Senior Registered Nurse - Rapid Assessment/Rapid Response Team

Parkland Health•Parkland, WA

About The Position

The Senior Registered Nurse uses Parkland’s nursing professional practice model and the nursing process to coordinate patient care for the Rapid Assessment/Rapid Response Team. The RN assesses patients, identifies nursing diagnoses, develops and implements individualized plans of care, and evaluates patient responses. The role supports patients’ progression through healthcare encounters without preventable complications or delays and delegates interventions in accordance with the Texas Nursing Practice Act, patient condition, and employee competencies. The RN provides proactive and direct nursing care, supports early recognition of patient decline, leads emergency responses, and coordinates timely interventions with interdisciplinary teams. The position also contributes to clinical protocols, quality improvement, education, staff development, and the effective, safe operation of the assigned clinical area.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
Three to five years of critical care experience.
Current, valid Texas RN license or temporary RN license from the Texas Board of Nursing, or a valid Compact RN license.
Current healthcare provider BLS for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network.
Current ALS or ACLS certification upon hire or placement in the role, from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network.
NIHSS certification within 30 days of hire.
Trauma Certification completion card within six months of hire; incumbents as of November 6, 2024 must obtain it by May 6, 2025.
Ability to provide care in accordance with the Texas Nursing Practice Act, established protocols, multidisciplinary plans of care, and clinical-area standards.
Effective verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills for working with physicians, nursing staff, and ancillary healthcare team members.
Knowledge of Parkland policies and procedures and nursing standards of practice; capability to demonstrate staff leadership.
Ability to direct non-nursing staff, serve as a preceptor, and serve on rotation as staff and/or Charge Nurse.
Ability to prepare and conduct in-service education programs.
Ability to provide patient-centered care and manage complex or specialty clinical care, initiating changes with independent judgment and minimum supervision.
Knowledge of nursing standards of care for the specialty-specific critical care area, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

Experience in an acute care setting.
Advanced certification (CCRN or CEN) upon hire.

Responsibilities

Assess patients, identify nursing diagnoses, develop and implement individualized plans of care, and evaluate patient responses.
Coordinate patient care and delegate interventions according to the Texas Nursing Practice Act, patient condition, and staff competencies.
Provide continuous, patient-centered assessment and nursing care, consulting with other team members as needed and exercising independent judgment in recommending changes to care plans.
Lead responses to worsening patient conditions by assessing patients, coordinating timely interventions, communicating with interdisciplinary teams, and reassessing patient responses.
Facilitate evidence-based practice and patient-care metrics during Rapid Response, Stroke, STEMI, Sepsis, and Code Blue calls.
Promote early recognition of patient decline through Early Warning System assessments, purposeful rounding, and patient follow-ups.
Complete quality forms during and after Rapid Assessment Team activations to identify potential issues and provide feedback to management and healthcare staff.
Complete daily Rapid Assessment Team nursing responsibilities to promote proactive, high-quality care and outcomes.
Assess patient needs, develop staffing and care plans with team members, and direct or perform clinical nursing skills during rapid response activations.
Respond promptly to outpatient, visitor, and employee medical emergencies in designated response areas.
Serve as a patient advocate, respecting patient needs, rights, confidentiality, and religious and cultural preferences.
Provide education and training to patients, family members, and Parkland staff; arrange and conduct in-service programs.
Serve as a resource for patients, physicians, and healthcare team members, including for early recognition of patient decline and proactive patient care.
Evaluate patient needs and arrange quality services, such as language interpretation or other care coordination.
Maintain necessary equipment and supplies and an orderly, safe, and clean environment.
Communicate with physicians, nursing staff, and ancillary staff to coordinate activities and ensure effective, efficient care and procedures.
Delegate tasks appropriately and promptly, and demonstrate responsiveness to innovation and cross-disciplinary expertise.
Identify opportunities to improve work processes and patient and customer satisfaction; make recommendations and implement and monitor results as appropriate.
Participate in developing and implementing clinical-area protocols, nursing programs, policies, and procedures, including through committee representation, serving as a device or skill superuser, leading improvement or education projects, or collecting data.
Maintain knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, guidelines, nursing standards, sanitation, infection control, safety, supplies, equipment, and appropriate use of materials; support compliance and effective internal controls.
Stay current with nursing developments and integrate new knowledge into work practices through professional learning and participation in professional organizations.
Maintain Texas RN licensure and required certifications.
Assist in providing direction and leadership to licensed and non-licensed staff; serve as a preceptor or trainer for newer nursing staff.
Serve on rotation as a primary Rapid Assessment Team nurse and, as applicable, as a staff and/or Charge Nurse.
Maintain positive working relationships with Parkland internal and external customers and contribute to collaborative teamwork.
May participate in assigned community outreach activities, such as health fairs, community collaborations, or outreach clinics.