Registered Nurse RN (Cardiac Surgery Step-down) Washington Hospital Center - Full-time

Delivers proficient nursing care to patients and families whose needs range from uncomplicated to highly complex
Education

• Graduation from a basic educational program in professional nursing. Required
• Bachelor's degree of Science in Nursing (BSN) Preferred
• For new graduates hired with an Associate degree, employment with MedStar Washington Hospital Center is contingent upon enrollment into an accredited BSN program within one (1) year of employment, and continuing matriculation in the program to achieve a BSN within 5 years of the program start date. Proof of enrollment to be submitted to Nurse Leader. Required
Experience
• prior clinical nursing experience Preferred
Licenses and Certifications
• RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure in Washington DC Required and
• BLS - Basic Life Support Required
• Identifies current and potential complex problems of specific patient populations, critically analyzes trends and changes in patient status, and plans appropriate interventions directly or indirectly through other nurses.
• Collaborates with nurse leaders and colleagues to develop standards of care.
• Develops and documents a plan of care that communicates to all caregivers the individualized needs of a patient with highly complex problems.
• Identifies and evaluates long and short-range goals of nursing interventions.
• Serves as a patient advocate by independently communicating clinical concerns in a timely manner to other members of the health care team.
• Documents patient information in a manner that reflects the ability to integrate the nursing assessment data, pathophysiology of disease processes, and the therapeutic regimen into an appropriate evaluation of the patient status.
• Coordinates and delivers care to patient (s) with complex nursing care needs to ensure the highest level of safety and quality while promoting a positive patient experience.
• Utilizes approaches and strategies that support and optimize patient care outcomes that are based on the interdisciplinary plan of care and absolutes of IMOC and Contemporary Primary Nursing.
• Takes action to support the National Patient Safety Goals, nursing sensitive indicators, regulatory requirements (i.e. DC Health, TJC) and other identified quality metrics.
• Provides input to the orientation program for new staff.
• Conducts the individual orientation for new staff.
• Conducts and evaluates formal unit-based education programs.
• Completes all annual mandatory competencies within designated time frame.
• Assumes formally designated resource role for colleagues in unit management.
• Acts as a consultant for nursing staff in the clinical management of patients.
• Provides input to the ongoing clinical evaluation of staff.
• Exhibits a demeanor that invites utilization by staff for problem solving.
• Participates in the formulation, implementation, maintenance and evaluation of departmental goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Participates in the implementation and evaluation of unit assessments and audits, including quality assurance and process improvement.
• Assesses patient care needs, establishes priorities and delegates tasks to peers and ancillary support staff as appropriate to scope of practice and unit requirements.
• Participation in unit-based committees and/or department of nursing committees.
• Promotes the standards of Pathway to Excellence through daily practice.