Registered Nurse - IMCU

WellSpan Health•Chambersburg, PA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse works in the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU), a 30-bed unit caring for high-acuity patients, including patients undergoing cardiac and electrophysiology procedures and patients with respiratory failure, cardiac arrhythmias, sepsis, or diabetic ketoacidosis. The nurse implements, directs, and coordinates patient care through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation, including care responsive to the physical and psychosocial needs of the population served. The position is part time, 48 hours biweekly, on 12-hour day shifts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with every third weekend required. Shift and weekend differentials are available. The role includes an individualized, comprehensive 16-week orientation that includes Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO), ACLS certification, and NIHSS certification for new nurses. New nurses are also supported by a mentorship program after orientation, and new graduates may participate in a residency program. The position offers opportunities for committee participation, professional growth through a Clinical Ladder, leadership presence on every shift, and a potential pathway toward advanced practice or ICU/CCU work. Progressive Care Nursing (PCCN) certification is available after two years of experience.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Eligible for or currently licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in Pennsylvania.
CPR certification required.
ACLS required for IMCU, or must be achieved within one year of the start date.
Proficiency in cardiac monitor interpretation required for IMCU.
Experience applying customer-service behaviors and communication skills.
Evidence of participation in educational programs to maintain current knowledge and clinical skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
Previous nursing experience in the specialty area preferred.
Certification in the specialty preferred.

Responsibilities

Implement, direct, and coordinate patient care using the nursing process: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Recognize and address physical and psychosocial changes relevant to the age and population served.
Demonstrate safe medication practices and accurately transcribe physician orders.
Review charts to ensure orders have not been missed and document patient care, assessments, and discharge evaluations.
Use therapeutic communication, assess patient education needs, and use available education resources.
Analyze assessment data, identify priority problems, and document the plan of care for patients and their families or significant others.
Plan patient care using effective problem-solving skills; recognize changes in patient condition and respond appropriately.
Provide leadership through the nursing process and supervision while maintaining accountability for treatment and patient outcomes.
Serve as a resource for patient care, the specialty area, orientation, and staff teaching.
Attend at least 50% of staff or committee meetings and area in-services.
Respond calmly to delays, apologize for inconveniences, and offer alternatives.
Initiate and maintain intravenous therapy according to IV standards and respond appropriately to emergencies.
Use proper body mechanics and safely position, transfer, and transport patients.
Function as a virtual nurse when assigned, including admissions, discharges, education, and documentation through a virtual platform in collaboration with bedside nursing staff.
Provide basic dysrhythmia interpretation and treatment, basic and advanced life support, and care involving continuous medication infusions and monitoring.
Monitor patients receiving preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative procedures, including cardiac catheterization with percutaneous coronary intervention and chest tube insertion.
Care for patients with tracheotomies and perform hemodynamic monitoring, including equipment setup and troubleshooting and recognition of instability.
Recognize cardiopulmonary emergencies and initiate standardized interventions while patients await transfer to critical care.
Interpret arterial blood gas analyses and communicate findings.
Recognize indications for and manage noninvasive oxygen delivery systems, including oral airways, BiPAP, and CPAP.
Recognize indications for and complications of enteral and parenteral nutrition.
Assess, monitor, and manage patients requiring renal therapeutic interventions, including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, stents, continuous bladder irrigation, and urostomies.
Complete 12-lead EKGs, cardiac rehabilitation exercises, and arterial-line blood draws.
Describe the role and responsibility for assessing and reporting physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and neglect.
Maintain general cleanliness of the department and apply external pacemakers appropriately.
Evaluate families’ need for greater involvement in care to support the transition from hospital to home.