Clinical Nurse III - Emergency Department

County of Santa Clara•Santa Clara, CA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Nurse III provides direct patient care in the Emergency Department under general supervision, applying nursing theory and current clinical knowledge within established policies and procedures. The role involves identifying and implementing nursing interventions whose outcomes may be less predictable, then evaluating their results. Clinical Nurse III nurses are expected to be capable of assuming charge nurse responsibilities and may serve as primary nurses for assigned patients. Positions are available in the Emergency Departments at O'Connor Hospital, Regional Medical Center, St. Louise Regional Hospital, and Valley Medical Center. The eligible list may be used for future openings in this competency area. Employees may need to work at different healthcare sites and must be able to travel to alternate locations. The role includes assessing patients and personnel, planning and coordinating patient care, implementing care plans and patient/family education, coordinating discharge plans, supporting staff and students, and complying with nursing regulations and professional responsibilities. Employees may be assigned charge responsibilities or designated as Disaster Service Workers, with required training and emergency reporting obligations.

Requirements

Active California Registered Nurse license without restrictions.
Three years of full-time registered nurse experience, including at least one year within the last three years, in an accredited acute care hospital setting for the Emergency Department specialty.
One year of full-time registered nurse experience within the last three years in an Emergency or Intensive Care specialty area in an accredited acute care hospital setting.
Must possess and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
For clinical specialty areas, must possess and maintain Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and any other identified specialty certification required for specialty patient populations at appointment.
Ability to travel to alternate work locations.
If driving, valid California driver's license before appointment and ability to qualify for and maintain County driver authorization.
Must complete assigned Disaster Service Worker training and return to work as ordered during an emergency.
Knowledge of the California Nurse Practice Act, American Nursing Association Code of Ethics, nursing professional practice models, applicable healthcare laws and regulations, nursing and medical theory, acute and primary care nursing, specialty-area medical problems, clinical systems and equipment, safety and infection control, basic nursing sciences, English usage, and common computer and charting applications.
Ability to establish relationships with patients and families in difficult or crisis situations, advocate for their perspectives, and work toward conflict resolution.
Ability to develop and implement complex teaching plans and serve as a recognized subject matter expert.
Ability to support less experienced nurses, recognize subtle changes in patient responses, anticipate patient and staffing needs, and develop strategies to improve care.
Ability to model leadership behaviors, facilitate and evaluate change, and perform skillfully under pressure.
Ability to manage the needs and requests of multiple patients without overlooking important information or needs.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with people from diverse backgrounds and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to work alternate schedules, weekends, and holidays as necessary and perform the physical skills required to deliver patient care.
Ability to bend, stoop, reach, perform fine motor movements, and see, hear, and touch; sufficient strength to lift, move, transfer, restrain, and carry patients and children, move equipment, and perform CPR.
Mobility, strength, dexterity, coordination, and ability to work in confined patient-care spaces.
Fine motor ability to manipulate syringes and IVs, assist with feeding and hygiene, document in health records, and perform sterile and other skilled procedures.
Vision and hearing sufficient to assess patients, recognize changes in condition and non-verbal behaviors, hear alarms and patient voices, use a stethoscope, and communicate by telephone.
Ability to palpate superficially and deeply and discriminate tactile sensations.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Nationally recognized certification in a specialty area.

Responsibilities

Analyze and validate information gathered from patient interviews, observe patient behaviors, and revise assessments as needed.
Identify recurrent patient problems, symptoms, and behavioral changes in relation to standards of care and individual needs.
Assess the needs of a patient population through rounds, clinical conferences, and collaboration with physicians and other healthcare team members.
Assess assigned personnel competencies, standards-of-care needs, and staffing levels for a patient population.
Identify patient care problems, establish priorities, and develop individual care plans based on nursing and medical diagnoses.
Plan strategies for resolving patient care problems with the healthcare team and determine the assistance needed for patients within the assignment.
Develop teaching plans for patients and families regarding recurring health problems, coping, wellness, and disease prevention.
Coordinate activities required to implement care plans, patient and family teaching, and discharge plans.
Collaborate with appropriate personnel when performing new procedures or working in unfamiliar situations.
Comply with nursing regulations and recognize registered nurses' legal and ethical duties.
When assigned charge responsibility, recommend unit-level staffing patterns and assign personnel to provide patient care during an 8-hour period.
Assist in teaching students and staff and support less experienced registered nurses.
May conduct research activities or assume primary nurse accountability for assigned patients.
May be assigned Disaster Service Worker duties and perform other related duties as required.