Summary:

Responsible for patient assessment, patient care planning, and provision of quality nursing care to an assigned group of patients for a defined work period. Provides direction and supervision to LVN/LPNs, nursing assistants, unit secretaries, and other clinical/clerical associates. By assignment, may function as a charge nurse for the unit. Involves provision of patient care/service to older adolescents, young adults, adults, geriatric and pediatric patients.

Responsibilities:

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Patient Care Planning
• Develops a comprehensive nursing care plan which addresses all significant needs and problems identified through nursing assessment.
• Prepares nursing elements of the interdisciplinary care plan prior to the initial team conference.
• Reviews and updates nursing care plan and collaborates with team members as changes occur.
• Patient Care Provision
• Implements patient care as planned in nursing care plan and interdisciplinary care plan.
• Sets priorities based on knowledge of patient acuity and patient needs.
• Provides safe and therapeutic care and seeks resources when appropriate.
• Safely performs and accurately documents procedures, consistent with established nursing policy and procedure.
• Patient Care Evaluation
• Evaluates patient response to interventions and attainment of goals in collaboration with interdisciplinary team.
• Evaluates progress toward nursing goals and revises goals as needed on a weekly basis.
• Completes nursing progress note for assigned patients on a daily basis.
• Completes nursing flow sheets for assigned patients on a daily basis.
• Teaching
• Evaluates education needs of patient and significant others and documents their response to teaching.
• Utilizes, adapts, and revises teaching resources to meet patient education needs.
• Explains procedures, tests, and disease process to patients and families as needed.
• Acts as role model for health care students and other team members.
• Acts as preceptor to assigned orientees.
• Assists in the orientation of new staff by sharing knowledge and experience.
• Patient Care Communication
• Reports and documents accurately and concisely to appropriate persons the patient's condition.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Applies basic verbal and nonverbal skills to maintain open, effective communication among care team members, patients, and significant others.
• Encourages direct discussion between staff members when differences occur and seeks assistance to arbitrate differences as needed.
• Gives and accepts constructive feedback appropriately.
• Identifies actual and potentially unsafe patient care practices, reports them in the designated manner, and suggests alternatives.

Job Requirements:

Education/Skills

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, preferred

Experience

• Six months to a year of experience as a licensed RN or holder of an active GN permit

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• BLS required
• RN License in state of employment or compact
• Graduate Nurse Permit
  • Associates with an unsuccessful licensure application or on the 75th day following the effective date of the temporary permit; will be transferred to another position within CHRISTUS Health

Position Requirements:

Education/Skills

• All newly hired experienced RNs must attend New Nurses Orientation within the first 30 days of hire.
• New hires are precepted by a designated trained staff member and initial on-boarding requirements are validated through successful completion of the designated organizational entry competency validation and a MedSurg specific competency validation.
• All newly licensed RNs may participate in a residency program or other specific orientation. Skills completion and competency completion will be achieved with the preceptor at the bedside and documented through the program’s tracking software.
• Completion of all annual competency verification requirements.

Experience

• One year of experience in a related nursing specialty preferred.

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Current ACLS certification required

In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.

Credential Grace Periods: 

If additional credentials are required per the Position Requirements section, a grace period to obtain the certification will apply, dependent on your experience level. 

• Any Candidate/Associate with at least one year of acute care clinical experience in a similar service line within the past three years is considered an  Experienced Associate.
• Any Candidate/Associate who does not have at least one year of full-time acute care clinical experience in the same service line within the past three years is considered an  Experienced Associate New to the Specialty. 

Work Type:

Full Time