CLINICAL NURSE I - POST ANESTHESIOLOGY RECOVERY WARD 70 & 80 (PACU)

Location: Stroger Hospital

Shift Time: 1:00PM - 11:30 PM

Starting salary is commensurate with years of RN experience

Job Summary

The Clinical Nurse I provides safe, effective, and individualized care using the nursing process. Performance of these duties requires skills, problem solving abilities, communication, effective working relationships, setting priorities, and demonstrated knowledge of standard operation policies and procedures.

Typical Duties

• Completes admission and ongoing patient assessment
• Ensures formulation of an individualized plan of care derived from assessment data
• Ensures appropriate documentation
• Performs duties as needed to prepare the preoperative patient for the Intra operative experience
• Identifies, plans, and cares for the total needs of the patients, taking into consideration the age specific needs of patients in assigned area of responsibility
• Makes appropriate and timely decisions in a crisis of emergency situation
• Works and communicates effectively with a variety of individuals
• Provides general direction, guidance, and coordination of patient care given by other levels of nursing staff
• Applies knowledge of standard operating policies and procedures
• Operates equipment correctly and safely necessary for providing patient care in Post- Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

• Organizes or manages nursing work activities to reflect due consideration for patient needs
• Applies principles of infection control and safety
• Performs admission assessments on assigned patients upon arrival to the unit
• Obtains assessment information from patients/significant others as appropriate
• Collects assessment data as a basis for formulating nursing diagnosis and provides appropriate age specific care relative to the following factors: biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care capabilities, safety, infection control, learning needs, ability to manage continuing care needs after discharge
• Performs ongoing and scheduled reassessments according to divisional/unit standards
• Performs transfer assessments on assigned patients when transferred in or out of the unit
• Provides appropriate clinical care and prepare patients for medical consultation required before the surgical procedure
• Establishes nursing diagnosis/problems, desired outcomes, and interventions based on assessed needs
• Collaborated with patient/significant others, and health care team members in planning nursing care during hospitalization and for discharge
• Develops nursing plan of care that: is consistent with the therapies of other disciplines, based on patient care and nursing practice standards, considers the cultural and spiritual values, considers patient age specific needs relative to these factors: biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care capabilities, safety, infection control, learning needs, discharge planning needs
• Communicates with patient and significant others the nursing plan of care
• Performs interventions in a competent, skillful and safe manner
• Prioritizes interventions according to patient needs
• Applies principles of growth and development across life span in providing care appropriate to patient's age specific needs
• Provides education to patient and significant others based on assessed learning needs
• Provides appropriate Perioperative Teaching and Postoperative discharge instructions
• Performs the technical aspects of care according to established practice standards: procedures, treatments, IV/blood administration, medication administration, moderate sedation
• Performs or directs cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other lifesaving interventions
• Demonstrates competence in applying the principles of: Standard precaution, Isolation, Asepsis
• Provides interventions to meet patients' identified discharge needs
• Evaluates patients' responses to interventions
• Modifies and implements interventions as appropriate
• Re-evaluates patients' responses
• Records accurately, concisely, either on paper form or electronic, the following information: assessments/reassessments, plan of care, interventions, patient's responses
• Signs documentation with legible signature and classification in paper form and electronic with correct computer sign on
• Performs charge nurse/team leader responsibilities competently when assigned
• Plans and coordinates patient care activities
• Identifies problems and recommended solutions
• Delegates nursing tasks based on the needs of the patient and competence of staff
• Established priorities based on the changing patient care needs
• Participates in standards development quality assessment and improvement activities and research as request or assigned
• Communicates pertinent information to patient physician, nurses and other health care team members as appropriate
• Utilizes the chain of command appropriately to address issues of concern
• Maintains confidentiality in all patient related information
• Provides privacy for patient/family
• Treats appropriate actions to address ethical concerns
• Performs as resource nurse/buddy when assigned
• Assists new hires with information or directions whenever requested and offers assistance as needed
• Conducts CPR drills, fire drills and patient centered conferences or other unit educational activities as requested or assigned
• Maintains certification as required in special areas of practice
• Recognizes own learning needs, and seeks opportunities to meet those needs
• Renews professional license in a time manner
• Attends safety, infection control in-services and maintains Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification annually
• Adheres to dress code
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

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  * Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois

  * Three (3) years of nursing experience in an acute care or hospital setting

  * One (1) year of nursing experience in Critical Care or PACU in an acute care hospital, level 1 trauma hospital or teaching hospital

  * Must possess Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (Must provide proof at time of interview)

  * Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification or ability to obtain within six months of hire date (Must provide proof at time of interview)

  * Must possess Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification (Must provide proof at time of interview)

  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited college or university
• Two (2) years of Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nursing or Critical Care nursing experience

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Knowledge of medicals and IV fluids and correct admission based on patient age and clinical condition
• Demonstrate competence in the safe and effective use of clinical equipment
• Demonstrate working knowledge of the current requirements of accrediting and regulatory agencies
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills necessary to a variety of
• people from different socio-economic backgrounds
• Strong emergency response skills
• Strong customer service and empathy skills
• Demonstrate analytical and organizational, problem-solving, critical thinking, and conflict
• management/resolution skills
• Demonstrate attention to detail, accuracy and precision
• Ability to perform a pre-procedure assessment on all patients and reassessment during and post procedure
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to resolve complex patient/administration problems and research issues
• Ability to prioritize, plan, and organize projects and tasks
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor and composure when challenged
• Ability to function autonomously and as a team member in a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to see and hear clearly (including with correction}
• Ability to tolerate exposure to unpleasant noise, odor and temperature
• Ability to walk extensively, lift moderately heavy objects, and climb stairs
• Ability to consistently push, pull, twist, turn, bend, kneel, stoop, lift and reach above shoulder and stand for prolonged periods of time.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

PLEASE READ

When applying for employment with Cook County Health, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service

To take advantage of this preference a Veteran must:

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, "Are you a Military Veteran?"
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver's License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER'S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• 100% Tuition Reimbursement for nursing-related programs

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/

MUST MEET ALL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION FILING.

Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.

CCH is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada muse be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belongings to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.