Registered Nurse (RN) - Trauma Surgery/Progressive Care - Rotating

VCU Health•Richmond, VA

7d•$34 - $55

About The Position

The Registered Nurse works in the Surgery Trauma Progressive Care Unit, VCU’s primary unit for trauma patients and the Richmond area’s only Level I Trauma Center certified by the American College of Surgeons. The unit cares for patients with complex traumatic injuries, including injuries caused by gunshot wounds, motor vehicle accidents, falls, and assaults. This is a fast-paced, high-acuity unit, and additional training is offered in caring for complex trauma patients, including patients with chest tubes, tracheostomies, multiple drains, and complex wounds. Depending on the Clinical Nurse level, the role integrates technical skills and theoretical knowledge to provide direct, age-specific patient care and support patients and families. Responsibilities include preventing illness and injury, promoting wellness and comfort, documenting care accurately, administering prescribed medications safely, and recognizing medication incompatibilities or interactions. Nurses follow medical orders and an integrated multidisciplinary plan of care, respond to changes in patient situations, mobilize resources, provide direction and education, and take on unit-level leadership responsibilities appropriate to their level. The role follows Virginia nursing regulations, the ANA Code of Ethics, national nursing practice standards, and VCU Health System policies and procedures. Nurses organize work and may delegate and supervise assignments carried out by RNs, LPNs, Care Partners, Unit Secretaries, and others. Clinicians work all three shifts, weekends, and holidays; individual rotations and schedules are established with the Nurse Manager or Practice Manager and may be adjusted to meet unit requirements. Compensation ranges are $34.00–$49.50 for Clinical Nurse I, $34.65–$51.97 for Clinical Nurse II, and $36.38–$54.58 for Clinical Nurse III. Actual salary offers depend on relevant work experience, credentials, and qualifications.

Requirements

Current RN licensure in Virginia or eligibility for licensure in Virginia, or licensure in a compact state, at hire.
Current Virginia RN licensure and AHA BLS HCP Certification or equivalent for continued employment.
Clinical Nurse I: No prior experience required.
Clinical Nurse II: 12 to 24 months of RN experience.
Clinical Nurse III: 3 years of clinical experience.
Diploma or associate degree from a professional nursing program recognized or approved by the corresponding state’s Board of Nursing.
Registered nurses without a bachelor’s degree in nursing or higher must enroll in an approved RN-to-BSN program within two years of their start date and complete it within five years, unless grandfathered under previous requirements.
Ability to meet the physical and activity demands described, including lifting 20–50 lbs., prolonged standing and sitting, frequent bending, walking, climbing, and reaching.
Ability to work in a fast-paced and noisy environment, handle multiple priorities and frequent, intense customer interactions, and meet the listed mental and sensory demands.

Nice To Haves

Clinical Nurse I: Experience as an LPN, nursing assistant, or care partner in an acute care setting or as applicable to the practice area.
Clinical Nurse II and III: Academic health care experience.
Clinical Nurse II and III: Experience with a similar patient population in an acute care setting or as applicable to the practice area.
Completion of a bachelor’s degree in nursing or higher from an accredited program.
Clinical Nurse III: Certification in a specialty area.

Responsibilities

Provide direct, age-specific care to patients based on medical orders and an integrated multidisciplinary plan of care.
Accurately document patient care.
Safely administer prescribed medications and identify incompatibilities or interactions.
Assist the health care team with prevention of illness and injury, maintenance of wellness, and provision of comfort.
Recognize or anticipate changes in patient situations and intervene appropriately, according to clinical level.
Mobilize resources to meet the individualized needs of patients and families.
Provide direction and education, and assume unit-level leadership responsibilities appropriate to clinical level.
Follow physician or licensed independent provider orders, Virginia nursing regulations, the ANA Code of Ethics, national nursing practice standards, and VCU Health System policies and procedures.
Organize work and delegate and supervise assignments carried out by RNs, LPNs, Care Partners, Unit Secretaries, and others.
Work assigned shifts, including weekends and holidays, according to established rotations and schedules.