UI Health - Part Time Staff Nurse I - SCB Peri-Anesthesia Pre-Op & PACU

Hiring Department: SCB Peri-Anesthesia • Location: Chicago, IL • 0.5 FTE • Shift: Days

About the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)

UI Health provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. A part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a Joint Commission-accredited tertiary care hospital and outpatient clinics, and the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers. It also includes the seven UIC health science colleges: the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Dentistry; the School of Public Health; the Jane Addams College of Social Work; and the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including regional campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity.

About the Role

The Staff Nurse I provides direct patient care and takes the initiative to improve patient outcomes by integrating Shared Leadership, Evidence Based Practice, Relationship Based Care, and standards of nursing excellence into clinical practice. This position integrates the professional practice model, current standards of practice, and clinical experience to deliver “quality” patient care as measured by established nursing quality standards and other governing/accrediting health care bodies.

The Staff Nurse I engages and obtains information from patients and/or families to advocate for the patient, develops appropriate patient educational plans, and responds to patients’ changing needs while sharing information and collaborating with other members of the health care team to promote effective patient care. The role also participates in organizational, departmental, and shared leadership activities; supports department and unit goals in daily behavior.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and update the patient’s plan of care based on ongoing assessment of the patient and input from the patient’s family.
• Share information and collaborate with other members of the health care team to promote effective patient care.
• Verify and implement orders from physicians, physician assistants, and/or advanced practice nurses by performing interventions as prescribed and documenting accurately in the electronic medical record.
• Engage and obtain information from patients and/or families to develop an appropriate patient educational plan.
• Recognize symptoms, establish priorities, and respond to patients’ changing needs.
• Delegate appropriate tasks to support personnel per the Illinois State Nurse Practice Act and provide support and feedback.
• Advocate for patients, families, and their significant others, the community, and the nursing profession.
• Integrate theoretical knowledge, evidence-based research, current standards of practice, and clinical experience to provide “quality” patient care.
• Assume the role of Charge Nurse when assigned, utilizing appropriate resources and tools.
• Collaborate with other nurses to identify, promote, and provide positive learning experiences for staff and students.
• Serve as a preceptor and/or resource to other nursing staff and students.
• Assess, instruct, and prepare patients prior to surgery; ensure operative and informed consents are signed and correct.
• Take and record vital statistics of patients to ensure readiness for surgical procedures; initiate IVs and ensure patients are informed about procedures.
• Assess patients’ post-operative condition; monitor vital signs and other measurements of progress to meet discharge criteria.
• Log all findings in patient files; answer patient questions and ensure patient comfort.
• Monitor patients for condition changes and report any changes to physicians; perform intervention duties during post-operative emergencies.
• Establish an in-depth database by assessing the behavioral and physical status of pre-surgical patient populations using interviews, observations, and physical examinations.
• Interpret overt and subtle data to determine physiologic or psychosocial risk.
• Evaluate patient responses to care based on the effectiveness of nursing interventions and consult with medical staff, Care Team Lead, and/or Nursing Supervisor.
• Recommend changes to the plan of care based on observed variances.
• Integrate nursing interventions into the multidisciplinary plan of care, incorporating appropriate standards of care and practice.
• Identify learning needs with patients and families and teach by adapting standard information to provide individualized and comprehensive learning.
• Incorporate discharge/home care planning into the multidisciplinary plan of care.
• Develop a therapeutic relationship by establishing trust and enabling patients and/or families to verbalize care requirements comfortably.
• Support and enhance the patient’s responsibility and self-determination in decision-making concerning health, treatment, and well-being.
• Demonstrate competency in all three areas of peri-anesthesia: Preop, Phase 1, and Phase 2 recovery.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of teaching interventions and the patient/family’s level of understanding.
• Observe patients for side effects of anesthesia; monitor and record patient vital signs and level of consciousness throughout sedation recovery.
• Perform post-operative tasks such as administering medication or changing dressings; check and update patient files, charts, and medical records.
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, physicians, and other members of the patient’s care team.
• Provide comfort and answer questions when patients wake from sedation; educate patients and their families regarding post-surgery care at home.
• Treat pain, nausea, and other post-operative symptoms of anesthesia.
• Update charts, patient files, and medical records; collaborate with the medical team on post-operative patient care and facilitate timely specialized interventions.
• Adhere to UI Health’s Code of Conduct; treat patients, families, staff, students, and visitors with respect and dignity.
• Comply with Nursing’s time, overtime, and attendance policies; complete electronic learning modules and related programs as assigned.
• Comply with University Health Services TB, flu compliance, and fit-testing requirements.
• Utilize established communication channels/chain of command to escalate or resolve patient care problems.
• Identify recurring clinical practice and/or related unit problems and participate in problem-solving and resolution.
• Support nursing and multidisciplinary research efforts conducted on the unit and at UI Health.
• Take responsibility for continued professional growth/development by identifying learning needs and initiating strategies to meet them.
• Be proactive in a committee or process improvement project.

Requirements

• Competency in all three areas of peri-anesthesia: Preop, Phase 1, and Phase 2 recovery.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable working in a high-pressure environment.
• Strong attention to detail while monitoring patients.
• Ability to quickly notify medical personnel regarding abnormal side effects or changes in a patient’s condition.
• Proficiency with hospital management systems, such as Epic.
• Illinois residency required within 180 days of hire date (RNs only).

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Life Insurance.
• Retirement Plan.
• Paid Time Off.
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Pay

The previously determined range for this position is $37.52/hr to $84.22/hr. The final rate offered will be determined by the collective bargaining agreement, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a rate at or near the top of the full range for a position.