University of Southern California

Research university in Los Angeles, CA

Registered Nurse - 8W Med ICU

Nursing & Frontline Patient CareUpdated on Nov 13

Full-timeLos Angeles, CA, USA$41 - $88 /hrIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is required, except for employees grandfathered from the BSN requirement if hired before December 2019.
Graduate from an accredited school of Nursing.
Have 1 year of acute inpatient hospital experience as a registered nurse.
Speak, read, and write English proficiently.
Know medical procedures and conditions and be able to understand, follow, and successfully perform duties, including whole blood collection and apheresis procedures, in accordance with administrative and clinical policies, regulations, and procedures.
Hold a Registered Nurse license from the California Board of Registered Nursing.
Hold Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider certification from the American Heart Association.
Obtain and maintain Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) certification when working within LA City; if not held at hire, obtain it within 30 days of hire.
Hold Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Healthcare Provider certification from the American Heart Association for Intensive Care, Step-down, and Telemetry departments. Registered nurses without prior telemetry or critical care experience must obtain ACLS within 180 days or by the end of orientation, whichever is sooner.

Responsibilities

Use the nursing process to provide therapeutic patient care and coordinate patient care and education for patients and families in accordance with standards, policies, and practices.
Follow policies and procedures and demonstrate the ability to access online manuals.
Apply learned scientific knowledge in the nursing process.
Complete nursing assessments upon admission, each shift, and when a patient's condition changes; complete patient acuity by 0200/1400 daily.
Interpret assessment information and formulate nursing diagnoses.
Develop individualized plans of care, document expected or projected patient outcomes, and review, revise, and update plans daily based on evaluation and interpretation of outcomes.
Administer medications and IV therapy at prescribed intervals and complete patient-care procedures correctly according to policy and schedule.
Delegate tasks based on others’ scope of practice and competency and act as a patient advocate.
Manage restraint use according to policy, attempt alternatives first, ensure complete physician orders and assessments, ensure required patient monitoring, and complete a restraint audit form each shift.
Complete and accurately maintain flow sheets and chart forms, including admission assessments, pain assessments and reassessments, daily flow sheets, restraint and diabetes flow sheets, educational flow sheets, Kardex, care plans, fall risk assessments and reassessments, medication administration records, equipment and supplies records, intra- and inter-facility transfer forms, and belonging tracking forms.
Ensure orders are transcribed and signed off before the end of the shift and complete 12-hour/24-hour chart checks.
Provide patient and family education and room/unit orientation, explain the plan of care, identify knowledge deficits related to diagnoses and care, and use and provide Micromedex information.
Collaborate with case managers and/or physicians on discharge planning, complete transfer paperwork, and ensure patient belongings are sent with the patient.
Use patient-care equipment safely and appropriately according to manufacturer guidelines, including IV pumps, feeding pumps, PCA pumps, epidural pumps, sequential compression devices, wound VACs, and heating pads/pumps.
Communicate with the healthcare team, patients, and families through shift reports, physician rounds, patient/family interactions, MDP rounds, hand-off reports, facility email, and communication with students and new or contract employees.
Organize and prioritize responsibilities, manage time, take meal breaks without incurring overtime, and complete shifts on time.
Follow regulatory and safety requirements, including National Patient Safety Goals, patient identifiers, approved abbreviations, Universal Protocol, hand-offs, medication reconciliation, clinical alarms, hazardous waste management, biohazards, medication and sharps safety, HIPAA, OSHA requirements, JCAHO survey readiness, critical-value communication, telephone-order documentation, safe body mechanics, electrical safety, infection control, and hand washing.
Manage medical-surgical patients, including patients with total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, spinal surgery, cystic fibrosis, abdominal organ transplants, and hepatic encephalopathy, applying relevant isolation precautions, respiratory and nutrition care, medication management, safety precautions, and skin care.
Manage complex critically ill intensive care patients, including neurosurgery, thoracic foregut, gastric bypass, orthopedic, liver/kidney/pancreas transplant, hepatobiliary, open-heart, and heart and lung transplant patients; manage advanced therapeutic modalities including hemodynamic monitoring, continuous renal replacement therapy, continuous venovenous hemodialysis, ventriculostomy, intracranial pressure monitoring, ventricular assist devices, and balloon pumps.
Manage high-acuity stepdown/telemetry patients requiring specialized monitoring and care, including patients following open-heart, heart, lung, liver, and kidney transplants, orthopedic and hepatobiliary procedures, general surgeries, thoracic foregut procedures, gastric bypass, neurology, and neurosurgery; manage ventilator care, arterial/central venous pressure lines, ventricular assist devices, and lumbar drains.
Initiate, perform, and terminate dialysis treatments according to policy and standards of care; review orders and laboratory results; inform patients of treatment plans; complete treatment-record documentation; perform pre-treatment safety checks and machine maintenance; check charts for dialysis orders before arriving with equipment; obtain missing treatment orders from physicians early in the shift; and complete medical-surgical dialysis treatments on 3S when more than two such patients are scheduled.
Engage psychiatric patients in therapeutic interactions and maintain a therapeutic milieu; assess and monitor patient safety, including contraband checks; initiate and participate in treatment planning; monitor locked unit doors; log visitors and assess for contraband; check patients’ legal status each shift and communicate with the Department of Mental Health and other agencies as required; administer psychotropic medications only after proper consent and documentation; and submit Fire Arms Reporting Forms.
Use de-escalation techniques to prevent behavioral restraint or seclusion when possible; apply restraints or seclusion when appropriate; continuously monitor patient safety or delegate monitoring; ensure physician assessment within one hour of application and at least every eight hours; obtain physician orders; notify the manager of behavioral restraint incidents; contact significant others as permitted; and debrief with the patient when appropriate.
Accurately identify patients meeting Core Measure criteria, complete Core Measure documentation, and participate in data collection and process improvements related to Nurse Sensitive Quality Indicators.
Participate in professional hospital and nursing activities, including relief charge nurse duties, nursing committees/councils, hospital teams, unit-based projects, and research or published peer-reviewed articles.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Desired Qualifications

