PICU-Staff Nurse-24HR

Connecticut Children's Medical Center•Hartford, CT

About The Position

The PICU Staff Nurse, under general supervision, assumes 24-hour accountability for planning and providing direct professional nursing care to specified patients throughout the entire episode of service delivery, as defined by the patient population and unit. The nurse provides care to patients and families in accordance with professional nursing standards, CCMC policies and procedures, Joint Commission standards, and state and federal regulations. The position reports to the Nurse Manager. The nurse uses the nursing process to provide safe, appropriate care to the assigned patient population; applies knowledge of the needs of patients from neonates through adolescents; and demonstrates cultural sensitivity. The role includes delegating patient-care tasks, supporting unit productivity and resource management, and contributing to unit leadership when assigned as a Resource Nurse or through preceptor or mentor activities. The nurse completes required documentation, communicates effectively with the health care team, partners with children and families to evaluate outcomes, monitors patient and family responses to treatment, and provides education about care. The nurse demonstrates support for the organization’s mission, values, and goals through behaviors consistent with CCMC Standards.

Requirements

Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) required upon hire.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required within three years of hire if not held upon hire.
Current Connecticut Registered Nurse licensure, maintained thereafter.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR certification covering adults, children, and infants required upon hire.
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training certification required within three months of hire and maintained thereafter.
Knowledge of professional nursing theory, principles, techniques, and practice; state regulations regarding nursing practice; clinical standards of care; and documentation and patient-record policies and standards.
Knowledge of teaching techniques, identification of learning needs, and patient and family education.
Knowledge of developmental and population-specific patient and family assessment techniques and their application to practice.
Knowledge of accreditation and certification requirements and standards.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
Basic proficiency using personal computers in a networked Windows-based health care environment to access related software, locate, open, edit, and print files and information used by the unit, and use the Internet as a research tool.
Ability to work individually or with teams and other organizations in the medical and research community.
Ability to make clinical and procedural decisions using the nursing process.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, delegate appropriately to ancillary staff, and communicate effectively orally and in writing with individuals and groups.

Nice To Haves

BSN upon hire.
Two to five years of PICU and/or adult critical care experience.
At least two years of pediatric experience may be considered on an individual basis.
Pediatric non-critical-care experience may be considered on an individual basis when appropriate.
Comparable education and training may be considered when appropriate.
New graduates may be considered on an individual basis.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification upon hire; required within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

Plan and provide direct professional nursing care throughout the patient’s episode of service delivery.
Use the nursing process and demonstrate clinical expertise to provide safe, appropriate care according to CCMC and unit policies and standards.
Apply knowledge of the needs of patients from neonates through adolescence and demonstrate cultural sensitivity in interactions with patients and families.
Delegate patient-care duties and tasks to clinical staff in accordance with hospital policy and each staff member’s scope of practice.
When assigned, contribute to unit leadership as a Resource Nurse and participate in others’ professional development through preceptor or mentor activities.
Support unit and department productivity and resource management activities.
Complete required documentation in a timely manner and communicate necessary information effectively to all members of the health care team.
Partner with children and families in evaluating outcomes; monitor, trend, and evaluate patient and family responses to treatment.
Provide appropriate education to patients and families regarding all aspects of care and support the organization’s patient and family education efforts.
Demonstrate behaviors consistent with CCMC Standards and support the organization’s mission, values, and goals.