Registered Nurse - Medical Surgical - Nights

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary

The Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (RN) practices independently to deliver routine and complex care for patients within an acute hospital setting. Demonstrating a holistic awareness of the clinical environment, the RN utilizes the nursing process to manage patient care, set long-range goals, handle clinical contingencies, and appropriately delegate to and supervise other care team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct Patient Care: Provides comprehensive nursing care utilizing the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation) consistent with the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice.
• Acuity & Complexity: Confidently addresses complex physical, psychological, emotional, cultural, and social needs of patients and their families.
• Medication Administration: Administers medications, IV therapies, and clinical treatments using approved protocols; diligently monitors for side effects and treatment efficacy.
• Documentation: Maintains precise, real-time electronic health record (EHR) documentation of patient histories, active symptoms, clinical interventions, and patient responses.
• Patient Education: Evaluates learning needs and delivers targeted education regarding disease management, discharge planning, and post-discharge care to patients and families.
• Care Coordination & Flow: Anticipates and coordinates seamless patient admissions, transfers, and discharges to maximize safe unit throughput.
• Leadership & Unit Support: Plans, directs, and evaluates overall nursing functions on the unit during an assigned shift. Assesses floor staffing needs and demonstrates careful stewardship of medical supplies and equipment.

Technical & Core Competencies

• Clinical Standards Compliance: Adheres strictly to established hospital policies, state protocols, and regulatory control mechanisms.
• Health Information Systems: Proficient in electronic medical record entry, processing verbal or standing medical orders, and managing chart accuracy to minimize omissions or errors.
• Medical Equipment Mastery: Skilled in operating, troubleshooting, and verifying standard diagnostic tools and unit-specific clinical equipment safely.
• Patient Safety & Quality Care: Integrates evidence-based guidelines to promote positive patient outcomes; actively participates in quality improvement initiatives, immediate incident tracking, and real-time analysis of near-misses.

Job Requirements & Qualifications

Education & Licensure

• Degree: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) strongly preferred .
• Licensure: Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Texas or an active multi-state Compact RN license.
• Certifications: Active BLS (Basic Life Support) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) required.

Experience

• Minimum Experience: 12 months of independent nursing experience in an acute care hospital environment.
• Preferred Specialty: Direct background in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry, Progressive Care (PCU), or Intermediate Care (IMC) environments.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Environment: Fast-paced, high-acuity inpatient acute care hospital setting. Adherence to strict safety, security, and infection control protocols—including the correct utilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and power-operated lifting devices—is mandatory.
• Physical Activities: Must be able to perform physical demands typical of a hospital floor unit, including prolonged standing/walking, reaching, bending, kneeling, crouching, twisting, pushing/pulling, and lifting/carrying patients or heavy equipment.
• Sensory Acuity: Requires visual acuity of at least 20/40, conversational hearing, color perception, and the clear ability to communicate effectively in English.