Specialty certification.

As an integral part of the interdisciplinary team, the Registered Nurse utilizes the nursing process to provide therapeutic care to patients. The Registered Nurse is accountable for the coordination of patient care and education to the patient and family in accordance with the standards, policies, and practices in a compassionate, supportive, and therapeutic environment.

Essential Duties:

Follows policies and procedures; demonstrates ability to access online manuals.
Transfers learned scientific knowledge into practical application in applying the Nursing Process.
ASSESSMENT Appropriately completes Nursing Assessment upon patient admission, at each shift and with change of condition. Completes patient acuity by 0200/1400 daily.
DIAGNOSIS Interprets assessment information and formulates Nursing Diagnoses.
PLAN Develops Plans of Care with individualized interventions. Documents expected/projected patient outcomes. Reviews/Revises/Updates Plans of Care daily based on evaluation and interpretation of patient outcomes.
INTERVENTION Administers medication and IV therapy appropriately at prescribed intervals. Completes patient care procedures correctly per policy at prescribed intervals. Delegates tasks based on others’ scope of practice and competency. Acts as patient advocate. Manages restraint use per policy Attempts alternative non-restraint measures first. Assures complete MD order per policy. Ensures MD assessment per policy. Assures patient monitoring per policy. Ensures Restraint Audit Form is completed each shift.
DOCUMENTATION Documentation is complete and correct on all flow sheets and chart forms: Admission Assessment Pain scale assessment and reassessment before and after intervention Daily flow sheet Restraint flow sheet Diabetes flow sheet Educational flow sheet Kardex Care Plan Risk Assessment & Reassessment upon Fall MAR Equipment & Supplies Intra and Inter Facility Transfer Forms Belonging Tracking Form Ensures orders are transcribed and signed off prior to the end of the shift. Completes 12h/24h chart checks
EDUCATION Provides patient/family education as needed Room/unit orientation Plan of Care Identifies knowledge deficits related to diagnoses and care Uses and provides MICROMEDEX information to patients and families.
TRANSFER & DISCHARGE Collaborates with Case Manager and/or physician regarding discharge planning. Ensures all transfer paperwork is completed. Ensures belongings are sent with patient.
EQUIPMENT Utilizes patient care equipment appropriately and safely according to manufacture guidelines IV pump Feeding pump PCA pump Epidural pump Sequential compression device Wound VAC Heating pad/pump
COMMUNCATION Communicates effectively with all members of the healthcare team including patient and family: Shift to shift report Physician Rounds Patient/family interactions MDP Rounds Hand-Off reports Facility E-mail Student/New employee/Contract employee
ORGANIZATION Manages time effectively. Able to organize and prioritize responsibilities. Takes meal breaks without incurring overtime. Completes shift on time.
OBSERVES REGULATORY AGENCY REQUIREMENTS: National Patient Safety Goals Patient identifiers Unapproved abbreviations Universal Protocol (Procedural Time Out) Hand-Off Medication Reconciliation Clinical Alarms Other Hazardous waste management Biohazard Medication Sharps HIPAA OSHA requirements (i.e. no food or drink in clinical areas) JCAHO – continuous survey readiness Critical Values § Write Down § Read Back § Follow up Telephone order § Appropriate § Documented § Signed, Timed and Dated § Stamped § Entered into unit log Maintains safe practice in the work environment § Correct body mechanics § Electrical safety § Infection Control Procedures § Hand Washing
MANAGEMENT OF THE CARE OF MEDICAL SURGICAL PATIENTS (6N) Demonstrates the ability to manage patients with THA. (6N) Demonstrates the ability to manage patients with TKA. (6N) Demonstrates the ability to manage patients with spinal surgery (6S) Demonstrates the ability to maintain isolation precautions, respiratory and nutrition care specific to cystic fibrosis patients. (6S) Demonstrates the ability to manage medications and maintain protective isolation precautions for patients with abdominal organ transplants (6S) Institutes safety precautions and skin care for patients with hepatic encephalopathy.
MANAGEMENT OF THE CARE OF PATIENTS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT/S Demonstrates the ability to manage complex critically ill patients. Neurosurgery, thoracic-forgut, gastric bypass, orthopedic. Liver/kidney/pancreas transplants, hepatobiliary. Open heart, heart and lung transplants. Demonstrates the ability to manage advanced therapeutic modalities. Hemodynamic monitoring. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT, CVVHD). Ventriculostomy, intracranial pressure monitoring. Ventricular assist devices, balloon pumps.
