RN II Neurology

About the Role

Houston Methodist Hospital is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) II for the Acute Care Unit on the night shift. This position is a licensed staff nurse functioning at the Competent to Proficient stage of Benner's model of clinical practice, providing professional nursing care to a diverse patient population with varied and complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct nursing assessments, assist with exams and treatment, provide patient education, and maintain medical records
• Provide direct patient care effectively and efficiently for patients with varied and complex needs
• Communicate and collaborate with physicians and the interprofessional health care team to facilitate, coordinate, and maintain compassionate, efficient, quality care and achieve desired treatment outcomes
• Demonstrate clinical competence when providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures, and managing emergencies
• Act as a patient and family advocate to monitor and maintain patient rights
• Assume 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 contributing to service line or hospital-wide initiatives in partnership with management
• Use therapeutic communication, including active listening and teaching, to establish relationships with patients, families, and the interprofessional health care team to collaborate on the plan of care
• Contribute to teamwork by awareness of overall unit acuity, consistently offering assistance, and responding positively to requests for assistance
• Seek guidance from and offer guidance to the interprofessional health care team when appropriate, and apply feedback to improve patient outcomes
• Implement staff education specific to patient populations and unit processes; coach and mentor other staff and students, which may include preceptorship
• Develop, update, and communicate the plan of care, including discharge, in partnership with the patient, family, and interprofessional health care team using the nursing process
• Prioritize care based on the patient's needs, abilities, and preferences; advocate on patient/family's behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns using appropriate resources
• Provide patient teaching based on learning needs using appropriate resources, incorporating planning for care after discharge; consistently evaluate the patient's comprehension and adapt teaching methods accordingly
• Follow standards of care and regulatory requirements as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document
• Identify areas of practice improvement with research-based evidence to achieve core measure and patient safety outcomes, supported by accurate documentation
• Provide and modify care to complex patients and coordinate care with the interprofessional team based on evaluation of the patient's condition, supported by accurate documentation; utilize clinical judgment using an evidence-based analytical approach
• Improve quality and safety scores through peer-to-peer accountability, reporting near misses, and collaborating with the interprofessional health care team
• Display self-motivation to independently manage time effectively, timely document care, minimize incidental overtime, and prioritize daily tasks
• Provide input into unit resource utilization including unit capital and operational budget needs
• Contribute towards meeting department financial targets through decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to department specifications
• Identify and present areas for innovation, efficiency, and improvement in patient care or unit operations using evidence-based practice literature
• Offer innovative solutions through evidence-based practice/performance improvement projects and shared governance activities
• Champion new care pathways or service line implementation to improve service to the community; identify trends for improvement opportunities or practice changes and support initiatives; research changes and present options to shared governance and leadership

Qualifications

Education: Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below.

Experience: Twelve months registered nurse experience in a healthcare environment.

Licenses and Certifications:

• RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure or Compact Licensure (must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days if establishing Texas residency) - Texas Board of Nursing
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
• NIHSTROKE - National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Certification (AHA) - American Heart Association (within 4 months of hire)
• Preferred: Magnet - ANCC Recognized Certification

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially regarding activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members, and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Strong assessment, organizational, and problem solving skills as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components
• Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team, and patients and their families
• Uses critical thinking skills 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

Schedule

Night Shift, Acute Care Unit. FLSA status: Non-exempt. On-call required during emergencies (e.g., disaster, severe weather events). May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area.