Registered Nurse (RN) - Medical Respiratory ICU - Rotating

VCU Health•Richmond, VA

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Respiratory Intensive Care Unit is a 28-bed unit specializing in the care of patients with multisystem organ failure and complex pulmonary needs, including various respiratory disorders and failures such as COPD, ARDS, status asthmaticus, and pneumonia. The unit also cares for 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 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 is structured across three clinical 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, begins to acquire leadership skills, and delivers and documents age-specific care and medication administration. Clinical Nurse II demonstrates mastery of clinical skills, applies knowledge to specific patient populations, recognizes and intervenes in changing patient situations, mobilizes resources, provides direction and education, and assumes leadership responsibilities. Clinical Nurse III demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge, anticipates changes, provides direction and education, and serves as a role model in a clinical setting. All levels are responsible for delivering and accurately documenting direct, age-specific care based on medical orders and multidisciplinary plans, and safely administering prescribed medications.

Requirements

Current RN licensure in Virginia or eligible or compact state
Current RN licensure in Virginia, AHA BLS HCP Certification or equivalent (for continued employment)
12 to 24 months RN experience (for Clinical Nurse II)
3 years of clinical experience (for 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 (for Clinical Nurse I)
Academic Health Care Experience (for Clinical Nurse II, Clinical Nurse III)
Experience with similar patient population in either an acute care setting or as applicable to area of practice (for Clinical Nurse II, Clinical Nurse III)
Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (or higher) from an accredited program
Certification in specialty area (for Clinical Nurse III)

Responsibilities

Integrate technical skills and theoretical knowledge to meet the needs of the patient and family
Assist the health care team with the prevention of illness and injury, maintenance of wellness, and provision of comfort
Provide direction, education, and acquire leadership skills at the unit level
Deliver and accurately document direct, age-specific care to a patient or group of patients based on medical orders and an integrated, multidisciplinary plan of care
Safely administer prescribed medications, identifying incompatibilities and/or interactions
Demonstrate a mastery of clinical skills and apply this knowledge to a specific patient population
Recognize changes in patient situations and intervene appropriately
Mobilize resources to meet the individualized needs of patient/families
Assume leadership responsibilities at the unit level
Demonstrate clinical knowledge at the unit level and apply this knowledge to a specific patient population
Anticipate changes in patient situations and intervene appropriately
Serve as a role model in a clinical setting
Follow documented physician/licensed independent provider orders
Practice 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
Organize work and delegate and supervise others (RN's, LPN's, Care Partners, Unit Secretaries, etc) in carrying out assignments