Senior Registered Nurse

Interested in a career with both meaning and growth? Whether your abilities are in direct patient care or one of the many other areas of healthcare administration and support, everyone at Parkland works together to fulfill our mission: the health and well-being of individuals and communities entrusted to our care. By joining Parkland, you become part of a diverse healthcare legacy that’s served our community for more than 125 years. Put your skills to work with us, seek opportunities to learn and join a talented team where patient care is more than a job. It’s our passion.

PRIMARY PURPOSE

A Registered Nurse (RN) with > 2 years of experience. The RN is a licensed professional who uses the Parkland nursing professional practice model to coordinate patient care delivery, that focuses on a particular patient population(s)/specific health conditions, by the health care team. Using the nursing process, the RN assesses the patient, identifies nursing diagnoses based on responses to health problems, develops and implements an individualized plan of care, and evaluates the patient's response. The RN utilizes knowledge of patient needs and the healthcare environment to assist patients to transition through the healthcare encounter without any preventable complications or delays. The RN delegates interventions to health care personnel based on the Texas Nursing Practice Act, each patient's condition and the competencies of the employee.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education

- Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing.

- BSN, preferred

- Prefer graduates of a Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Education Program (WOCNEP) accredited by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN).

Experience

- Must have two years of nursing experience.

- Prefer experience in an acute care setting.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

- N/A

Certification/Registration/Licensure

- Must have current, valid RN license or temporary RN license from the Texas Board of Nursing; or valid Compact RN license.

- Must have current healthcare provider CPR course completion card from one of the following:

• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Military Training Network.

- Must obtain Wound Care Ostomy and Continence Certification (WOC) within 18 months of hire.

Skills or Special Abilities

- Provides care for assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, established protocols, multi-disciplinary plan of care, and clinical area specific standards. Provides continuous assessment, consults with other team members as required and provides nursing care which demonstrates patient centered/patient valued care. Exercises independent judgment in providing nursing care and takes initiative in recommending changes to care plan.

- Must be able to demonstrate effective communication skills to facilitate a multidisciplinary care approach involving the patient, family, interdisciplinary team members to include peers and community health care.

- Must demonstrate advanced analytical ability to prioritize, assess, evaluate, and recognize variances in the patient or family that may require adjustments in the plan of care to promote optimal outcomes.

- Must demonstrate skills of self-direction, time management, flexibility and adaptability with patient care.

- Must initiate changes in patient care utilizing independent judgment with minimum supervision.

- Must possess leadership abilities.

- Must demonstrate knowledge of and comfort with application, management and guidelines of negative pressure wound therapies.

- Must demonstrate and maintain basic knowledge of operating room techniques for negative pressure therapy application.

Responsibilities

1. Provides complex clinical specialty care to patients with wounds and ostomies to include performing and documenting a focused assessment related to the specialty patients needs.

2. Collaborates with the health care team to implement a plan of care and maintains verbal or written communication with the patients team. Communicates the plan of care to the patient, family and primary nursing team.

3. Provides staged teaching plans for patients and families with complex learning needs by providing verbal coaching, return demonstration and written material at correct educational level and in native language where possible. Designs teaching plan to be reinforced by the primary nurse whenever possible.

4. Works with case management and primary team to promote discharge planning with appropriate specialty supplies and home care when appropriate.

5. Serves as the resident expert regarding the specialty supply formularies for wound, ostomy and continence supplies and function as a clinical expert in the management of patients on pressure reducing specialty beds and mattresses.

6. Serves as a clinical resource to health care providers regarding wound, ostomy and continence issues with patients to include providing educational lectures as needed for new nursing and medical residents. Serves as a preceptor and mentor to students at all levels and across multiple disciplines.

7. Identifies areas of education needs among peers and other health care providers and develops educational programs to address these needs. Prepares and conducts an in-service educational program for the assigned department, at least once per year.

8. Participates in the development of hospital policy and practices related to wound ostomy continence specialty area. Develops and revise policies and practices related to the Wound Care Service role.

9. Attends multidisciplinary rounds and interdisciplinary committees as assigned

10. Collaborates with other clinical department to improve the patient experience.

11. Maintains and implements knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines that impact or govern nursing practice, and ensures the hospital and Parkland are in compliance. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as necessary to ensure proper understanding. Maintains and updates knowledge of sanitation, infection control, safety, supplies, equipment, and appropriate utilization of supplies and materials.

12. Identifies ways to improve work process and improve patient and customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor and implements and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals and mission of the assigned area and Parkland.

13. Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements and trends in nursing practice by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals and actively participating in professional organizations. Maintains State of Texas Licensure as a Registered Nurse, plus any additional required licensures/certifications. Attends one national or regional wound care conference annually and shares information learned to peers for integration into daily practice.

Parkland Health and Hospital System prohibits discrimination based on age (40 or over), race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, disability, national origin, marital status, political belief, or veteran status. As part of our commitment to our patients and employees’ wellness, Parkland Health is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.