REGISTERED NURSE, RN - STEP DOWN UNIT

Independence Health System•Mount Pleasant, PA

19h

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care for a designated group of patients. The RN coordinates, directs, and participates as an effective member of the interdisciplinary health care team to support efficient unit operations and positive patient outcomes. The RN provides direct oversight of the GN, LPN, Technical Partner, ALS Technician, Nurse Extern, and Unit Clerks. This includes conducting the initial comprehensive assessment, interpreting findings to initiate the interprofessional plan of care, and supervising delegation of duties within the scope and capability of the care team. The role includes specialty care functions involving interpretation and treatment of arrhythmias, care of patients requiring ventilator support, and care of patients receiving invasive monitoring, including Swan-Ganz catheters, A-lines, and CVP monitoring. Incumbents are scheduled according to operational need, which may include rotating shifts, standby, and on-call work. Local travel between Independence Health locations may be expected.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
Strong leadership and organizational skills, independent and critical-thinking abilities, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
A nursing refresher course may be required if the employee has not worked in an acute care setting during their most recent three consecutive years of professional employment.
Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through an American Heart Association-approved CPR and AED curriculum.
Act 33 clearance with renewal.
Act 34 clearance with renewal.
Act 73 FBI clearance.
Current ACLS or completion within one year of hire or transfer into the department.
Current NIH Stroke Scale certification or completion within six months of hire or transfer into the department.
Ability to work rotating shifts and potentially standby or on-call schedules, based on operational need.
Ability to meet the physical demands described, including patient care and lifting or transfer tasks; lift assistance by two people and/or a transfer device is required for lifts over 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing preferred.
Critical care experience.
Open heart experience.
One year of Med/Surg or PCU experience.

Responsibilities

Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for a designated group of patients.
Coordinate and participate in the interdisciplinary health care team to promote efficient unit operations and positive patient outcomes.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge through education, professional publications, networking, and participation in professional societies.
Assure quality of care by following therapeutic standards, evaluating outcomes against patient care goals, making or recommending adjustments, and adhering to applicable nursing standards and regulations.
Protect patients and employees by following infection-control, medication administration and storage, and controlled-substance procedures.
Document patient care in patient and department records, and communicate actions, irregularities, and ongoing needs to maintain continuity among nursing teams.
Maintain patient confidentiality and build rapport with patients and others who can help identify care requirements.
Provide emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
Promote patient independence by setting care goals, teaching patients and families about conditions, medications, and self-care, and answering questions.
Maintain a safe and clean work environment and seek assistance from health care support personnel when needed.
Resolve patient problems and needs through multidisciplinary teamwork and communicate effectively with health care teams.
Participate in continuous quality improvement, problem-solving, and related team activities.
Ensure equipment operation by completing preventive maintenance, troubleshooting malfunctions, arranging repairs, maintaining inventories, and evaluating equipment and techniques.
Maintain nursing supplies inventory, anticipate and order supplies, verify receipt, and use supplies and equipment as needed.
Conduct initial comprehensive assessments, interpret findings to initiate the interprofessional plan of care, and oversee appropriate delegation to care team members.
Interpret rhythm strips and demonstrate appropriate arrhythmia treatment, including use of applicable medication protocols.
Care for patients requiring ventilator support and invasive monitoring, including Swan-Ganz catheters, A-lines, and CVP monitoring.
Perform other related duties as assigned.