Registered Nurse II - AOD/PACU

Come lead with us at Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital. The Registered Nurse (RN) II position is a licensed staff nurse, an experienced clinician functioning at the Competent to Proficient stage of Benner’s model. The RN II provides professional nursing care to a diverse patient population, conducts assessments, assists with exams and treatment, delivers patient education, maintains medical records, and collaborates with physicians and the interprofessional health‑care team to achieve quality outcomes. The role also includes leadership responsibilities such as serving as charge nurse, preceptor, and participating in unit and shared‑governance initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Uses therapeutic communication, including active listening and teaching, to establish relationships with patients, families, and the interprofessional health‑care team.
• Contributes to teamwork by monitoring unit acuity, offering assistance, and responding positively to requests for help.
• Fosters healthy workplace relationships and collaborates to maintain a positive work environment.
• Seeks and provides guidance to the interprofessional team, applying feedback to improve patient outcomes.
• Implements staff education specific to patient populations and unit processes; coaches, mentors, and precepts staff and students.
• Uses peer‑to‑peer accountability to improve department scores for turnover, retention, employee engagement, and patient satisfaction.
• Follows patient‑ and family‑centered care standards as outlined in Houston Methodist’s Professional Nursing Practice document.
• Conducts nursing assessments, assists with exams and treatment, and maintains accurate medical records.
• Practices in a culturally diverse and inclusive manner.
• Develops, updates, and communicates plans of care—including discharge—using the nursing process in partnership with patients, families, and the care team.
• Prioritizes care based on patient needs, abilities, and preferences.
• Advocates for patients and families to resolve clinical and ethical concerns, utilizing appropriate resources.
• Provides patient teaching tailored to learning needs and plans for post‑discharge care; evaluates comprehension and adapts methods as needed.
• Follows standards of care and regulatory requirements as defined in the Professional Nursing Practice document.
• Identifies practice‑improvement opportunities using research‑based evidence to achieve core measures and patient‑safety outcomes.
• Provides and modifies care for complex patients, coordinating with the interprofessional team and documenting accurately.
• Applies critical thinking and evidence‑based clinical judgment autonomously, as defined by the Nurse Practice Act.
• Improves quality and safety scores on the unit‑based scorecard through accountability, near‑miss reporting, and team collaboration.
• Manages time effectively, documents care promptly, minimizes overtime, and prioritizes daily tasks.
• Provides input on unit resource utilization, including capital and operational budget needs.
• Contributes to meeting financial targets by reducing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and supporting department specifications.
• Identifies and presents opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and improvement using evidence‑based literature.
• Offers solutions through performance‑improvement projects and shared‑governance activities.
• Champions new care pathways or service‑line implementations to benefit the community.
• Researches change initiatives and presents options to shared governance and leadership.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s).
• Minimum twelve months of registered nurse experience in a health‑care environment.
• Required Licenses and Certifications:
  • RN – Registered Nurse – Texas State Licensure (Texas Board of Nursing, PSV Compact Licensure – must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days if establishing Texas residency).
  • BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (American Heart Association).
  • ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (American Heart Association) – to be obtained within 4 months of hire.
• Preferred:
  • Magnet – ANCC Recognized Certification.
  • PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – if providing pediatric care, to be obtained within 4 months.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Demonstrates skills and competencies required for safe performance of assigned duties, validated through ongoing assessments and evaluations.
• Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English to perform essential functions, especially those impacting safety or security.