RN Clinical Nurse II - Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit (NSICU)

About the role

The Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit (NSICU) at UNC REX Hospital is certified as an Advanced Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. Working in collaboration with speech-language pathologists, respiratory, occupational, and physical therapists, social and case managers, our nurses provide interdisciplinary care to patients. The neuro-critical care team is on-site around-the-clock and utilizes equipment such as external ventricular drains, Camino intracranial pressure monitors, electroencephalography, and point-of-care ultrasound devices in our recently remodeled 10-bed NSICU. Patients treated include those with subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hematomas, coma, brain and spine tumors, seizure disorders, neuro-infections and more.

Responsibilities

• Patient Assessment: Recognizes data from complex situations to determine priorities for care. Includes appropriate physical, psychosocial, education and safety needs. Synthesizes assessment data into meaningful whole prior to communication to others. Assesses and anticipates discharge needs of individual patients and families. Develops relationships with families that promote their ability to advocate for the patient and their own needs.
• Planning: Collaborates with patient/family to prepare or update the plan of care. Makes use of available multidisciplinary resources in planning care. Begins to use full range of communication as a means to convey planning. Identifies and addresses cultural and ethnic issues in planning patient care. Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks for patients with complex problems.
• Implementation: Demonstrates competence in care of patients with complex problems, including population-appropriate physical, psychosocial, educational and safety aspects of care. Performs bedside point of care testing as required for patient care plan. Utilizes healthcare organization and nursing standards, policies and procedures in delivery of care. Organizes and prioritizes care according to patient/family needs. Consults with appropriate resources in a timely fashion regarding patients with complex care issues, unusual teaching needs and/or those at high risk for discharge planning.
• Evaluation of Care: Identifies expected patient outcomes. Seeks guidance as needed in revision of plan of care. Participates in discussion with members of the interdisciplinary team in evaluation of patient care. Communicates relevant information to promote continuity of care.
• Education: Participates in identifying and meeting learning needs of self. Attends education programs based on identified learning needs. With assistance, uses patient education materials relevant to patient population. Assesses readiness to learn of the patient/family/caregivers. Assesses developmental level of patient and factors affecting ability to learn.
• Leadership: With assistance, develops goals to promote professional growth or minimize limitations. Achieves goals and objectives within identified time frame or renegotiates with supervisor. Is knowledgeable about activities which facilitate intra/interdepartmental collaboration. Participates in development and achievement of unit goals and performance improvement activities. Effectively uses communication systems. Participates in promoting cost-effective care. Gives feedback to co-workers. Is aware of public policy and regulatory guidelines affecting the health care environment. Promotes a safe, clean and secure hospital environment for all.
• Research: Reads journals that contain studies or articles that may be applicable to practice. Brings ideas and questions to the staff at large for assessment of applicability.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a school of professional nursing.
• If hired after January 6, 2014, must be enrolled within four years of employment, and obtain a Bachelor's degree with a major in Nursing or a Master's degree with a major in Nursing within seven years of employment date.
• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification.
• One (1) year of nursing experience.

Pay

$34.22 - $48.38 per hour (hiring range). Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity.

Schedule

Full Time, 36 hours per week. Rotating schedule. Onsite work assignment.