NURSE CLINICIAN - MEDICAL SURGICAL 6S

The Nurse Clinician assists in evaluating care given by unit staff and in meeting staff learning needs. Evaluates nursing care delivery for patients. Identifies patients generally presented with complex nursing care requirements and provides education to staff, patient, and family members. The Nurse Clinician develops and participates in educational programs for patients' families and personnel. They consult with nursing and medical colleagues and other health personnel in the effective delivery of nursing services to patients.

Typical Duties

• Demonstrates the ability to achieve the goals of the nursing department through maintaining and enhancing education and clinical expertise.
• Educates nursing personnel on new nursing practices and revised documentation systems.
• Trains nursing / hospital staff on use of computerized bedside documentation systems and assists in implementation of systems. Assesses patient's physical, emotional, psycho-social status and diagnoses patient problems within NANDA taxonomy.
• Understands and utilizes PAIE charting appropriately and teaches RN's and LPN's the principles appropriate to a variety of clinical situations.
• Maintains the documentation and record keeping system in compliance with nursing, hospital and external agency requirements. Audits staffs use of electronic documentation and prepares appropriate reports reflecting findings.
• Works independently and cooperatively with hospital committees, develops and maintains guidelines for new electronic record keeping within developed documentation systems.
• Maintains computerized files on guidelines and revises/distributes guidelines as indicated.
• Performs tasks/assignments as needed in a flexible manner to accomplish system implementation, e.g., collating manuals, preparing educational packets for in-services.
• Serves as a resource for other nursing personnel in assessing patient and family status. Provides consultation and assistance to Interdisciplinary Team.
• Initiates patient care conferences. Coordinate and participate in monthly Inter-disciplinary Team Care Plans Assessment and Care Planning.
• Collaborates with health care team to assess patient progress. Directs and evaluates nursing intervention. Oversights care delivery by nursing as needed to provide quality care.
• Utilizes the resources of the hospital and other health care agencies.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate clearly and appropriately both verbally and in writing with the patient, their family, co-workers and other health care workers. Develop, updates and revises unit specific policies and procedures based on standards of clinical practice.
• Assists and implements the corrective action plans in conjunction with QA Team.
• Implements new updated/revised policies and procedures.
• Assists in establishment and evaluation of standards of nursing practice.
• Interprets and implements procedures, policies and nursing care objectives for patients, families, and staff.
• Participates on committees as assigned.
• Assists the Nurse Coordinator in the evaluation/preparation and maintenance of par stock of supplies and equipment/
• Ensures proper completion of the documentation i.e. Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Patient Care Plan.
• Participates in QA/IP activities of the unit. Prepares reports and corrective action as required.
• Participates in meeting the clinical learning needs of nursing staff, under supervision of the Nurse Coordinator.
• Assists with staff development by implementing planned patient conferences, teaching rounds, and team conference, and utilizes available continuing education resources to initiate new advanced nursing concepts and skills.
• Plans, develops, and implements orientations and, unit specific educational programs.
• Assumes responsibility for own continuing education, utilizing both formal and informal resources. Obtains and maintains Med / Surg nursing certification.
• Attends conferences, seminars and workshops to gather information that will enhance the delivery of patient care.
• Assumes responsibility for educating, mentoring and guiding Maternal Child staff.
• Serves as a nursing resource for research projects.
• Assists with the development and implementation of nursing and health related studies; may conduct studies after receiving appropriate approvals.
• Introduces concepts from health care research for application in the clinical setting.
• Reports patient care problems that need to be investigated.
• Collects data for research projects.
• Consults with immediate supervisor daily regarding plans for patient care.
• Assumes responsibility for care of patients requiring his/her expertise.
• Makes precise and processional judgments and decisions.
• Communicates clearly and relevantly as the situation requires. Also reports to indicated parties whenever necessary.
• Assesses patient's needs for nursing intervention through discriminating observations and the extracting of pertinent history upon admission.
• Prepares optimum nursing care plans individualized to the Patient's total needs and revise them as necessary during the course of the patient's hospital stay.
• Participates under the direction of the Nurse Coordinator in all aspects of "Team" and assumes Team Leader duties as required or as assigned.
• Participates in planning for and evaluating quality of nursing and supportive services.
• Conducts team conferences and participates on committees as assigned.
• Participates in patient and family teaching including the discussion and instruction of a discharge plan.
• Records all pertinent information and observations as required by policy or procedure -accurately, legibly, and relevantly.
• Indicates concern for the safety of patients and personnel by watchful guidance and precautionary measures.
• Evaluates needs for staff development; focuses on deficiencies; is available for incidental/spontaneous teaching situations in addition to planned staff development.
• Makes interdisciplinary referrals for coordination of patient discharges; i.e., Social Workers, Home Care Coordinator, CCH Escort Nurse, Discharge Planner, relatives, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychiatric Liaison Team and/or outside agencies.
• Performs other related activities as required or assigned.
• Assists with the development of Standards of Nursing Care, Audit Criteria, and patient instruction sheets within the area of his/her expertise.
• Takes corrective action regarding deficiencies identified by Nursing Audit/Quality Assurance Committee.
• Participates in clinical nursing research.
• Manages special assignments within the Division.
• Participates in patient care conferences.
• Participates in orientation of new employees.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited college or university (Must provide official transcripts at time of interview)
• Must be Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois
• Three (3) years of full-time clinical nursing experience in Med/Surg nursing
• Two (2) years of charge nurse, project improvement and/or precepting nursing staff/students
• Must possess an active Basic Life Support certification (BLS) (Must provide proof at time of interview)
• Must possess an active Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) (Must provide proof at time of interview)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with process improvement projects
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstration of attitude, knowledge, and skills necessary to work respectfully and effectively with patients and staff in a culturally diverse work environment
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor and composure when challenged
• Demonstrate analytical and organizational, problem-solving, critical thinking, and conflict management/ resolution skills
• Demonstrate infection control practices
• Demonstrate the ability to follow department specific engineering, work practice controls and work area safety precautions
• Demonstrate attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task and be efficient in a fast paced and stressful environment
• Ability to adhere to system, hospital, and department policies and standards
• Ability to follow hospital protocol when exposed to noise, chemicals, disease, blood borne pathogens, patient violence and procedural injuries

VETERAN PREFERENCE

PLEASE READ

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service.

To take advantage of this preference a Veteran must:

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, "Are you a Military Veteran?"
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable.

OR

A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver's License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference.

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER'S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW

MUST MEET REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION

BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• 100% Tuition Reimbursement for nursing-related programs

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/

*Degrees awarded outside the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.

*Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.

*CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER