Registered Nurse II

Location: Abilene, TX

About the Role

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. This position is available for Morning, Evening, and Night shifts on multiple homes and may be eligible to earn additional pay for work performed on evenings, nights, weekends, and/or maximum security locations.

Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state.

Free CEUs and updated resources through Lippincott access for all nurses. The Direct Care RN performs routine level nursing work providing for the assessment, care, and treatment of individuals who reside in a State Supported Living Center (SSLC) setting. Evaluates, treats, and documents healthcare needs and/or issues and reports needs and/or issues to the appropriate person(s). Communicates with others, such as direct care staff, physicians/PCP, administration, and other nursing staff to ensure optimal care as part of the interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift, and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• May serve in an on-call status on a rotating schedule as required to meet operational needs of the facility.
• Performs routine nursing tasks and procedures in accordance with HHSC, SSLC, and state regulations, such as tracheostomy care, gastrostomy/jejunostomy care, wound care, breathing treatments.
• Collects specimens for laboratory examination and conducts appropriate screening tests when requested by lab personnel.
• Administers medications, immunizations, and treatments and observes patients for unusual symptoms and reactions.
• Makes rounds and/or home visits as needed and works in other locations at the SSLC as needed.
• Monitors individuals’ weight, diet, feedings, and vital signs.
• Monitors for signs and symptoms of illness and uses appropriate nursing judgement to provide adequate care for the individual, including initiating acute care plans.
• Assists in evaluating nursing intervention outcomes and provides input to other members of the healthcare team including recommendations for improvements.
• Instructs direct support professionals on how to monitor individuals after a treatment or procedure using instruction sheets such as that used for post-sedation monitoring of signs and symptoms.
• Timely and accurately documents and reports pertinent treatments and observations in the individual’s medical record (electronic health record or paper chart) in accordance with SSLC procedures and protocols.
• Prepares reports as required.
• Assists with services provided by LVNs and/or Certified Medication Aides (CMA), as needed, and makes recommendations for improvements, including acclimating them to the individuals, their needs, and preferences.
• Assists LVNs with implementation of protocols, procedures, and programs to improve overall health and safety of staff and individuals.
• Provides assistance with completing follow-up assessments, guidelines, acute care plan (ACP) interventions, injury reports, restraints, and med variances.
• Provides support to Nurse Managers including reviews and follow-up on controlled drug counts, medication counts, emergency checklist logs, refrigerator temp logs, and glucose controls.
• Assists the Infection Control nurse by implementing measures that prevent the spread of disease.
• Assists the Quality Assurance Nurse in the implementation of therapeutic nursing programs.
• Participates in facility Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement initiatives.
• Responds to emergency situations to ensure safety of individuals.
• Follows safety and infection control procedures of the SSLC.
• Provides educational and safety training to SSLC staff upon request.
• Provides treatment to HHS employees injured in course and scope of employment.
• Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.

Requirements

• Licensed to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Texas (or a state that recognizes reciprocity through the Nurse Licensure Compact).
• Work experience as a practicing registered nurse is required.
• At least six (6) months of experience as a practicing registered nurse in a health agency, hospital, or health-care facility is preferred.
• Bachelor's Degree is preferred.
• Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide, and Employee Misconduct, and HHS List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
• Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• All State Supported Living Center Employees are subject to Random Drug Testing.
• Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours.
• Must be willing to work weekends and holidays.
• All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

Skills

• Knowledge of nursing techniques and procedures; of health care laws and regulations; of medical diagnoses and procedures; of accepted medical treatment programs; and of community health and nursing care principles, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws and Intermediate Care Facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID) rules, regulations, policy, and procedures related to State Supported Living Center or ability to quickly gain that knowledge.
• Knowledge of nursing care standards, the Settlement Agreement, and the Healthcare Guidelines or ability to quickly gain the knowledge.
• Skill in the care and treatment of patients.
• Skills in the use of computer/software and an electronic health record system.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present ideas clearly and concisely in both written and oral communications.
• Ability to provide patient care; to prepare and maintain records; to interpret policies and procedures; to interpret health care regulations; and to recognize patterns of medical necessity treatment.
• Ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of emergency procedures and emergency equipment.
• Ability to appropriately interact with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, with their family members, and with staff members.
• Ability to work independently and productively with all levels of staff.
• Ability to provide support and coaching to LVNs, CMAs, and DSPs.
• Ability to make decisions and recommendations to SSLC leadership including on-call administrators.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees.
• A defined benefit pension plan.
• Generous time off benefits.
• Numerous opportunities for career advancement.

Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Pay

Salary Range: $6,579.41 - $7,761.50 per month

Schedule

• Shift: Day (with additional evening shifts available).
• Full-time position.
• Not eligible for telework.
• Travel: Up to 5%.