Registered Nurse ( RN ) - Neuro Critical Care Unit ( NCCU ) - Bronson Methodist Hospital

Location: Bronson Methodist Hospital – Neuro Critical Care Unit (NCCU)

About the role

On the 12-bed Neuro Critical Care Unit, patients receive care after acute strokes, intracerebral hemorrhage, seizures, and neurosurgery. Under general supervision and in accordance with organizational, unit, and Michigan Public Health Code policies and procedures, the registered nurse manages care delivery throughout the patient’s length of stay to achieve quality outcomes and timely discharge by:

• Utilizing the nursing process of assessment, planning, diagnosing, implementation, and evaluation
• Coordinating care provided by other professionals
• Delegating selected acts, tasks, or functions within the scope of professional nursing practice and the abilities of patient care assistants and universal service assistants
• Providing selected aspects of physical care as appropriate given the patient’s acuity and complexity
• Documenting and communicating the patient’s response to care, resource consumption, and anticipated needs during each tour of duty

Employees providing direct patient care must demonstrate competencies specific to the population served.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree in Nursing required
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing preferred; must obtain within 8 years of hire (required for all new hires as of December 29, 2013)
• Licensed Registered Nurse in good standing for the state of Michigan
• BLS certification required by completion of core orientation
• Critical care or Advanced Life Support (ALS) certifications may be required, unit-specific
• Current driver’s license in the state of Michigan and proof of insurance required for BAH
• Ability to read, interpret, and analyze data from computer systems and equipment
• Constant verbal, written, and electronic communication skills

Responsibilities

Standards of Practice

• Assessment:
  • Collects comprehensive data pertinent to the patient’s health or situation
  • Assesses physical and developmental needs
  • Documents nursing history and age-appropriate physical/emotional needs
  • Reviews vital signs to detect deviations from normal
• Diagnosis:
  • Analyzes assessment data to identify patient problems
  • Confirms problems with patient and family when appropriate
  • Documents expected outcomes and plan of care
• Outcomes Identification:
  • Identifies expected outcomes for an individualized plan
  • Incorporates patient/family input, values, ethical, and cultural considerations
  • Coordinates discharge planning for unmet outcomes
• Planning:
  • Develops a plan prescribing interventions to attain expected outcomes
  • Incorporates clinical pathways and input from the healthcare team
• Implementation:
  • Implements appropriate interventions and prescribed treatments
  • Administers medication and treatments per policies
  • Utilizes evidence-based interventions
  • Maintains patient comfort and safety
  • Initiates and coordinates patient education
  • Manages and delegates care interventions
• Evaluation:
  • Evaluates progress toward expected outcomes
  • Documents patient response to interventions

Standards of Professional Performance

• Quality of Practice:
  • Participates in quality improvement activities
  • Uses results to initiate changes in nursing practice
• Education:
  • Attains knowledge reflecting current nursing practice
  • Participates in ongoing educational activities
  • Maintains professional records of competency and education
• Professional Practice Evaluation:
  • Evaluates own practice against standards and guidelines
  • Provides age-appropriate, culturally sensitive care
  • Participates in self-evaluation and peer review
• Collegiality:
  • Interacts with and contributes to the professional development of peers
  • Shares knowledge and maintains supportive relationships
• Collaboration:
  • Collaborates with patient, family, and healthcare team
  • Partners with disciplines to effect positive outcomes
• Ethics:
  • Integrates ethical provisions in practice
  • Preserves patient autonomy, dignity, confidentiality, and rights
  • Serves as a patient advocate
• Research:
  • Integrates research findings into practice
  • Participates in research activities based on education level
• Resource Utilization:
  • Considers safety, effectiveness, cost, and impact on practice
  • Assigns or delegates tasks based on patient needs and complexity
  • Assists patients in becoming informed consumers
• Leadership:
  • Provides leadership in professional practice
  • Participates in nursing councils and committees
  • Attends at least 50% of unit staff meetings
  • Represents Bronson in creating a healthy work environment

Unit-Specific Responsibilities

• Scrub RN:
  • Interprets procedure cards and assesses case cart supplies
  • Anticipates physician needs based on operative procedure
  • Evaluates and updates case information (e.g., preference cards, equipment)
  • Ensures proper use of equipment and instruments
  • Anticipates changing needs of the operative field and surgical team
  • Acts as a resource for circulators on positioning and specialty equipment
  • Performs scrub duties in multiple services (e.g., neuro and ortho)
  • Rotates after-hour call responsibilities
• HDU Department:
  • Additional on-call requirements beyond regular scheduled hours
• Bronson Lakeview and South Haven Hospitals:
  • Completes annual Workday CBL – “Swing Beds” (understanding documentation and care differences for swing bed patients)
  • May cover shifts at Bronson Lakeview or South Haven based on acuity and staffing needs
• Virtual Registered Nurse (VRN):
  • Leverages technology to deliver remote patient care
  • Collaborates with bedside staff and care team for quality outcomes and timely discharge
  • Conducts admission screening and other core responsibilities

Physical Demands

• Work produces high levels of mental/visual fatigue (e.g., detailed work requiring sustained concentration)
• Regularly lifts bulky or moderately heavy weights (up to 50 pounds)
• Occasionally assists with heavier tasks or equivalent effort in pushing/pulling
• Operates personal computer or CRT 40–70% of the time

Certifications and Training (Unit-Specific)

• Bronson Methodist Hospital:
  • Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification (PQF or NCC) required within 6 months for RNs in Labor & Delivery, Mother/Baby, and Antepartum
• Bronson South Haven:
  • BSN required within 8 years of hire (effective July 1, 2017)
  • Emergency Department:
    • SALT triage, ESI Triage, and NIH Stroke Scale within 90 days of hire
    • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) within 6 months (FT/PT nurses only)
  • Special Care Unit:
    • PALS certification within 6 months of hire