MANAGEMENT OF THE CARE OF PATIENTS IN THE STEPDOWN/TELEMETRY UNITS Demonstrates the ability to manage high acuity patients requiring specialized monitoring and care. Status post open heart, heart transplant, lung transplant. Status post liver/kidney transplants, orthopedics, hepatobiliary, general surgeries. Status post thoracic-forgut, gastric bypass, neurology, neurosurgery. Demonstrates the ability to manage advanced therapeutic modalities. Ventilator care. Arterial/CVP lines. Ventricular assist devices. Lumbar drains.
MANAGEMENT OF THE CARE OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING DIALYSIS TREATMENT Initiates, performs and terminates all dialysis treatments according to policy and dialysis standards of care. Reviews all orders and labs prior to initiating treatments. Informs patient of treatment plan. Completes all documentation completely and according to policy on the dialysis treatment record. Performs all pre-treatment safety checks. Performs appropriate machine maintenance according to dialysis policies and procedures. Checks charts for dialysis orders prior to arriving on the unit with the dialysis equipment. Calls physicians for orders early in the shift when orders for dialysis have been placed, but no treatment orders are written. Completes med/surg dialysis treatments on 3S whenever there are more than 2 med/surg patients scheduled.
MANAGEMENT OF THE CARE OF THE PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT Engages patients in therapeutic interactions Maintains therapeutic milieu Assesses and monitors for patient safety including: Contraband assessment upon admission, change of shift and prn. Initiates and participates in treatment planning. Monitors locked doors into and out of the unit. Logs in Visitors and assesses for contraband. Follows patients’ legal status q shift and communicates with Department of Mental Health and other agencies as required Administers psychotropic medications only after proper consent and documentation Initiates and participates in treatment planning. Submit Fire Arms Reporting Form
BEHAVIORAL RESTRAINTS Demonstrates de-escalation techniques as an effort to prevent the need for behavioral restraint/seclusion. Applies behavioral restraint/seclusion when appropriate. Continuously monitors patients for safety (or delegates as appropriate). Ensures physician assessment of patient within 1 hour of application of restraint/seclusion and then at least every 8 hours. Obtains physician orders per policy. Notifies Manager of all behavioral restraint incidences. Contacts significant other as allowed by patient. Completes debriefing, with patient if appropriate, after the incident.
QUALITY MEASURES § Accurately identifies patient that fit Core Measure criteria § Completes Core Measure Documentation § Identifies and participates in data collection and process improvements related to Nurse Sensitive Quality Indicators
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Participates in professional hospital/nursing activities Relief Charge Nurse Nursing committees/councils Hospital Teams Unit Based Projects Research Published peer review article
BONUS POINTS § Preceptor (5) § Professional Certification (5) § More than 8 Non-mandatory CEH (3) § USCUH Nurse Week Recognition (5) § Monthly Hospital or Unit Spirit Award Winner (1) § Public nursing recognition (3)
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree Nursing Degree in Nursing (BSN) *Grandfathered from BSN if hired prior to 12/2019
Specialized/technical training Graduate from an accredited school of Nursing.

1 year Acute inpatient hospital experience as RN.

Must have excellent communication skills, including the ability to speak, read and write English proficiently.
Knowledge of medical procedures and conditions and ability to understand, follow and successfully perform duties, including whole blood collection, and apheresis procedures, in accordance with administrative and clinical policies, regulations and procedures.
Committed to excellence in patient care and customer service.
Demonstrates ability to work independently with minimal direction and supervision.

Preferred Qualifications:

Specialty Certification

Required Licenses/Certifications:

Registered Nurse - RN (CA Board of Registered Nursing)
Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association *Required for Departments: Intensive Care, Step-down, Telemetry. RNs without prior telemetry or critical care experience will be required to obtain ACLS within 180 days or by the end of orientation, whichever is sooner.

The hourly rate range for this position is $41.00 - $88.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to theBackground Screening Policy Appendix Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

If you are a current USC employee, please apply to this USC job posting in Workday by copying and pasting this link into your browser:

https://wd5.myworkday.com/usc/d/inst/1$9925/9925$153337.htmld

About the Company

University of Southern California

Research university in Los Angeles, CA

The University of Southern California is a private research university with academic programs across the arts, sciences, business, engineering, law, health, and other professional fields.

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