RN, Acute Care

Baptist Health•Jasper, AL

About The Position

Administers patient care in a hospital, inpatient/observation setting, or—where applicable—a Hospital Care at Home program. Provides active treatment for acute-care patients with injuries, illnesses, medical conditions, or post-intervention needs. The role may involve caring for patients in a virtual Patient Care Hub or providing direct care in patients’ homes. The nurse assesses patient needs, develops or contributes to individualized plans of care, evaluates progress, coordinates and delegates care, and collaborates with medical staff, interdisciplinary teams, and Hospital Care at Home staff. The nurse also supports colleagues and students, contributes to professional practice and quality improvement, and maintains compliance with Baptist Health policies and applicable standards.

Requirements

Graduate of an approved school of nursing.
Meet Baptist Health and unit/department mandatory, developmental, and performance competency requirements.
At least 1 year of experience, unless approved by an AVP level or above.
For Hospital Care at Home, at least 2 years of acute care nursing experience.
Current State of Alabama RN license or valid eNLC multistate RN license.
Current BLS/Healthcare Provider certification.
ACLS, NRP, PALS, or TNCC certification as required for certain areas; NRP is required for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
For Hospital Care at Home in-home nursing, a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to travel for job duties.
For in-home nursing, ability to travel to and enter patient homes within a specific geographical region.

Responsibilities

Assess patient needs and develop or revise individualized plans of care based on patient needs and responses; evaluate progress toward expected outcomes.
Respect diversity and build respectful relationships with team members and customers.
Advocate for patients and families and provide a compassionate, therapeutic care environment.
Provide care appropriate to patients’ ages and developmental needs.
Serve as a preceptor, charge nurse, unit educator, and/or nurse clinician.
Communicate and collaborate with medical staff and interdisciplinary teams to plan and manage care and unit operations.
Serve as a role model for staff and support hospital and nursing department goals and strategies.
Coordinate care for a defined group of patients and delegate tasks according to patient needs and team members’ capabilities and qualifications.
Document assessments, education, medication administration, treatments, and patient safety activities in accordance with regulatory standards.
Demonstrate competency in nursing skills and use of patient care and unit equipment.
Prioritize care in accordance with evidence-based standards, identify and resolve problems, and communicate patient condition or unit concerns to appropriate team members.
Recognize legal issues and patients’ rights.
Collaborate with education and nursing leadership teams to transition and support new team members and students.
Maintain regular, punctual attendance and comply with Baptist Health policies and procedures.
Contribute to professional knowledge, continuous improvement in healthcare practice, and organizational outcomes.
Participate in and/or lead nursing practice and performance-improvement committees; participate in peer review, mentoring, and coaching.
Use supplies efficiently and maintain a clean, safe, organized work area.
Attend staff development, department meetings, and/or nursing committee meetings; partner with nursing leadership to identify professional development needs and pursue continuing education.
Perform other duties as assigned.
For Patient Care Hub assignments, use TeleHealth technology to assess patients, conduct virtual visits, revise care plans, evaluate outcomes, identify clinical symptoms, and escalate potential decompensation.
For Hospital Care at Home assignments, provide direct care in patients’ homes, travel within a specific geographical region, collaborate with the Patient Care Hub and in-home clinical and support staff, and respond to urgent or emergent needs as directed.
For in-home assignments, use virtual technology to connect with the Patient Care Hub and conduct patient visits.
For in-home assignments, transport and deliver requested items, equipment, and medications, excluding controlled substances and IV chemotherapy drugs.