equipment
• • Current Illinois RN license • Current BLS • Current ACLS • Current PALS • CCRN upon hire or within 2 years • Certifications/education required for the nursing specialty - See Certification Addendum

Physicial Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and different shifts in order to accommodate staffing Certain positions may need to take call Ability to transport objects, patients, and equipment Ability to respond quickly to patient needs and work at fast pace Work environment includes probability of exposure to adverse, hazardous, or unpleasant conditions while caring for the sick Ability to assist in evacuation of patients in the event of a fire or other disaster Routinely works with potentially infectious specimens and patients Ability to respond to patients in a timely manner and access all areas of the unit
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Addendum: Education Addendum ALL SITES • GRADUATE FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL OF NURSING • BSN PREFERRED BroMenn Medical Center: • Effective 01/01/2015: ADN acceptable with agreement to enroll in BSN completion program within two years of hire date and to be completed within five years of hire date. Children's Hospitals: • Effective 01/01/2017: Complete and maintain PALS certification within 6 months of hire Christ Medical Center: • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required • Certification in your current area of specialty once meeting eligibility requirements. Condell Medical Center: • Effective 02/01/2015: ADN acceptable with agreement to enroll in BSN completion program in two years and to be completed in five years. Good Samaritan Hospital: • Externally hired new grads BSN required. BSN preferred for experienced new hire nurses. • Certification in your current area of specialty once meeting eligibility requirements. Good Shepherd Hospital: • Effective 07/01/2015: ADN acceptable with agreement to enroll in BSN completion program in two years and to be completed in five years. Illinois Masonic Medical Center: • Effective 01/01/2012: - New Grads: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required - Experienced RNs: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required. - Experienced RNs: Invasive Cardiology (Cath/EP) and Operating Room (OR) - ADN may be acceptable with greater than 3 years of experience in specific specialties with agreement on hire to enroll and complete BSN completion program within 3 years of hire. • Certification in your area of specialty once meeting eligibility requirements. - If employed prior to January 1, 2012 and have shown demonstrated attempts but failed to become certified, the associate will be grandfathered. Lutheran General Hospital: • Effective 06/01/2012: ADN acceptable with agreement to enroll in BSN completion program in two years to be completed in five years. Sherman Hospital: • Effective 01/01/2015: ADN acceptable with agreement to enroll in BSN completion program and to be completed in four years. South Suburban Hospital: • ADN acceptable with agreement to enroll in a BSN completion program within two years of hire date and to be completed within five years. Trinity Hospital: • ADN acceptable with agreement to enroll in a BSN completion program within two years of hire date and to be completed within five years. Certification Addendum Associates will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others) Mother Baby: • Completes basic AWHONN FHMPP 2 day course • Completes annual FHR competency • Completes and maintains NRP certification as assigned Emergency Room: • Completes and maintains ECRN certification, if base station. • Completes and maintains ACLS & PALS certification after 1 year experience. • Completes and maintains TNS/TNCC & ECRN certification after 2 years experience ICU/CCU: • Successfully completes ECG course and annual exam • Completes and maintains ACLS certification NICU • Completes and maintains NRP certification within 6 months of hire Mental Health: • No additional requirements M/S Tele: • Completes ECG course and annual exam • Completes and maintains ACLS certification Neuro: • Completes and maintains ACLS certification Oncology: • Completes radiation therapy safety competency. • Completes central line competency including declogging of central lines. • Completes chemotherapy provider course and maintains renewal every 2 years Rehabilitation: • No additional requirements Surgery/OR: • Demonstrates the ability to both scrub and circulate in most cases Interventional Cardiology: • Complies with established radiation safety standards • Completes and maintains ACLS certification Pediatrics: • Completes and maintains ACLS certification within 6 months of hire PICU: • Complete and maintain PALS certification within 6 months of hire Surgical Heart: • Completes ECG course and annual exam • Completes and maintains ACLS certification Pediatric Surgical Heart: • Completes and maintains PALS certification within 6 months of hire IV/Infusion: • Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI or Vascular Access Certification (VA-BC) within 2 years of hire



This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.