CLINICAL NURSE I - MEDICAL/SURGICAL 7W

Cook County•Chicago, IL

1d•$38 - $52•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Nurse I provides and coordinates safe, effective, individualized nursing care to critically ill patients and supportive care to significant others in Cook County’s 7W Medical-Surgical Correctional unit. The unit serves civilians and detainees with a variety of acute illnesses, providing medical expertise with compassion while respecting privacy and dignity. Common diagnoses and procedures include hypertension, diabetes, orthopedic procedures, general surgeries, urologic procedures, stroke, wound management, psychiatric management, and infectious diseases. The nurse assesses patient needs and pain and implements and evaluates nursing care according to established standards. The work requires nursing judgment grounded in scientific principles, problem solving, and teaching and learning. The position is based at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital on the Medical/Surgical 7W Unit and is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., 36 hours per week (72 hours per pay period). This position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the National Nurses Organizing Committee. Cook County will first consider internal eligible applicants and is assembling a qualified candidate list for consideration if the position is not filled internally.

Requirements

Must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in Illinois, or be able to obtain the license two weeks before starting employment. Applicants who already have the license must provide proof at interview.
Must have active Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or be able to obtain it within two weeks of starting employment. Applicants who already have certification must provide proof at interview.
Ability to apply the nursing process and use technical skills to deliver patient care.
Emergency response skills and ability to make decisions under pressure.
Knowledge of medical/surgical equipment and rationale for its safe use.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for communicating with staff at all levels and patients of diverse cultures and age groups.
Accurate mathematical skills for calculating medication levels using factors such as weight and age.
Ability to see and hear clearly, including with correction; distinguish regular and high-pitched sounds and discriminate their source; demonstrate rapid physical and mental coordination; and use both legs, hands, and fingers.
Attention to detail, accuracy, and precision.
Knowledge of forms and reports used in the unit’s day-to-day operation.
Responsibility for professional growth and development to maintain competency in nursing practice.

Nice To Haves

One to five years of acute care experience.
CMSRN certification or another specialty certification.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.

Responsibilities

Identify, plan, and provide care for patients’ total needs, accounting for age-specific needs.
Perform initial and ongoing assessments and data collection, considering biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational, and discharge-planning factors.
Formulate individualized plans of care based on assessed needs, desired outcomes, and age-related requirements.
Implement care knowledgeably, skillfully, and safely according to established patient-care and nursing-practice standards.
Evaluate care effectiveness and revise interventions as appropriate.
Document nursing assessments, treatments, medications, procedure tolerance, changes in condition, interventions, and patient outcomes.
Develop, implement, and evaluate educational services and programs for patients.
Make appropriate and timely decisions in crisis or emergency situations.
Perform and/or direct cardiopulmonary resuscitation activities.
Safely operate equipment needed to provide patient care in assigned clinical areas.
Work and communicate effectively with a variety of individuals.
Provide general direction, guidance, and coordination of patient care given by other levels of nursing staff.
Apply knowledge of standard operating policies and procedures.
Demonstrate awareness of patient and family rights and ethical and legal issues.
Participate in staff orientation and unit staff-development activities.
Maintain responsibility and accountability for professional practice, growth, and development.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Adhere to hospital and department safety requirements, including personal protective equipment, handwashing and sanitizing, engineering and work-practice controls, and other applicable precautions.