RN Telemetry/Stepdown

About the Role

This position has the authority, responsibility, and shift accountability for the delivery of nursing care through the use of the nursing process. The incumbent applies competent clinical knowledge, uses independent nursing judgment, and provides professional nursing care for patients in an inpatient hospital setting. The role requires assessment and interpretation of patient data, individualized care planning, and collaboration with health‑care providers to achieve quality patient outcomes.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrates safety and continuity of care using documentation, handoff tools, and processes.
• Creates and implements a plan of care using the nursing process: assessment, diagnoses, intervention, and evaluation of outcomes.
• Recognizes patient safety concerns and utilizes appropriate resources.
• Provides education tailored to each patient’s unique learning needs and uses the teach‑back method to evaluate effectiveness.
• Incorporates patient individuality, cultural sensitivity, and mutuality data in care delivery.
• Performs thorough patient assessments and documents findings.
• Utilizes Evidence‑Based Practice (EBP) in nursing care.
• Participates in the organization’s patient‑centered care model and documents problems and issues in the plan of care.
• Demonstrates growth in caring for more complex patients through consultation with experienced colleagues.
• Commits to lifelong learning through self‑reflection, inquiry, and professional development.
• Retains accountability for delegated nursing care and recognizes the scope of practice for all interprofessional team members.
• Collects holistic, culturally sensitive data and assesses the impact of family dynamics on health and wellness.
• Integrates the American Nursing Association (ANA) Code of Ethics into practice.
• Identifies discriminatory health‑care practices in culturally diverse populations and individualizes care based on patients’ beliefs, barriers, and readiness to learn.
• Completes annual education related to specialty accreditation requirements through CBLs, trainings, in‑services, and competency validation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of employment or a multi‑state RN license through the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
• Obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 30 days of hire.
• Less than 12 months of experience as a registered nurse.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, move, stoop, reach, stand, walk, and carry materials and equipment weighing 40 + lb; use of lift equipment or patient‑handling aids as required.
• Visual acuity within normal range.
• Hearing within normal range for assessing breath sounds, bowel sounds, apical pulse, monitors, etc.
• Compliance with NIOSH recommendations to minimize manual patient lifts (limit to 35 lb when possible).

Working Environment

• Protracted or irregular hours, including night shift.
• Exposure to biohazards, infectious diseases, and deceased patients.
• Work with water, electrical hazards associated with patient‑care equipment, and other typical hospital conditions.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills for effective communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Competent clinical practice and critical‑thinking skills to deliver efficient patient care while maximizing resource use.
• Flexibility to respond to changes in work volume, staffing, and scheduling.
• Ability to work successfully under highly stressful conditions and adapt to varying workloads and assignments.

Career Advancement – CAPE Program Levels

• Level 1: No experience required; all graduate nurses with < 12 months experience (diploma, ADN, BSN, or higher).
• Level 2: Meets Level 1 requirements plus one year of experience.
• Level 3: Two years of experience and one specialty certification (certification preferred but not required); must demonstrate charge‑nurse or precepting duties.
• Level 4: BSN or higher (or ADN/diploma with 5 years experience) plus one specialty certification; must demonstrate charge‑nurse/precepting duties and participation in unit‑level QI or shared governance.
• Level 5: MSN or higher (or BSN with 4 years experience plus a health‑related master’s degree, or BSN with 5 years experience) plus one specialty certification; must demonstrate charge‑nurse/precepting duties and participation in organization‑level QI or shared governance.
• Level 6: MSN or higher with 7 + years experience (advanced health‑related degrees considered); one specialty certification required; must demonstrate charge‑nurse/precepting duties and participation in system‑level QI or shared governance.

Schedule

Night shift: 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 a.m., every other weekend, with holiday obligations. Scheduled weekly hours: 36. Position is non‑exempt.