Registered Nurse (RN), Telemetry Stepdown, Nights

Overview

General Summary: This role is considered the minimum role for all nurses at BWMC who have greater than 12 months of experience. The nurse will be competent in the required skills/knowledge and fully participate in unit governance. Independently provides and coordinates care within a clinical specialty and serves as a fully effective and participative member of the multidisciplinary patient care services team. The nurse models the full range of nursing professional practice in care and in contributing to strategies to improve patient outcomes, service satisfaction, and cost effectiveness at the unit level. The nurse strives to create an environment where patients, families, and colleagues collaborate in the delivery of care. The role is accountable to peers for advancing group practice on the unit and to the nurse manager for overall work performance. The nurse is accountable for upholding the Service Standards of the Nursing Mission, Vision, and Values.

Minimum Education Requirements

• An Associate Degree in Nursing is required; Bachelor of Science from a College of Nursing is preferred.
• Current Maryland RN licensure is required prior to beginning orientation.
• At least 1 year of RN experience is required.
• Professional Certification is highly encouraged.
• Employees hired on or after July 1, 2018 will be required to complete a Bachelor of Science from a College of Nursing within 5 years from the date of hire or transfer into a Clinical Nursing position.
• If there is a gap in applied nursing experience of 5 years or more, successful completion of a refresher course within the past 6 months is required.

Qualifications

• American Heart Association (AHA) BLS required upon hire
• Must meet all unit-specific certification requirements: (PALS, ACLS, NRP)
• Maintains all Clinical Nurse I core expectations
• Competent evaluation with successful passing of probation; current on all mandatory classes/training
• Ability to learn and use computer systems to manage patient information
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties.

Professional Practice

• Independently practices with solid knowledge and clinical skills
• Is competent in care of unit-specific patient population and functions effectively in unit-specific roles
• Utilizes and integrates evidence into practice
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team to plan and coordinate care addressing patient/family needs
• Transitions from task-based care to holistic care
• Participates in unit-based Clinical Practice activities
• Integrates patient education materials utilizing the Teach Back methodology

Practice Focus Areas

• Assists in the development of clinical practice guidelines and standards for the unit
• Serves as Clinical Resource for others

Professional Development

• Engaged in advancing own practice
• Contributes to ancillary personnel skills and development
• Participates in unit-based Professional Development activities
• Contributes to unit-based education and learning activities (e.g., annual posters, storyboards, presentations, in-service, group project)
• Completes a minimum of ten CE hours annually (half related to certification/specialty; half may be approved CE) or completion of six credit hours towards a BSN or Master’s Degree

Practice Focus Areas

• Member of professional organization
• Serves as super-user or SME
• Participates in organizational or community service programs
• Achieves professional certification in area of practice
• Achieves a BS from a College of Nursing

Organizational Innovation

• Demonstrates knowledge of NSQI, quality measures, patient safety goals, and patient satisfaction initiatives; contributes to unit initiatives to improve them
• Participates in unit-based process improvement efforts and assists in action plan development and implementation
• Participates in elements of research
• Assists with regulatory readiness
• Models professional behavior and a culture of excellence aligned with the BWMC model of care

Practice Focus Areas

• Participates in organizational regulatory readiness
• Participates in unit-based research activities
• Participates in the development of patient education materials

Leadership

• Delegates appropriately to other healthcare team members
• Supports teambuilding and models teamwork across the organization
• Participates in unit/hospital committees or councils
• Complies with Healthy Work Environment guidelines (communication, collaboration, decision making, recognition, leadership, staffing)
• Provides feedback for peer review as requested

Practice Focus Areas

• Performs charge role for assigned shifts as needed; supports charge nurse decisions
• Serves as preceptor, coach, and mentor to new nurses and students
• Participates in unit-based reward and recognition activities
• Leads efforts that support unit operations (e.g., equipment maintenance, scheduling)
• Contributes to development of unit-based peer review processes
• Participates as a team member focusing on Healthy Work Environment elements
• Participates in the peer interview process

Patient Safety

Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital/department/unit patient safety initiatives. Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety, reports adverse events and near misses, implements policies and standards, develops effective working relationships, and identifies risks in processes or devices and communicates them to the appropriate person.

Working Conditions

• Weekend, shift work, holiday, on-call, and overtime may be required.
• Physical demands including lifting up to 50 lbs, standing, walking, bending, and frequent interruptions.
• Exposure to infectious diseases with universal precautions; protective clothing, gloves, and mask as appropriate.
• Potential to be floated to like units based on acuity and census
• May be exposed to hazardous materials and require annual respirator mask fitting