In House Registry Nurse - Cermak

Cook County Government•Chicago, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The In-House Registry Nurse provides professional nursing care to patients and detainees of various ages, using the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. The nurse works effectively with patients and detainees, correctional officers, peers, department heads, physicians, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams; practices within the scope of the Illinois Nurse Practice Act; and maintains professional nursing standards. The role uses critical thinking and problem-solving to support positive patient outcomes and provides leadership by directing, supervising, and coordinating ambulatory and infirmary personnel, including LPNs and other nursing support staff. The nurse supports improvement in patient care, clinical management, interdepartmental relationships, and patient health education; participates in environmental change, quality improvement, and fiscal accountability; and supports departmental and institutional policies and standards. The position also assumes responsibility for unit functioning, staff assignments and workflow, patient rounds and census, shift handoffs, supplies and equipment, and communication of unit activities to nursing leadership. The role is based at Cermak Health Services in Chicago and is part-time, with a stated shift of 7:00 AM–3:30 PM.

Requirements

Current Illinois Registered Professional Nurse license.
Current CPR card; proof must be provided at the time of interview.
At least one year of nursing experience.
Knowledge of infection-control, safety, fire, disaster, and other mandatory program policies and procedures.
Knowledge of medical-surgical standards of care, skin and wound care, hypertension and medication side effects, diabetes care, fluids and electrolytes, routine laboratory tests, and ambulatory care standards.
Knowledge of nursing management for oncology, respiratory conditions including TB and asthma, renal conditions, head trauma and neurological disturbances, musculoskeletal challenges, and restorative care.
Physical assessment skills and competent skills in intravenous therapy, venous access, blood drawing, and point-of-care testing.
Ability to insert and manage nasogastric tubes and care for digestive disturbances; recognize and intervene in hypo- and hyperglycemia.
Ability to provide direct patient care, collect assessment data, contribute to nursing diagnoses and care plans, and document care in writing.
Ability to participate in team conferences, in-service presentations, staff meetings, patient-care conferences, and other patient-care or management training.
Ability to maintain medical supply and equipment inventory and prepare requisitions; assist with clinic records and logs; and assist providers with medical tasks and emergencies.
Ability to perform basic EKG interpretation.
Must meet all required qualifications at the time of application filing.
Foreign degrees, except those awarded in U.S. territories or Canada, must be credentialed by an approved NACES- or AICE-member U.S. credential evaluation service; original credentialing documents must be presented at interview.
Employment offers are contingent on satisfactory professional and employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure and certifications, and successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.

Nice To Haves

Active ACLS certification.
Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing.

Responsibilities

Apply and document all elements of the nursing process, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care for patients of all ages.
Use a multidisciplinary approach, critical thinking, and clinical judgment to support high-quality patient care and positive outcomes.
Delegate tasks to LPNs and other caregivers and remain accountable for patient care.
Work with patients, families, and healthcare workers to support patients in reaching their attainable level of wellness.
Promote illness prevention through review of detainee Health Request Forms, patient assessment and triage, and patient education.
Participate in unit and division meetings, decision-making, cost containment, and quality improvement activities.
Follow Department of Patient Care Services policies, procedures, standards, divisional and unit practice standards, and institutional policies.
Maintain attendance and accountability, complete at least 12 hours of annual in-service education, attend required training, and maintain knowledge of correctional standards.
Maintain current professional licensure, CPR, and other required professional certifications; assist with orientation of new personnel.
Administer medications in accordance with policies and practice standards; ensure medication passage and document refusals or omissions.
Conduct patient rounds on units and tiers, assess healthcare needs, evaluate care and patient census, and implement physician orders and nursing directives.
Assess emergency care needs, initiate appropriate action, use emergency equipment, and facilitate transport to the emergency room when appropriate.
Supervise and support LPNs and other support staff; collaborate with physicians, emergency medical personnel, healthcare team members, and correctional staff.
Promote positive customer relations and maintain professional conduct, appearance, ethics, confidentiality, and safety standards in the correctional environment.
Participate in committees and process management to meet regulatory standards, including those of NCCHC, The Joint Commission, OSHA, HIPAA, and Corporate Compliance.
Serve as a resource for unit personnel; communicate unit problems and activities to the House Nursing Supervisor when the manager is not on duty and communicate unit activities to the Nurse Manager.
Manage assignments and workflow, help personnel prioritize and delegate work, arrange staffing for the oncoming shift, and provide reports to the charge nurse or manager.
Coordinate with support systems to ensure adequate supplies and equipment for the current and oncoming shifts.
Foster professional growth through goal setting and monitoring achievement at least annually.
Perform other duties as assigned.