Registered Nurse (RN) - Medical Respiratory ICU - Rotating

VCU Health•Richmond, VA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (MRICU) is a 28-bed unit specializing in the care of adult patients with multisystem organ failure and complex pulmonary needs. This includes various respiratory disorders and failures such as COPD, ARDS, status asthmaticus, and pneumonia, as well as patients with sepsis, GI bleeds, DKA, oncological, acute kidney and liver dysfunction, and acid-base and metabolic imbalances. Nurses in the MRICU collaborate with an interprofessional team to translate Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), Quality Improvement, and Research into clinical bedside practice, aiming to advance safe and quality care. The unit is located on the 4th floor of the Critical Care Hospital and maintains nurse-to-patient ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, supported by a charge nurse, unlicensed assistive personnel, and a unit secretary 24/7. The role encompasses three levels: Clinical Nurse I, II, and III. Clinical Nurse I integrates technical skills and theoretical knowledge, assists the healthcare team with illness prevention, wellness maintenance, and comfort provision, provides direction and education, and begins to acquire leadership skills. Clinical Nurse II demonstrates mastery of clinical skills, applies knowledge to specific patient populations, recognizes and intervenes in changing patient situations, and mobilizes resources. Clinical Nurse III demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge, anticipates changes, and serves as a role model in the clinical setting. All levels deliver and accurately document direct, age-specific care based on medical orders and multidisciplinary plans, and safely administer prescribed medications.

Requirements

Current RN licensure in Virginia or eligible or compact state (for hire).
Current RN licensure in Virginia (for continued employment).
AHA BLS HCP Certification or equivalent (for continued employment).
12 to 24 months RN experience (Clinical Nurse II).
3 years of clinical experience (Clinical Nurse III).
Diploma or Associates Degree from a professional nursing program recognized and/or approved by the corresponding state’s Board of Nursing.
All registered nurses without a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (or higher) will be required to enroll in an approved RN to BSN program within two years of their start date and to complete the program within five years of their start date unless grandfathered under previous requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience as an LPN, nursing assistant or care partner in either an acute care setting or as applicable to area of practice (Clinical Nurse I).
Academic Health Care Experience (Clinical Nurse II, III).
Experience with similar patient population in either an acute care setting or as applicable to area of practice (Clinical Nurse II, III).
Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (or higher) from an accredited program (Clinical Nurse I, II, III).
Certification in specialty area (Clinical Nurse III).

Responsibilities

Integrates technical skills and theoretical knowledge to meet the needs of the patient and family (Clinical Nurse I).
Assists the health care team with the prevention of illness and injury, maintenance of wellness, and provision of comfort (Clinical Nurse I, II, III).
Provides direction, education, and begins to acquire leadership skills at the unit level (Clinical Nurse I).
Delivers and accurately documents direct, age-specific care to a patient or group of patients based on medical orders and an integrated, multidisciplinary plan of care (Clinical Nurse I, II, III).
Safely administers prescribed medications, identifying incompatibilities and/or interactions (Clinical Nurse I, II, III).
Demonstrates a mastery of clinical skills and begins to apply this knowledge to a specific patient population (Clinical Nurse II).
Recognizes changes in patient situations and intervenes appropriately (Clinical Nurse II).
Mobilizes resources to meet the individualized needs of patient/families (Clinical Nurse II).
Assumes leadership responsibilities at the unit level (Clinical Nurse II).
Demonstrates clinical knowledge at the unit level and begins to apply this knowledge to a specific patient population (Clinical Nurse III).
Anticipates changes in patient situations and intervenes appropriately (Clinical Nurse III).
Serves as a role model in a clinical setting (Clinical Nurse III).
Follows documented physician/licensed independent provider orders.
Practices within the boundaries of the regulations governing the practice of nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Practice is guided by the ANA Code of Ethics for Nursing and established national nursing practice standards.
All practice is guided by and follows the VCUHS policies and procedures and established practice.
Organizes work and delegates and supervises others (RN's, LPN's, Care Partners, Unit Secretaries, etc) in carrying out assignments.