Clinical Nurse, ICU - Rotational Shifts - $10K Sign on

Navajo Preference Employment Act

In accordance with Navajo Nation and federal law, TCRHCC has implemented an Affirmative Action Plan pursuant to the Navajo Preference in Employment Act.  Pursuant to this Plan and corresponding TCRHCC Policy, applicants who meet the necessary qualifications for this position and (1) are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will be given preference in hiring and employment for this position, (2) are legally married to enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and meet residency requirements will be given secondary preference, and (3) are enrolled members of other federally-recognized American Indian Tribes will be given tertiary preference.
Overview

POSITION SUMMARY

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Clinical provides professional nursing care for acutely and critically ill patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies procedures, and philosophy.  The ICU clinical nurse provides nursing services in a highly technical and ongoing monitoring environment.  The ICU nurse provides nursing care to the patient, family and significant others accordance with the scope of a Registered Nurse (RN) as defined by the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

Qualifications

NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Associate Degree in Nursing

Certifications:

• Must have and maintain a current valid unrestricted Professional Nursing License (RN) to practice nursing in any state of the United States of America, The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States
• Must maintain current valid certification of the following throughout employment:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) from the American Heart Association
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) from the American Heart Association must be completed within six (6) months of hire.
  • Trauma Care After Resuscitation (TCAR) must be completed within 6 months of hire
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH) – NIHSS – NIH Stroke Scale must be completed within 6 months of hire

Experience:

• Must have one (1) year critical care nursing experience or two (2) years of Nursing Experience in Adult Med/Surg
• Must have a successful completion of a Critical Care program within last 12 months, if none, prior Critical Care experience is required

Other Skills and Abilities:

A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers.  All employment references must address and indicate success in each one of the following areas:

• Positive working relationships with others
• Possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints
• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Knowledge of normal growth, development and life cycle changes.  This also includes knowledge of the physical, psychosocial and behavioral characteristics of the group for which care is provided
• Knowledge of disease entities to recognize complications and therapeutic interventions required
• Knowledge of assessment practices related to pain management and various treatment modalities of pain relief
• Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to recognize the desired effects, side effects and complications on their use, with emphasis on vasopressors and emergency medications titration of these medications
• Knowledge of infection control procedures and safety precautions
• Complete Patient Sitter Competency Training (upon hire)
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job.
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job.
• Submission of all required employment-related documents, application, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFORT

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an   employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical:

Work requires prolonged periods of standing; walking; talking or hearing; sitting watching, observing, concentrating on computer monitors and equipment; use of hands to finger, handle, feel; bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching; reaching with hands and arms; and, taste or smell.  Agility and the ability to lift, pull and bend are required to move patients to and from beds, wheelchairs, stretchers, et cetera, and in moving equipment and medical supplies. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs frequently through entire shift. Most be able to move, pull/push, lift, maneuver more than 100 lbs. when caring for patients and must be able to use proper body mechanics and lifting equipment when available. Must be able to discern when working with over a hundred pounds when, how, and who to ask for assistance to protect and prevent self-injury. Must have the ability to hear and recognize alarms on equipment; client calls; instructions from physicians/department staff; and, hear overhead pages through loudspeaker. This position requires vision required to see close; distant; colored; peripheral; and depth perception. Must be able to adjust visual focus as needed. to ask for assistance. This position requires the ability to perform repetitive motion actions in both hands including prolonged grasping of simple/light action; intermittent grasping of firm/heavy action; and prolonged ability of fine dexterity. 

Mental:

Contacts often require tact and sensitivity as those related to stressful situation such as death, dying, and catastrophic illnesses.  Must be able to prioritize and use good judgment.  Must be able to coordinate a variety of issues while being frequently interrupted. Must be able to work with the attitude of team building with other staff; collaborate with multiple departments and job positions. Must be willing to assist when able and as needed with other team players. 

Environmental:

Will be working occasionally around fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and, risk of electric shock. Typical environmental noise level is moderate. As with any area of a Health care setting, must be able to work around and with infectious diseases. 

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

ICU nurse provides direct and individualized nursing care to acutely and critically ill patients based on the application of scientific and evidenced based nursing principles.  Model exemplary interpersonal communication, leadership, critical thinking and decision-making. In addition to general nursing care, responsibilities of the ICU clinical nurse include: 

1. Responsible for providing direct observation of patients as directed by the nursing plan of care and under the supervision of the nursing staff and/or nursing department supervisor. Responsible for assisting nursing staff to create, maintain and provide a safe environment.
2. Develop individualized patient care plans and participates in patient care planning which involves the assessment and evaluation of patient needs, periodic evaluation of plans to ensure that intended results are being achieved.
3. Interview patients and family members; consult and coordinate with providers and other members of the health care team to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care plans carries out treatments and procedures per scope of practice. Provide counseling and education to patients and families or surrogates on preventive, curative and rehabilitative measures related to their health care needs. Serve as patient advocate by supporting the basic rights, values, and beliefs of the patient.
4. Maintain health records by documenting observations, nursing interventions and therapeutic measures administered in an accurate, efficient, and timely manner, in the appropriate format and appropriate forms.
5. Maintain a high level of expertise in critical care and proficiency in changing techniques and standards of practice in critical care nursing through continuing education, staff meetings, workshops and serving on nursing committees. Will attain knowledge and complete hospital accreditation standards and other regulatory requirements. Participate in the identification of clinical or operational performance improvement (PI) opportunities and in PI activities.
6. Recognize adverse signs and symptoms, which are not always apparent, and to respond promptly in emergency situations including the implementation of life saving procedures.
7. Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of standards of care, Quality Assurance, and Infection Control activities. Contribute to positive working relationships within the ICU team and other departments in the hospital.  
8. Monitor and initiate corrective action to maintain the environment of care including equipment and material resources. Monitors and adjusts specialized equipment used on patients, and interprets and records electronic displays, such as pulmonary artery pressures, and cardiac rhythms from cardiac monitors, ventilators, etc.
9. Delegate tasks and supervise the activities of other licensed and unlicensed care providers as appropriate in accordance with licensure standards. Accept responsibility delegated by the Supervisory Clinical Nurse or designee, when assigned as team leader, providing guidance, direction and training to ancillary nursing and other personnel. Serve as charge nurse for a group of patients or an entire unit when assigned. Float to other units as needed.
10. Responsible for electronic health records data entry pertinent to patient service role.
11. Ensure proper PPE is always worn while on duty including but not limited to, face mask, gloves, gown, isolation gown, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher, and eye or face shield as required.
12. Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. (see CDC website for most current updates).
13. Complete task training for all routine cleaning and decontamination processes for all surfaces contaminated by a communicable disease to ensure a high level of patient, visitor, employee, and external customer satisfaction.
14. Perform other duties as assigned.