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Job Summary
The Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (RN) practices independently to deliver routine and complex care for patients within an acute hospital setting. Demonstrating a holistic awareness of the clinical environment, the RN utilizes the nursing process to manage patient care, set long-range goals, handle clinical contingencies, and appropriately delegate to and supervise other care team members.
Key Responsibilities
- Direct Patient Care: Provides comprehensive nursing care utilizing the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation) consistent with the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice.
- Acuity & Complexity: Confidently addresses complex physical, psychological, emotional, cultural, and social needs of patients and their families.
- Medication Administration: Administers medications, IV therapies, and clinical treatments using approved protocols; diligently monitors for side effects and treatment efficacy.
- Documentation: Maintains precise, real-time electronic health record (EHR) documentation of patient histories, active symptoms, clinical interventions, and patient responses.
- Patient Education: Evaluates learning needs and delivers targeted education regarding disease management, discharge planning, and post-discharge care to patients and families.
- Care Coordination & Flow: Anticipates and coordinates seamless patient admissions, transfers, and discharges to maximize safe unit throughput.
- Leadership & Unit Support: Plans, directs, and evaluates overall nursing functions on the unit during an assigned shift. Assesses floor staffing needs and demonstrates careful stewardship of medical supplies and equipment.
Technical & Core Competencies
- Clinical Standards Compliance: Adheres strictly to established hospital policies, state protocols, and regulatory control mechanisms.
- Health Information Systems: Proficient in electronic medical record entry, processing verbal or standing medical orders, and managing chart accuracy to minimize omissions or errors.
- Medical Equipment Mastery: Skilled in operating, troubleshooting, and verifying standard diagnostic tools and unit-specific clinical equipment safely.
- Patient Safety & Quality Care: Integrates evidence-based guidelines to promote positive patient outcomes; actively participates in quality improvement initiatives, immediate incident tracking, and real-time analysis of near-misses.
Job Requirements & Qualifications
Education & Licensure
- Degree: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) strongly preferred.
- Licensure: Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Texas or an active multi-state Compact RN license.
- Certifications: Active BLS (Basic Life Support) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) required.
Experience
- Minimum Experience: 12 months of independent nursing experience in an acute care hospital environment.
- Preferred Specialty: Direct background in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry, Progressive Care (PCU), or Intermediate Care (IMC) environments.
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions
- Environment: Fast-paced, high-acuity inpatient acute care hospital setting. Adherence to strict safety, security, and infection control protocols—including the correct utilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and power-operated lifting devices—is mandatory.
- Physical Activities: Must be able to perform physical demands typical of a hospital floor unit, including prolonged standing/walking, reaching, bending, kneeling, crouching, twisting, pushing/pulling, and lifting/carrying patients or heavy equipment.
- Sensory Acuity: Requires visual acuity of at least 20/40, conversational hearing, color perception, and the clear ability to communicate effectively in English.