Unit Lead RN - Neonatal Intensive Care FT Nights

Torrance Memorial Medical Center•Torrance, CA

19h

About The Position

The Unit Lead Nurse assists with clinical management and administrative coordination of the nursing unit. The role combines direct patient care with administrative unit responsibilities to support effective delivery of evidence-based care and compliance with administrative and clinical policies and procedures. Nurses are expected to apply the Quality-Caring Model in providing excellent patient care, developing collegial relationships with the healthcare team, and practicing self-care and self-reflection. The Unit Lead provides clinical support and supervision, coaches staff, helps coordinate patient care and unit operations, and supports quality, safety, patient experience, staffing, and patient-flow objectives. The position may take a patient assignment and provide meal and break relief as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Nursing.
Two years of experience in the area of practice.
BCLS or ACLS certification.
NRP certification.
Certification in the area of specialty upon hire.

Responsibilities

Evaluate current practices and promote evidence-based practice to achieve patient outcomes.
Identify staff competencies, educational needs, and readiness to learn; provide clinical support, supervision, guidance, coaching, and modeling.
Ensure floats, travelers, registry staff, and volunteers are oriented to the unit, and keep staff informed about clinical, unit, department, and medical center changes.
Complete an initial unit assessment at the beginning of the shift and make formal rounds, including patient assessment as needed.
Promote a safe environment and match staff competencies to patient needs; identify and document subtle changes in patients' conditions.
Interpret policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards, and assist staff in complying with them.
Provide and receive reports on unit status, collaborate with the healthcare team, and set priorities for patient transfers and patient flow.
Modify and document nursing care and care plans to address patient problems; review documentation and provide follow-up during the shift.
Facilitate prompt responses to call lights and patient needs, and create a welcoming environment for patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members.
Delegate and direct unit activities and patient assignments using professional, respectful, effective communication.
Promote excellent customer service, conduct lead rounding, and follow up with patients and families on feedback using service-recovery techniques.
Initiate, direct, assign, and coordinate staff duties during drills, emergencies, or disasters; use the chain of command to report adverse clinical outcomes, patient-perception issues, and disruptive behaviors.
Coach and mentor staff in compassion, problem solving, conflict resolution, and support for patients and families coping with illness or hospitalization.
Ensure staff observe National Patient Safety Goals and monitor compliance with organizational quality dashboard and benchmarking goals.
Work with the unit manager and unit members on action plans for performance improvement, patient safety, evidence-based practice and research protocols, cost control, quality of care, patient throughput, and patient experience.
Assess ongoing unit and patient needs and coordinate, communicate, and facilitate timely patient care plans with physicians, staff, and other healthcare team members.
Identify trends in unit quality issues and report them to the unit manager and clinical nurse specialist/educator; provide ongoing staff-performance feedback to the unit manager.
Attend huddle meetings as appropriate and develop staffing plans with the unit manager and/or nurse staffing office.
Set shift priorities for patient care, patient flow, staffing, and staff distribution; make assignments based on patient acuity and needs, staff competencies, skill mix, and staffing matrix.
Facilitate staff breaks and assist with unit efficiency to meet productivity standards.
Liaise with other nursing departments to expedite admissions and transfers, receive reports, and facilitate transitions.
Accommodate admissions and transfers to full bed capacity with minimal delay and notify the Unit Manager of potential resource issues.
Take a patient assignment as needed and provide meal and break relief coverage.