Registered Nurse II - Level III NICU

Houston Methodist•Sweetwater, FL

About The Position

The Registered Nurse II (RN II) is a licensed staff nurse and experienced clinician functioning at the Competent to Proficient stage of Benner's model of clinical practice. The RN II provides professional nursing care to a diverse patient population, including patients with varied and complex needs. The role includes conducting nursing assessments, assisting with examinations and treatment, educating patients, maintaining medical records, and delivering direct patient care effectively and efficiently. The RN II communicates and collaborates with physicians and the interprofessional health care team to coordinate compassionate, efficient, quality care and achieve desired treatment outcomes. The role requires clinical competence in using technology, administering medications, performing procedures, and managing emergencies, while advocating for patients and families and protecting patient rights. The RN II also takes on progressive leadership responsibilities, which may include participating in or leading unit and shared governance initiatives, serving as charge nurse or preceptor, and contributing to service line or hospital-wide initiatives in partnership with management. This position is at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and is assigned to the Level III NICU on the night shift. The role may require travel within the Houston metropolitan area and on-call availability during emergencies, including disasters or severe weather events.

Requirements

Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credentials.
At least 12 months of registered nurse experience in a healthcare environment.
Required Texas Registered Nurse license; compact license holders establishing Texas residency must obtain a permanent Texas license within 60 days.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or instructor credential from the American Heart Association.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification or instructor credential from the American Heart Association or American Academy of Pediatrics within four months.
Demonstrated skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the job, as assessed through skills and competency evaluations.
English speaking, reading, and writing proficiency sufficient to perform essential job functions, particularly those affecting patient or employee safety and security.
Ability to communicate effectively with patients, physicians, family members, and coworkers using a customer-service focus and positive language.
Strong assessment, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and role components.
Ability to function independently and exercise judgment with physicians, the interprofessional care team, patients, and families.
Ability to use critical thinking and clinical judgment autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act.
Proficient time-management skills.
Ability to maintain the professional contribution level defined in the Clinical Career Path program guide.
Working knowledge of Microsoft products, including Outlook.

Nice To Haves

Magnet-recognized certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Responsibilities

Use therapeutic communication, active listening, and teaching to build relationships with patients, families, and the interprofessional health care team and collaborate on plans of care.
Contribute to teamwork by monitoring overall unit acuity, offering assistance, responding positively to requests for assistance, and fostering healthy workplace relationships.
Seek and provide guidance to the interprofessional health care team, apply feedback to improve outcomes, and implement unit-specific staff education while coaching and mentoring staff and students; may serve as a preceptor.
Conduct nursing assessments, assist with examinations and treatment, and maintain medical records.
Develop, update, and communicate plans of care, including discharge plans, in partnership with patients, families, and the interprofessional health care team.
Prioritize care according to patients' needs, abilities, and preferences, and advocate for patients and families to resolve clinical and ethical concerns.
Provide patient education based on learning needs, plan for care after discharge, and evaluate comprehension while adapting teaching methods as needed.
Follow patient- and family-centered care standards, nursing-process standards, regulatory requirements, and professional practice standards.
Identify practice improvements using research-based evidence and provide and modify care for complex patients in coordination with the interprofessional team.
Use clinical judgment and evidence-based analysis; document care accurately, report near misses, and collaborate to improve unit quality and safety outcomes.
Manage time and daily tasks effectively, document care promptly, minimize incidental overtime, and provide input on unit resource utilization and budget needs.
Contribute to department financial goals through efforts such as decreasing length of stay and optimizing efficiency.
Identify and present opportunities for innovation and improvement in patient care or unit operations, and offer evidence-based solutions through improvement projects and shared governance.
Champion new care pathways or service-line initiatives, identify trends and opportunities for practice changes, and research and present options to shared governance and leadership.
Support improvement of unit-based patient satisfaction, employee engagement, turnover, and retention scores through peer-to-peer accountability.