Registered Nurse - Intensive Care Unit - Night

Full-time Night Shift

72 hours bi-weekly

7pm to 7:30am

Every third weekend

Every other holiday

The ICU is an 18-bed unit which provides care to critically ill adult and geriatric patients. As the only intensive care unit in WGSH, we provide care to a multitude of medical, surgical, and clinically complex patient populations. We specialize in recovery of open-heart surgical patients, those who require ventilator or other acute respiratory support, pressors and inotrope therapy, tPA administration for stroke or pulmonary emboli, peritoneal or extended dialysis therapy, and hemodynamic monitoring with capabilities for IABP, Impella and cannulation for ECMO. Patient ratios are acuity-based ranging from 1-3 patients. The unit has 24-hour support of CRNPs who are supervised by a Critical Care Service in the unit to promote ongoing assessment and care.

General Summary

Provides professional nursing care at the beginner practitioner level in accordance with the principles of patient and family-centered care based on the nursing process and according to the clinical standards of the hospital. Acts as a primary nurse for patients on the unit. Coordinates care planning with other disciplines. May require specialized skills depending on unit assignment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides and coordinates direct care in accordance with the principles of patient and family-centered care based on the nursing process and according to the clinical standards of the hospital. Acts as a primary nurse for patients on the unit. Synthesizes patient data to develop outcome-driven plans.
• Safely and independently administers prescribed treatments, medications, and nursing interventions based on assessment and plan of care.
• Appropriately organizes and prioritizes time based on patient condition and expected workload. Identifies changes in patients’ status and acts accordingly. Knows and can activate resources to achieve outcomes for patients.
• Identifies and communicates individualized patient needs for safe handoffs during transitions of care. Collaborates with patient/family in care planning with all disciplines.
• Appropriately and correctly documents the patient response to interventions and progress toward outcomes. Identifies and documents variances. Appropriately utilizes flow sheets, progress notes, and/or electronic medical record for documentation. Is able to identify system and unit-based nursing sensitive indicators; i.e. falls, pressure ulcers.
• Identifies own areas of professional growth and development in performance improvement efforts. Recognizes the value of evidence-based research as it applies to best practice.
• Promotes a professional practice environment that supports patient safety and quality through interdisciplinary collaboration, Shared Decision Making activities including peer review. Integrate shared decision making by unit committee membership or by supporting and helping fellow co-workers attend committee meetings and/or work on SDM projects. Serves as positive role model.
• Begins to provide leadership for problem solving and goal formation. Negotiates for a win-win solution.
• Delegates aspects of care to other nursing personnel in order to meet patient needs. Helps assistive personnel organize and set priorities for work. Monitors completion of tasks that are assigned or delegated to the patient care team.
• Promotes collaboration and cooperation among physicians, nursing staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Contributes to effective communications among all team members. Begins to display conflict resolution and negotiation skills to maximize team performance.
• Virtual Nursing.
• Variation of duties may result based on the assigned customer care unit(s). This may include differences in the specific clinical skills required of the RN. Unit based skill lists outline expectations beyond the house wide RN requirements. SYS-NURS-L Nursing Education Requirements Policy outlines current certification(s) required for specific areas of nursing practice and is considered to be part of the job description.
• In addition to requirements specified in the license and certification section below, current BLS certification for all areas of nursing practice is required. • Current certification may be required for the following areas of nursing practice: ◦ Emergency Care Center – ACLS, PALS ◦ Intensive Care Center & MSCC Lead – ACLS, PALS ◦ L&D – ACLS, NRP, - Experienced L&D nurses will obtain within 6 months and new L&D nurses will obtain at 1 year of experience ◦ NICU – NRP ◦ PEDS – PALS ◦ PCC/PACU/ENDO – ACLS, PALS ◦ Procedural – ACLS

Common Expectations:

• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span of the assigned patient population. Assesses and interprets patient age specific data and provides appropriate, age specific treatment. Provides direct patient care to assigned patient age group(s).
• Demonstrates a commitment to patient, visitor and staff by: complying with all applicable safety regulations; learning the impact of medical errors and methodology that will lead to reduction of errors; reporting actual and potential errors, as well as hazardous conditions; identifying opportunities to standardize processes and "error proof" systems that will lead to increased safety; and participating in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
• Maintains Adheres to established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Enhances professional growth and development through advanced/continuing education to maintain up-to-date knowledge, skills, and competencies.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.