NURSE CLINICIAN - NEONATAL ICU

This position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the National Nurses Organizing Committee. Pursuant to the agreement, Cook County will exhaust internal eligible applicants prior to considering external applicants.

About the Role

The Nurse Clinician assists in evaluating care given by unit staff and in meeting staff learning needs. Evaluates nursing care delivery for patients, particularly those with complex nursing care requirements, and provides education to staff, patients, and family members. The Nurse Clinician develops and participates in educational programs, consults with nursing and medical colleagues, and collaborates with other health personnel to ensure effective delivery of nursing services.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates ability to achieve nursing department goals through maintaining and enhancing education and clinical expertise.
• Educates nursing personnel on new nursing practices and revised documentation systems.
• Trains nursing/hospital staff on use of computerized bedside documentation systems and assists in implementation.
• Assesses patient’s physical, emotional, and psycho-social status and diagnoses patient problems within NANDA taxonomy.
• Utilizes and teaches PAIE charting principles appropriate to various clinical situations.
• Maintains documentation and record-keeping systems in compliance with nursing, hospital, and external agency requirements.
• Audits staff use of electronic documentation and prepares reports reflecting findings.
• Develops and maintains guidelines for new electronic record-keeping systems; revises and distributes guidelines as needed.
• Performs flexible tasks to support system implementation (e.g., collating manuals, preparing educational packets).
• Serves as a resource for nursing personnel in assessing patient and family status.
• Provides consultation and assistance to the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT).
• Initiates and coordinates patient care conferences and monthly Interdisciplinary Team Care Plans.
• Collaborates with the healthcare team to assess patient progress and directs/evaluates nursing intervention.
• Oversees care delivery to ensure quality.
• Develops, updates, and revises unit-specific policies and procedures based on clinical practice standards.
• Assists in implementing corrective action plans with the QA Team.
• Implements new or revised policies and procedures.
• Assists in establishing and evaluating standards of nursing practice.
• Interprets and implements procedures, policies, and nursing care objectives for patients, families, and staff.
• Participates on assigned committees.
• Assists the Nurse Coordinator in evaluating, preparing, and maintaining par stock of supplies and equipment.
• Ensures proper completion of documentation, including the Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Patient Care Plan.
• Participates in QA/IP activities of the unit and prepares required reports and corrective actions.
• Participates in meeting the clinical learning needs of nursing staff under the supervision of the Nurse Coordinator.
• Assists with staff development through planned patient conferences, teaching rounds, and team conferences.
• Plans, develops, and implements orientations and unit-specific educational programs.
• Assumes responsibility for own continuing education and obtains/maintains Med/Surg nursing certification.
• Attends conferences, seminars, and workshops to enhance patient care delivery.
• Educates, mentors, and guides Maternal Child staff.
• Serves as a nursing resource for research projects.
• Assists in developing and implementing nursing and health-related studies; may conduct studies with appropriate approvals.
• Introduces concepts from healthcare research for application in the clinical setting.
• Reports patient care problems requiring investigation and collects data for research projects.
• Consults with immediate supervisor daily regarding patient care plans.
• Assumes responsibility for care of patients requiring expertise and makes professional judgments.
• Communicates clearly and reports to indicated parties as necessary.
• Assesses patient needs for nursing intervention through observations and history extraction upon admission.
• Prepares and revises individualized nursing care plans based on patient needs.
• Participates in all aspects of "Team" under the direction of the Nurse Coordinator and assumes Team Leader duties as assigned.
• Participates in planning and evaluating the quality of nursing and supportive services.
• Conducts team conferences and participates on committees as assigned.
• Participates in patient and family teaching, including discharge planning.
• Records all pertinent information accurately, legibly, and relevantly as required by policy.
• Ensures patient and personnel safety through watchful guidance and precautionary measures.
• Evaluates needs for staff development and provides incidental/spontaneous teaching.
• Makes interdisciplinary referrals for coordination of patient discharges (e.g., Social Workers, Home Care Coordinator, Occupational/Physical Therapy).
• Performs other related activities as required or assigned.
• Assists in developing Standards of Nursing Care, Audit Criteria, and patient instruction sheets.
• Takes corrective action regarding deficiencies identified by the Nursing Audit/Quality Assurance Committee.
• Participates in clinical nursing research and carries out special assignments within the Division.

Requirements

• Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois (proof required at time of interview).
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited college or university (official transcripts required at time of interview).
• Three (3) years of clinical experience in a hospital setting.
• Two (2) years of teaching experience, including formal and clinical teaching.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (proof required at time of interview).
• Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification (proof required at time of interview).
• Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification (proof required at time of interview).

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual.

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively in a culturally diverse environment.
• Professional demeanor and composure when challenged.
• Analytical, organizational, problem-solving, critical thinking, and conflict management/resolution skills.
• Knowledge of infection control practices.
• Ability to follow department-specific engineering, work practice controls, and safety precautions.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task and work efficiently in a fast-paced, stressful environment.
• Adherence to system, hospital, and department policies and standards.
• Ability to follow hospital protocol for exposure to noise, chemicals, disease, bloodborne pathogens, patient violence, and procedural injuries.

Schedule

7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position functions within a healthcare environment. The incumbent must adhere to all hospital and department-specific safety requirements, including:

• Compliance with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Hand washing and sanitizing practices.
• Department-specific engineering and work practice controls.
• Work area safety precautions as specified by hospital-wide policy and departmental procedures.

Veterans who meet the minimum qualifications may receive preference in the hiring process. To qualify, veterans must identify themselves on the application and provide a copy of their DD 214, DD 215, or NGB 22 (or a valid State ID/Driver’s License indicating veteran status) at the time of application.