Acute Care RN 3

The Acute Care RN II is a licensed staff nurse who functions at the competent stage. The RN II provides professional nursing care to a diverse patient population, conducting nursing assessments, assisting with exams and treatment, patient education, and maintaining medical records. The RN II provides direct patient care effectively and efficiently, which may include patients with varied and complex needs. Collaborates with interprofessional health care team to facilitate, coordinate, and maintain compassionate, efficient, quality care and achieve desired treatment outcomes. Demonstrates competence when providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures, and managing emergencies, acting as a patient and family advocate to monitor and maintain patient rights. Participates in or leads unit and shared governance initiatives, serving as a preceptor to students or new employees, and possibly contributes to specialty line or hospital-wide initiatives in partnership with management.

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Strong assessment, organizational and problem-solving skills as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components
• Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families
• Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act
• Demonstrates proficient time management skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products
• Ability to serve as a preceptor and a mentor by fostering a teaching environment. Position eligible for preceptor premium pay with completion of preceptor education and leader approval.

Education:

• Bachelor's of Science in Nursing required

Certification/Licensure:

• Current Texas Board of Nursing (or Compact State) RN license; Or a Temporary Texas RN License (Permanent TX license within 90 days upon hire). 
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, within 7 days of hire.

• Uses therapeutic communication, which includes active listening and teaching, to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional health care team to collaborate on the plan of care.
• Contributes to teamwork by awareness of overall unit acuity, consistently offering assistance, and responding positively to requests for assistance. Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Seeks guidance from and offers guidance to interprofessional health care team, when appropriate, 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 towards improvement of department score for turnover/retention/employee engagement.
• Conducts nursing assessments, assists with exams and treatment, and maintenance of medical records.
• Develops, updates, and communicates plan of care, including discharge, in partnership with the patient, family and interprofessional health care team, using the nursing process. Prioritizes care based on the patient's needs, abilities, and preferences. Advocates on 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, incorporating planning for care after discharge. Consistently evaluates the patient's comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly.
• Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.
• Follows the standards related to regulatory requirements and professional practice. Identifies areas of practice improvements with research-based evidence to achieve core measure 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. Utilizes clinical judgment, using an evidence-based analytical approach.
• Improves quality and safety scores on the unit-based scorecard through peer-to-peer accountability, reporting near misses, and collaborating with the interprofessional healthcare team.
• Displays self-motivation to independently manage time effectively, timely document care, minimize incidental overtime, and prioritize daily tasks. Contributes towards meeting department financial targets through decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to department specifications.
• 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 and supports initiatives. Researches the change and presents options to shared governance and leadership.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.