ICU Registered Nurse

ICU Registered Nurse

The professional Registered Nurse (RN) is the patient and patient's family advocate. He/she consistently applies and utilizes the nursing process, critical thinking skills, scientific judgment, technical skills and leadership to independently deliver safe nursing care to patients. The RN collaborates with the patient care team to achieve quality patient outcomes in alignment with the Hospital mission and Methodist Excellence goals. Communicates and utilizes interpersonal skills effectively and role models confidence and professionalism within nursing as evidenced by active engagement in unit and organizational activities. Demonstrates team work and adaptability and is a resource person to the patient care team. He/she is accountable for the quality of nursing care services delivered by self or others under their direction in accordance with the Texas Nurse Practice Act, hospital policies and procedures and the Texas Board of Nursing rules for delegated nursing tasks (Chapter 224). Promotes a positive image of nursing and demonstrates team work and adaptability through consistently following the standards of Methodist Excellence.

About the Unit:

• 20 bed Intensive Care Unit
• Patient to Nurse ratio 2:1
• Caring for a variety of ICU patients with a focus on open heart
• Stroke Certified Unit
• Collaborate closely with the Eye Bank and Tissue and Organ Alliance
• The culture on this unit includes a strong sense of teamwork, support, education, empowerment and fun!
• The team is proud to actively precept nursing students from several institutions, most of whom graduate and return to the team as an RN

What You Will Do In Your Role:

• Applies nursing judgment through a thorough, systematic approach of applying the nursing process to include:
• Assessment: Conducts comprehensive, timely, and ongoing focused physical, psycho- social and pain assessments; includes assessment of patient education needs.
• Planning: Utilizes the assessment, identifies problems, makes nursing diagnoses, formulates goals, teaching plans and outcomes to create an individualized plan of care. Identifies individual patient goals, readiness to learn and incorporates family into the plan of care.
• Implementation: Prioritizes and implements a competent, prioritized and efficient nursing plan of care.
• Evaluation/Reassessment: Consistently conducts timely evaluation, anticipates and recognizes changes in patient conditions, determines when reassessments are needed and adjusts the plan of care as necessary. Compares expected and achieved outcomes of nursing care utilizing the plan of care.
• Collaborates with patient care team members on patient care plan; communicates timely and effectively with physicians and other members of the patient care team through verbal, written or electronic communication to coordinate and facilitate meeting patient needs. Incorporates consistent use of hand-off communication and SBAR communication methods.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills, scientific judgment, and organizational skills. Prioritizes tasks and adjusts priorities when necessary. Maintains an orderly, efficient and timely flow of patients. Recognizes and reports errors and unusual occurrences and analyze contributing factors. Initiates corrective action when appropriate.
• Makes accurate, complete and timely entries into the patient medical record addressing all steps of the nursing process. Actively communicates with members of the healthcare team, patient and patient family.
• Maintains current nursing knowledge to assure a safe working environment. Demonstrates practical application of all policies and procedures relative to safety and the pillars of Methodist Excellence to include: Applicable quality core measures, infection prevention, fall prevention, medication administration safety, hourly rounding, and AIDET principles.
• Responsible to supervise tasks delegated to unlicensed personnel and accountable for tasks performed by unlicensed personnel according to the Texas BON rules for delegated nursing tasks (Chapter 224).
• Supports the mission and vision of the Methodist Healthcare System. Understands and is committed to helping the Methodist Healthcare System and its associated facilities achieve its goals.
• Must learn and comply with System and facility safety policies and rules; must use appropriate safety equipment and procedures at all times; must immediately report all unsafe conditions to supervisors; must be familiar with all safety features of equipment, tools or materials encompassed by job duties; and must check with supervisors (prior to job performance) if there is a question as to the safe procedure to be used for any job function.
• Adheres to the MHS Code of Conduct and demonstrates ethical behavior as expected by our patients, colleagues and the community. Understands the personal obligation to report any activity that appears to violate applicable laws, rules regulations or the Code of Conduct itself.
• Recognizes and responds to crisis situations. Notifies appropriate individuals of actual or impending crisis.
• Incorporates patients cultural and spiritual beliefs into care by making appropriate referrals to chaplain, social services, case manager, etc. Documents pertinent data including assessment, interventions and evaluations.
• Participates in performance improvement activities of the hospital/unit. This may include data collection. Participation on a team or implementing recommendations identified through quality initiatives.
• Assists in providing education for staff through being a liaison and/or through preceptorship. Assists coworkers willingly and shares information/resources with team members.
• Patient information is managed confidentially – including both written and electronic records. Ensures physical and auditory privacy.
• Completes other duties as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Practices and adheres to the "Code of Conduct" and "Mission and Value Statement."

What qualifications you will need:

• Associate's Degree in Nursing or RN Diploma required
• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing preferred
• Minimum of six (6) months of clinical experience as a licensed Registered Nurse required
• One (1) year of Registered Nurse experience in acute care settings strongly preferred
• Current Registered Nurse License in the State of Texas or Multi-State Compact License (Employees with RN Compact License are required to obtain Texas RN License within 90 days of hire date)
• Current American Heart Association BLS Certification required
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) preferred