Registered Nurse – Observation Unit/ Clinical Decision Unit

TriHealth•Cincinnati, OH

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides direct and indirect holistic care to patients and their families in the Observation Unit, also known as the Clinical Decision Unit (CDU). The nurse applies the nursing process, collaborates with physicians and other healthcare team members, and may delegate aspects of care within the scope of nursing practice. The role supports safe patient flow and outcomes through assessment, short-term monitoring, treatment, and evaluation of patients who require further diagnostic testing or clinical observation. The CDU cares for adult and geriatric patients and includes medical, pre- and post-surgical, and cardiac interventions. Nurses work closely with Acute Care Technicians and other team members in a collaborative inpatient setting. New team members receive corporate orientation, individualized onboarding, preceptor-supported hands-on training, and unit orientation tailored to their experience, generally lasting 4–8 weeks. Training and development opportunities include NIHSS certification, ACLS/BLS training, ECG/telemetry skills, SIM code readiness exercises, and shadowing. This is a full-time, on-site position at Good Samaritan Hospital, scheduled for 36 hours per week on day shifts. The unit uses a six-week scheduling cycle that includes every third weekend and holiday rotations. Weekend-program and PRN/Optional scheduling options are also described. A $5,000 sign-on bonus is available if eligible.

Requirements

Associate's degree or diploma in Nursing.
New hires must obtain a BSN within five years of hire.
Active Registered Nurse license.
BLS/CPR certification for Healthcare Providers.
Nursing knowledge, judgment, and skills derived from biological, physical, behavioral, social, and nursing sciences to meet complex healthcare needs across stages of the life cycle.
Ability to work the stated full-time schedule of 36 hours weekly on days, including every third weekend and holiday rotations.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of full-time or two years of part-time experience in an acute care setting.
Membership in a related professional nursing organization.
Specialty certification, such as medical-surgical or emergency nursing.

Responsibilities

Perform initial and ongoing assessments of patients and families, complete the initial assessment tool, and document ongoing assessments according to unit and TriHealth guidelines.
Communicate assessment findings to healthcare providers and include health counseling and teaching needs in assessments.
Plan and individualize patient care based on assessments, standards of care, clinical pathways, and desired outcomes.
Update plans of care based on patient and family input and healthcare needs, and develop short- and long-term goals with the patient, family, and healthcare team, including discharge planning.
Communicate plans of care to others and collaborate with patients, families, physicians, and other healthcare team members to revise care as needed.
Provide safe, therapeutic, culturally sensitive care while protecting patient autonomy, dignity, and rights.
Seek resources to support ethical decisions and balance patient needs with unit and facility priorities.
Recognize emergency or rapidly evolving situations and take appropriate action.
Complete assigned patient care and documentation within scheduled timeframes.
Base interventions on clinical data and desired outcomes and document care and patient or family responses, including responses to teaching.
Effectively communicate, understand, and carry out physician orders.
Supervise care delegated to other healthcare team members and delegate within the scope of nursing practice.
Safely administer medications and treatments, monitor their effects, and use equipment safely and appropriately.
Perform technical skills according to policy, procedure, and accepted standards of practice.
Train and educate staff and serve as a specialty-area resource by sharing knowledge and skills.
Identify areas for self-improvement, maintain current knowledge, and demonstrate awareness of organizational and departmental changes.
Function in a relief charge or resource role when requested and cooperate with instructors to support effective student learning.
Support continuing education, professional development, nursing research, evidence-based practice, community health activities, and collaborative relationships among nurses, physicians, and other caregivers.