Registered Nurse (RN II) Cardiac Med Surg

About the role

At Houston Methodist, the Registered Nurse (RN) II position is a licensed staff nurse who functions at the Competent to Proficient stage of Benner’s model of clinical practice. The RN II provides professional nursing care to a diverse patient population, conducts nursing assessments, assists with exams and treatment, delivers patient education, and maintains medical records. The role delivers direct patient care effectively and efficiently, which may include patients with varied and complex needs. The RN II communicates and collaborates with physicians and the interprofessional healthcare team to facilitate, coordinate, and maintain compassionate, efficient, quality care and achievement of desired treatment outcomes. The position demonstrates clinical competence in providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures, and managing emergencies, while acting as a patient and family advocate to monitor and maintain patient rights. The RN II assumes leadership roles with progressive responsibility, including participating in or leading unit and shared governance initiatives, serving as charge nurse or preceptor to students or new employees, and possibly contributing to service line or hospital-wide initiatives in partnership with management.

Responsibilities

• Provides professional nursing care to a diverse patient population
• Conducts nursing assessments and assists with exams and treatment
• Delivers patient education and maintains medical records
• Communicates and collaborates with physicians and the interprofessional healthcare team
• Demonstrates clinical competence in care delivery, technology use, medication administration, procedures, and emergency management
• Acts as a patient and family advocate to monitor and maintain patient rights
• Assumes leadership roles, including participation in or leadership of unit and shared governance initiatives
• Serves as charge nurse or preceptor to students or new employees
• Contributes to service line or hospital-wide initiatives in partnership with management

Requirements

• Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s)
• Twelve months of registered nurse experience in a healthcare environment
• 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 (AHA) – American Heart Association
• ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association within 4 months

Preferred Qualifications

• Magnet – ANCC Recognized Certification

Knowledge and Abilities

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, as defined in orientation and annual departmental competency checklists
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English to perform essential job functions, especially regarding patient or employee safety
• Effective communication with patients, physicians, family members, and coworkers consistent with customer service focus and positive language principles
• Strong assessment, organizational, and problem-solving skills with capacity to prioritize multiple tasks
• Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team, and patients and their families
• Uses critical thinking and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act
• Demonstrates proficient time management skills
• Maintains level of professional contributions as defined in Clinical Career Path program guide
• Working knowledge of Microsoft products including Outlook

Essential Functions

People

• Uses therapeutic communication, including active listening and teaching, to establish relationships with patients, families, and the interprofessional healthcare team
• Contributes to teamwork by awareness of overall unit acuity, consistently offering assistance, and responding positively to requests for assistance
• Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment
• Seeks and applies guidance from the interprofessional healthcare team to improve patient outcomes
• Implements staff education specific to patient populations and unit processes; coaches and mentors other staff and students, which may include preceptorship
• Uses peer-to-peer accountability to improve department score for turnover, retention, and employee engagement on unit-based scorecard

Service

• Follows patient and family-centered care standards as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document
• Conducts nursing assessments, assists with exams and treatment, and maintains medical records
• Practices in a manner congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles
• Develops, updates, and communicates the plan of care, including discharge, in partnership with the patient, family, and interprofessional healthcare team using the nursing process
• Prioritizes care based on the patient’s needs, abilities, and preferences
• Advocates on behalf of the patient/family to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns, utilizing appropriate resources
• Provides patient teaching based on learning needs, uses appropriate resources, and incorporates planning for care after discharge
• Evaluates the patient’s comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly
• Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction on unit-based scorecard through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards

Quality/Safety

• Follows standards of care related to the nursing process as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document
• Follows standards related to regulatory requirements and professional practice as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document
• Identifies areas of practice improvement with research-based evidence to achieve core measure and patient safety outcomes, supported by accurate documentation
• Provides and modifies care to complex patients and coordinates care with the interprofessional team based on evaluation of the patient’s condition, supported by accurate documentation
• Utilizes clinical judgment with an evidence-based analytical approach
• Improves quality and safety scores on the unit-based scorecard through peer-to-peer accountability, reporting near misses, and collaborating with the interprofessional healthcare team

Finance

• Displays self-motivation to independently manage time effectively, document care in a timely manner, minimize incidental overtime, and prioritize daily tasks
• Provides input into unit resource utilization, including unit capital and operational budget needs
• Contributes toward meeting department financial targets on unit-based scorecard by decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to department specifications

Growth/Innovation

• Identifies and presents areas for innovation, efficiency, and improvement in patient care or unit operations using evidence-based practice literature
• Offers innovative solutions through evidence-based practice/performance improvement projects and shared governance activities
• Champions new care pathways or service line implementation to improve service to the community
• Identifies trends for improvement opportunities or practice changes and supports initiatives
• Researches change and presents options to shared governance and leadership

Supplemental Requirements

• Work Attire: Uniform: No; Scrubs: Yes; Business professional: No; Other (department approved): No
• On-Call: Yes – Employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (e.g., disaster, severe weather events) regardless of selection
• Travel: May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area; May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: No