Clinical Nurse III - Critical Care

Description

Under general supervision, to apply the theoretical concepts of the nursing profession while providing direct patient care within the parameters of established nursing policies and procedures in patient care situations required by the assigned clinical setting; to initiate and perform established nursing interventions utilizing current clinical knowledge.

Distinguishing Characteristics

• The Clinical Nurse III classification is expected to have the knowledge and abilities to assume charge nurse responsibility.
• The Clinical Nurse III classification is distinguished from the Clinical Nurse II classification in that the Clinical Nurse III performs under general supervision and is expected to identify and implement nursing interventions that have less predictable outcomes and evaluate the results of these interventions for a given patient population, whereas the Clinical Nurse II works under supervision while performing specific patient care assignments.
• The Clinical Nurse III classification is distinguished from the Nurse Coordinator classification in that the Nurse Coordinator has permanent, ongoing responsibility to teach staff and organize the patient care of a specific patient population or designated clinical program.
• The Clinical Nurse III classification is distinguished from the Assistant Nurse Manager classification in that the Assistant Nurse Manager has permanent, ongoing responsibility to supervise a designated nursing unit or ambulatory care clinic.
• The Clinical Nurse classification series is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse classification series in that the Clinical Nurse classification series works directly with individual patients or a defined patient assignment, where patients are injured, ill, or in life-threatening situations requiring nursing interventions, whereas the Public Health Nurse works in clinics, homes, and community settings caring for the health of the population to prevent disease and improve population health.
• The Clinical Nurse classification series differs from the Psychiatric Nurse classification series in that the Psychiatric Nurse classification series works in mental health hospitals and clinics providing psychiatric and nursing interventions.

Clinical Nurse III - Critical Care

• Positions available in critical care units at each hospital include:
  • St. Louise Regional Hospital - Mixed Intensive Care Unit
  • St. Louise Regional Hospital - Rapid Response Team
  • O'Connor Hospital - Mixed Intensive Care Unit
  • O'Connor Hospital - Rapid Response Team
  • Valley Medical Center - Medical Intensive Care Unit
  • Valley Medical Center - Cardiac Care Unit
  • Valley Medical Center - Surgical Intensive Care Unit
  • Valley Medical Center - Trauma Intensive Care Unit
  • Valley Medical Center - Burn Unit
  • Valley Medical Center - Rapid Response Team
  • Regional Medical Center - Intensive Care Unit
  • Float Pool
  • Vascular Line Cath Lab/ Interventional Radiology (IR)

Education

• Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:
  • Training and Experience:
    • Active California Registered Nurse License without restrictions
    • Three (3) years of full-time Registered Nurse (RN) experience, of which one (1) year must have been within the last three (3) years, in an accredited hospital, clinic, or healthcare setting.
    • One (1) year of full-time RN experience, within the last three (3) years, in the nursing specialty area.
    • A nursing specialty is a field of nursing that focuses on either a particular patient population or a health condition.
    • Possession of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and possession of a nationally recognized certification in a specialty area is preferred.

Special Requirements

• Must possess and maintain the following certification(s) during employment:
  • Basic Life Saving Certification (BLS)
  • Advance Cardiovascular Life Saving Certification (ACLS)
  • Other identified specialty area certification(s) for specialty patient populations at appointment, as required.

Knowledge

• Of California Nurse Practice Act;
• American Nursing Association Code of Ethics;
• Nursing Professional Practice Model;
• Federal and State healthcare laws and regulations appropriate to the operation of California hospitals;
• Current nursing and related medical theory necessary to administer nursing care within assigned clinical setting;
• Principles, practices, and methods of acute and primary care clinical nursing, including community aspects and continuity of patient care;
• Diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems as related to a clinical specialty area;
• Clinical systems, supplies, and equipment;
• Safety and Infection Control practices;
• Sciences basic to nursing (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology);
• English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;
• Common computer systems and charting applications.

Ability

• To establish relationships with patients/families in difficult or crisis situations;
• To advocate for the patient/family perspective and work toward resolution of conflict;
• To develop and implement complex teaching plans;
• To be a subject matter expert and be recognized by other staff nurses and physicians for their expert knowledge;
• To support less experienced Registered Nurses;
• To recognize and report subtle variations in patient responses;
• To anticipate and identify the needs of other patients and the capabilities of the nurses assigned to them;
• To develop innovative strategies to enhance patient care;
• To model high performance leadership behaviors (e.g., thoughtful listening, effective questioning, and empowerment);
• To act as a change agent and facilitate implementation and evaluation of change;
• To perform skillfully under pressure;
• To juggle and integrate needs and requests of multiple patients within a shift.