Nurse Coordinator - PCU - Cardiac/Vascular/Thoracic - Nights

About the role

Nebraska Methodist Health System focuses on providing exceptional care to the communities we serve and the people we employ. Our mission is to make each delivery special, convey difficult diagnoses with compassion, go above and beyond for patient needs, and celebrate patients who overcome challenges.

Responsibilities

• Provides appropriate care specific to the age of the customer/patient, ensuring understanding and comfort level of treatment as outlined in the Population Specific Criteria.
• Demonstrates ability to identify opportunities for and give individualized customer service/patient care according to customer/patient needs.
• Affirms patient care assignments are made according to established criteria, policy, and procedure.
• Affirms assignments are made according to personnel level of experience, patient status, and skill needs, patient safety needs, skill mix, and degree of supervision required.
• Sets up new personnel and float staff to a practice partner for use as a resource. Adjusts assignments as necessary based on flow of patients.
• Reports issues/trends to Service Leader.
• Coordinates unit patient flow of admissions and discharges to assure beds are available to match the demand.
• Develops/coordinates a daily plan for admission/transfer/discharge to ensure that patient flow is facilitated and beds are available.
• Assigns beds within 20 minutes of a bed request, or communicates with bed coordinator when time frame cannot be met.
• Presents unit demand/capacity status and unit plan if needed at bed huddle.
• Coaches, mentors, and role models regarding patient care issues.
• Supervises/evaluates care provided during assigned shift.
• Redirects hospital staff to demonstrate core values to promote a positive work environment.
• Serves as a resource person to assigned care providers as needed.
• Reports issues/trends to Service Leader and/or follows-up with appropriate staff.
• Maintains positive customer relations with hospital personnel, patients, visitors, and physicians.
• Collaborates/coordinates with Care Manager, Service Secretaries, Support Staff, other departments/units, and/or other agencies to facilitate patient care.
• Assists co-workers in dealing with customer concerns as needed.
• Encourages the use of Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (SBAR) format to maintain continuity of care.
• Manages environment and/or patient care situations to address risks appropriately.
• Ensures completion and follow-up on various reports and concerns.
• Monitors environmental safety issues and appropriate interventions.
• Provides input into the development and revision of policy and procedures.
• Reports issues/trends to Leader.
• Maintains quality standards and adheres to Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines.
• Identifies and reduces risk issues.
• Adjusts staffing appropriate to census and budget on a shift-by-shift basis.
• Facilitates staffing on assigned unit for on-coming shift based on identified patient needs and priorities.
• Maintains optimal patient care and appropriate use of end of shift overtime.
• Monitors supply and equipment utilization problems and ensures appropriate interventions.
• Performs Nursing Assessment Process to achieve optimal patient outcome.
• Includes data from the patient/significant other(s) in the assessment as appropriate.
• Prioritizes data collection according to patient's immediate needs.
• Uses assessment findings in discharge planning.
• Collaborates with physicians and other clinical disciplines as appropriate.
• Provides teaching specific to the patient's health care problem.
• Care plan reflects continuing care needs and/or referrals for discharge/transfer.
• Familiar with, and follows, nursing protocols and clinical practices and standards of care for their unit.
• Documents care in a timely and efficient manner.
• Facilitates/participates in multidisciplinary patient rounds and clinical knowledge/status of all patients on unit (i.e., diagnosis, length of stay, discharge day).
• Marks outcomes and documents patient response to interventions.
• Evaluates the patient's capabilities and/or limitations related to nursing and medical interventions.
• Continually monitors the patient and/or significant other(s) ability to manage care needs after dismissal.
• Gives a complete verbal or written change of shift report to the oncoming care provider. Includes current care requirements and is familiar with the overall plan of care.
• Recognizes and addresses patient and family capabilities and limitations (physical and mental).
• Performs technical skills competently and independently to assure patient safety.
• Able to competently perform technical skills independently.
• Accountable to learn new skills and equipment within areas' specifications and time frames.
• Initiates action to correct, prevent, and/or minimize risk(s) to the patient, family or hospital employees (e.g., falls, needle sticks, patient concerns).
• Communicates to appropriate personnel regarding unresolved issues.
• Coaches staff on the integration of patient safety into daily work (patient identification, writer down and read back of all phone/verbal orders, do not use abbreviation list, high alert medications, medication reconciliation, patient falls, time out).
• Contributes to the safety culture of the unit by coaching staff to report near misses before they cause error or harm (i.e., RRT).
• Supports the environment of patient confidentiality.
• Reviews, delegates, and evaluates plans for appropriate utilization of staff at all levels of practice in accordance with the provision of the state's Nurse Practice Act and the Professional Standards of Practice.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited school of nursing required.
• Successful completion of annual mandatory education requirements.
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing required.
• NIH Stroke Scale training or proof of training required in the first 6 months of hire for Ortho Neuro positions.
• National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification training required by the completion of orientation for Surgery GI Lab positions.
• Minimum of 1 to 2 years of experience on assigned unit required.
• 3-5 years nursing experience preferred for some positions.
• Critical Care or Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) experience required for PACU positions.
• Current valid Nebraska RN License, valid compact multistate license, or a temporary permit while awaiting licensure required.
• Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) strongly preferred at time of hire, required within 3 months of hire.
• Certification(s) in area of specialty preferred from National Certification Corporation (NCC) within 1 year of eligibility.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification required for Code Blue Code Team duty.
• Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCRN), Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN), and Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) certifications preferred for PACU & Surgery OP Support HW positions.
• Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) preferred for Surgery Main positions.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification preferred for MFH Surgery Main & MFH Surgery Outpatient positions.
• Knowledge of databases preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate and interact with patients, family members, hospital personnel, and co-workers.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize work assignments.
• Computer knowledge with abilities in word processing required.
• Ability to learn, retain, and utilize computer skills that are required for department and hospital information system.

Physical Requirements

• Weight Demands: Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force.
• Physical Activity: Occasionally Performed (1%-33%): Climbing, Crawling, Kneeling, Sitting, Frequently Performed (34%-66%): Balancing, Carrying, Crouching, Distinguishing Colors, Keyboarding/typing, Lifting, Pulling/Pushing, Repetitive Motions, Stooping/bending, Twisting, Constantly Performed (67%-100%): Grasping, Hearing, Reaching, Seeing/Visual, Speaking/talking, Standing, Walking.
• Equipment/Machinery/Tools: Explosives (pressurized gas), Hazardous Drugs (exposure risks, personal protective equipment required), Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex), Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact), Blood or Body Fluid (BBF).

About Methodist

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals: Methodist Hospital, Methodist East, Methodist South, and Methodist West. Each hospital offers specialized services and a commitment to excellence in patient care.