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Northwestern Medicine

Academic medical center research, teaching, care

Registered Nurse Surgical Inpatient

Nursing & Frontline Patient CarePosted on Nov 11
Full-timeLake Forest, IL, USA$34.50 - $55.20 /hrIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is required, or an Associate Degree in Nursing with a commitment to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited program within three years of the first day of employment in a clinical nurse role.
  • Current Illinois Registered Professional Nurse license is required.
  • Basic Life Support is required.
  • Strong interpersonal skills are required.
  • Ability to collaborate with others is required.
  • Strong analytic abilities are required.

Responsibilities

  • Perform comprehensive assessments on assigned patients and document the findings.
  • Promptly communicate changes in patient condition.
  • Use nursing diagnoses and assessment data to establish measurable patient outcomes, document goals, and modify the plan of care as needed.
  • Identify and prioritize patient needs and nursing diagnoses, and document them.
  • Collaborate with patients, families, and healthcare team members in planning and documenting care; assess discharge needs and make appropriate referrals, including palliative care.
  • Evaluate and document patient responses to nursing interventions and adjust the plan of care as needed.
  • Complete discharge instructions and medication reconciliation, and provide patients and families with information about the patient portal and other relevant resources.
  • Assess patient and family spiritual and cultural needs for teaching, identify learning level and readiness, and document education.
  • Use teach-back to educate patients about medication side effects and new medications.
  • Use and distribute Krames patient education materials for clinical conditions.
  • Use Culture Vision as a resource in care planning and delivery.
  • Treat patients, families, and staff with respect and dignity; value significant others' contributions to care planning; follow ethical practice standards and request an ethics consultation when appropriate.
  • Implement nursing interventions consistent with evidence-based plans of care.
  • Maintain and advance nursing practice using the best available evidence, including resources such as Ovid/Joanna Briggs, UpToDate, and Culture Vision.
  • Participate in a clinical LADDER project or unit/organizational process improvement.
  • Administer medication safely using bar coding and protect patients' health, safety, and rights.
  • Provide complete, timely, and accurate bedside shift reports and handoffs.
  • Round hourly in collaboration with a patient care technician and maintain a safe patient environment.
  • Participate in unit and organizational quality metrics and help prevent pressure ulcers, falls, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and central line infections as appropriate to the practice area.
  • Serve as a unit safety facilitator or resource for quality initiatives when requested, and participate in unit huddles.
  • Oversee and direct patient care or support technicians while remaining accountable for assigned patients.
  • Lead and direct others effectively, and address conflict directly and appropriately.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in charge nurse and preceptor roles when assigned, and coordinate patient care for the unit when responsible.
  • Take the clinical lead when a patient's condition changes and consult the primary care physician about treatment or transfer to an appropriate level of care.
  • Serve as a resource and role model for new staff, students, and other system personnel; assist with precepting, orientation, and mentoring as requested.
  • Provide regular feedback to colleagues through peer evaluation and participate in clinical case peer review.
  • Collaborate with hospital services to complete daily work and maintain an effective care environment.
  • Identify barriers to effective clinical practice and communicate them to nursing leadership and the practice operations council.
  • Ensure appropriate levels of care are documented in the electronic medical record for admissions and follow supply-charging procedures.
  • Participate in value-based unit and organizational initiatives and help reduce overtime utilization.
  • Complete electronic and paper documentation, use Alaris pump guardrails, and understand physiologic monitoring and its implications for clinical management.
  • Use the bed management system and identify technologies for unit, hospital, or system use.
  • Participate in CEOC activities to advance and optimize the medical record when requested.
  • Attend internal professional development offerings such as Schwartz Rounds and Nursing Grand Rounds.
  • Obtain certification in the nursing specialty of practice.
  • Maintain accountability for professional practice competencies, ELM learning, and dress code adherence.
  • Participate in professional organizations through membership, leadership, or committee work.
  • Take assigned lunch breaks.

Desired Qualifications

  • National certification in the area of specialty.

About the Company

Northwestern Medicine

Academic medical center research, teaching, care

Northwestern Medicine brings together Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to advance health care through research, teaching, and patient care. It runs an academic medical system with more than 33,000 staff, faculty, students, and researchers across 200 locations, including five hospitals that are ranked among America’s Best by U.S. News & World Report (2025–2026). The organization offers medical care by clinicians and scientists who also teach and study new treatments, meaning patients may benefit from up-to-date therapies developed through ongoing research. Its approach combines hospital services, medical education, and scientific discovery in one ecosystem, which sets it apart from ordinary clinics. The goal is to improve medicine so that patients receive higher-quality care and safer, better outcomes.

Company size
10,001+
Company stage
Grant
Total funding
$25M
Headquarters
Chicago, IL
Founded
2009

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