Senior Direct Care Registered Nurse with associate degree in nursing (SDCRN - ADN)

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•POLLOK, TX

3d•$7,533 - $8,886•Onsite

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. Learn About Our State Supported Living Centers If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you! The Senior Direct Care Registered Nurse with Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) performs highly complex (senior level) nursing work providing for the assessment, care and integrated treatment of individuals residing at the SSLC. Performs highly complex and technical nursing tasks, procedures, and assessments, administers medications, immunizations and treatments in accordance with HHSC, SSLC and state regulations. Interprets and evaluates diagnostic tests, collects specimens, and communicates findings and recommendations. Makes rounds, coordinates, and organizes nursing services and activities, monitors and reports the health of individuals. Provides consultation, training, instruction, and technical assistance to others. Develops in-service training and health education strategies. Provides leadership, oversight, coaching and monitoring to tasks performed by LVNs and RNs, and acts as a preceptor, as assigned, to RNs. Performs timely and accurate documentation. Works independently and productively with all levels of staff and departments. Identifies and implements various courses of action for routine and non-routine situations and works in conjunction with other nurses and health care providers. Analyzes data, evaluates nursing intervention outcomes, and provides input to other members of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) to assist in assessing the treatment plan. Attends assigned meetings and communicates results. Responds to emergency situations in accordance with protocols. Provides treatment to HHS employees injured in the course and scope of employment as needed. Performs other duties as assigned. Works under the limited supervision of the Nurse Manager or other designated supervisor depending on SSLC needs, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position may be eligible to earn additional pay for work performed on evenings, nights and/or weekends. This position may also be eligible to earn additional pay for work performed on maximum security locations.

Requirements

Licensed to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Texas (or a state that recognizes reciprocity through the Nurse Licensure Compact)
Associate degree in nursing (ADN) is required.
At least two (2) year of experience as a practicing registered nurse in a health agency, hospital, or health-care facility is required.
Experience in assessment and documentation of health status is required.
Must maintain current CPR certification.
Must have strength and flexibility to safely perform CPR, safe use of restraint (SUR) and Ukeru techniques (once trained).
Must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

Nice To Haves

Specialized training or experience working with individuals with complex medical and behavioral health issues is preferred.
Experience working with Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) is preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs highly complex and technical nursing tasks and procedures in accordance with HHSC, SSLC and state regulations, such as tracheostomy care, gastrostomy/jejunostomy care, wound care, and breathing treatments.
Administers medications, immunizations, and treatments and observes patients for unusual symptoms and reactions.
Provides a detailed initial assessment and review of data to present key findings to providers and other members of the interdisciplinary team for new admissions.
Interprets and evaluates diagnostic tests to identify and assess individuals’ response to planned care, as appropriate to the scope of practice.
Collects specimens for laboratory examination and conducts appropriate screening tests when requested by lab personnel.
Communicates findings and recommendations to other nurses, Primary Care Providers (PCP) and other staff.
Coordinates and organizes the nursing services and activities they provide for individuals on their assigned home/unit to ensure tasks are completed effectively and efficiently.
Observes individuals and gathers pertinent information, monitors individuals’ weight, diet, feedings, and vital signs.
Monitors for signs and symptoms of illness and uses appropriate nursing judgement to provide adequate care for the individual, including initiating acute care plans.
Makes rounds and/or to other homes/units as needed and works in other locations at the SSLC as needed.
Communicates effectively, and provides consultation, training, and technical assistance to direct support professionals (DSPs) about individuals’ unique care needs.
Instructs DSPs on how to monitor individuals after a treatment or procedure using instruction sheets such as that used for post-sedation monitoring of signs and symptoms.
Answers questions from DSPs and other members of the treatment team, related to treatment or medication, within the scope of practice.
Develops in-service training and health education strategies related to the assigned individual(s) when needed including signs and symptoms to observe for and report to a nurse.
Instructs, counsels, and assists individuals in meeting their health care needs when warranted.
Assists the Nurse Manager by providing leadership and oversight within the assigned home/unit/department such as overseeing the work of, coaching and monitoring services provided by Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) assigned to the nursing department.
Acts as a preceptor for other registered nurses, as assigned.
Trains/instructs new nurses to perform nursing functions at the SSLC, including acclimating them to the individuals, their needs and preferences.
Serves as a Nurse Manager in their absence, as appointed.
Provides support to Nurse Managers by providing day-to-day supervision including reviewing and following up on controlled drug counts, medication counts, emergency checklist logs, refrigerator temperature logs, and glucose controls.
Assists LVNs and RNs with implementation of protocols, procedures and programs to improve overall health and safety of staff and individuals.
Assists with completing follow up assessments, guidelines, acute care plan (ACP) interventions, interventions in the chronic care plan, injury reports, restraints, and med variances.
Assists in monitoring the completion of chronic care plan interventions.
Timely and accurately documents and reports pertinent treatments and observations in the individual’s electronic medical record (EMR) in accordance with SSLC procedures and protocols.
Oversees the completion of required documentation when training others.
Works independently and productively with all levels of staff and departments.
Identifies and implements various courses of action for routine and non-routine situations and works in conjunction with other nurses and health care providers.
Assists the Infection Control nurse by implementing measures that prevent the spread of disease, assists the Quality Assurance Nurse in developing and implementing quality assurance programs, and assists in the implementation of therapeutic nursing programs.
Participates in facility Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement initiatives.
Makes recommendations to supervisors on how to improve processes to ensure quality services for individuals.
Analyzes data, evaluates nursing intervention outcomes, and provides input to other members of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) to assist in assessing the treatment plan.
Attends and/or provides information to a designee for meetings related to the status and care of assigned individuals such as daily morning medical, Incident Management Review Team (IMRT), or IDT meetings to ensure nursing issues or concerns are addressed promptly.
Follows local SSLC policies and protocols to ensure pertinent information, such as diagnoses and treatment plans is clearly communicated to SSLC staff and, when instructed to do so, to guardians/Legally Authorized Representatives (LARs).
Responds to emergency situations to ensure safety of individuals.
Follows safety and infection control procedures of the SSLC.
Provides educational and safety training to SSLC staff upon request.
Provides treatment to HHS employees injured in course and scope of employment.
Actively participates and/or serves in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.