Acute Care RN-Surgical Unit Registered Nurse

At MercyOne, health care is more than just a doctor’s visit or a place to go when you’re in need of medical attention. Our Mission is based on improving the health of our communities — that means not only when you are sick but keeping you well. Dubuque, located right on the Mississippi River, is known for its historic charm and has a cost of living approximately 12% below the U.S. average. The Dubuque Community School District is highly regarded, and the city offers private schools plus colleges like Loras College and Clarke University. Families enjoy cultural attractions such as the National Mississippi River Museum, arts festivals, and an abundance of parks and trails.

As the region's leading hospital, MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center offers the only Level II NICU and the most comprehensive cardiology center in the tri-state area. It holds Magnet designation (fifth consecutive cycle), CMS 5-star quality rating, and national recognition including Fortune/IBM Watson's 100 Top Hospitals. It's a Wellmark Blue Distinction Center+ for maternity and earns American Heart Association awards — Stroke Gold Plus, Mission: Lifeline NSTEMI, and STEMI Gold. It recently celebrated 100 years of American Heart Association membership.

About the role

As a Registered Nurse at MercyOne, you will provide and direct safe, effective, and culturally competent care for patients with acute medical and surgical conditions. Through evidence-based practice, you will utilize critical thinking to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate outcome-based care. The Acute Care RN manages a diverse patient population with varying levels of acuity, including post-operative, medical, telemetry, and neurologic patients. You will supervise and coordinate care provided by LPNs, Patient Care Assistants, and other nursing team members, and facilitate communication with physicians, patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members. You will adhere to MercyOne’s performance expectations and uphold the Mission, Vision, and Values of MercyOne.

Responsibilities

• Conducts an initial assessment to gather data, including making an initial assessment of new admissions within 30 minutes of the patient’s arrival to the unit and completing all areas of the admission assessment database within 24 hours of admission.
• Identifies patient problems and develops them into an outcome/goal-based plan of care, incorporating relevant medical history and determining nursing interventions to achieve those outcomes.
• Prioritizes patient care needs and activities, identifies and makes appropriate referrals (e.g., Patient/Family Services, Nutritional Services, Spiritual Care, Diabetic Educator), and collaborates with other health care disciplines.
• Implements the outcome/goal-based plan of care, including assigning and coordinating patient care, delegating tasks, implementing procedures, treatments, and medications, and coordinating with Case Managers and Social Workers.
• Assists in decreasing the patient’s length of stay by helping the patient and family identify and secure appropriate services for discharge needs.
• Reassesses patient response(s) to interventions at regular intervals (minimum RN reassessment every 24 hours) and focuses on actual and potential problems, education, and discharge needs.
• Evaluates patient progress and revises the outcome/goal-based plan as needed, updating the problem list and outcomes/goals.
• Communicates relevant clinical information to physicians, team members, and interdisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes.
• Documents completely, comprehensively, and legibly in accordance with policy.
• Demonstrates clinical competence, including utilizing Patient Care Policies and Procedures, assuring medication safety, prioritizing interventions, and demonstrating competency in required computer systems.
• Receives, transcribes, and processes physician orders per policy, including dating, timing, and verifying accuracy.
• Maintains communication with the manager/house supervisor and staffing office regarding admissions, unit needs, acuity numbers, and significant events.
• Manages telemetry and cardiac monitoring when applicable, including interpreting cardiac rhythms, responding to arrhythmias, and providing appropriate interventions for cardiac events.
• Serves as a resource to other hospital services (nursing, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, respiratory, etc.) and may participate in unit-based committees or provide education to nursing staff.
• Provides care appropriate to the age-related needs of patients, collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and applying age-specific data.
• Adheres to all safety, infection control, and colleague health policies and procedures, including attending required safety programs and using personal protective equipment.
• Maintains a working knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, as well as Trinity Health’s Organizational Integrity Program and Standards of Conduct.

Requirements

• Associate degree in nursing required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
• Current Iowa RN license.
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) required.
• American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) required only if the unit has telemetry monitoring capabilities.
• Proof of completion of Mandatory Reporter – Child and/or Dependent Adult Abuse training within three (3) months of hire.
• High language, intermediate to high math, and high critical thinking ability.
• Basic computer skills required.

Schedule

• 0.9 FTE, 36 hours per week.
• Night shift: 6:00 pm - 6:30 am.
• 12-hour shifts.
• Block scheduling for weekends and holidays.
• Nurses have the ability for self-scheduling.

Benefits

Colleagues of MercyOne Health System enjoy competitive compensation with a full benefits package and opportunity for growth throughout the system. Visit MercyOne Careers to learn more about the benefits, culture, and career development opportunities available.