JOB SUMMARY

Surgical ICU is a high acuity, critical care area.  Our surgical population includes liver transplantation, vascular surgery, otolaryngology, surgical oncology, urology, and acute care/emergency surgery.  As an employee of UT Southwestern’s Surgical Services teams, you will experience unique procedures, stability of volumes, supportive leadership, great benefits and varied committee opportunities.

This is a full-time, benefit-eligible position. UTSW is proud to offer a comprehensive benefit package that includes:

• Paid (zero premium) medical coverage for employees starting first day
• State of Texas defined-benefit pension plan
• Generous Paid Time Off (vacation & sick leave plus paid holidays)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BLS/ACLS (AHA) and NIHSS required. CCRN and BSN preferred.
• Graduate of an accredited Nursing program.
• One (1) year of experience working as a registered nurse (RN) in a critical care or intensive care unit (ICU) is a minimum requirement; two (2) years or more preferred.
• Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) by the Texas Board of Nursing or with a multistate license from Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state
• Must be able to work some weekends.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Performs and accurately documents physical, psychosocial, and emotional assessments. All assessments take into consideration age specific criteria (children, adolescents, adults and older adults).
2. Actively anticipates patients and/or patient’s family needs and expectations and utilizes these in conjunction with the assessment to develop an appropriate plan of care for the patient. Utilizes critical thinking skills in planning and prioritizing nursing care. Maintains and utilizes competencies per unit expectation.
3. Identifies and implements appropriate nursing interventions based on the completed assessment. Completes accurate and timely documentation of these interventions. Active coordinator of the interdisciplinary plan of care. Confers with all members of the health care team in a collaborative fashion. Shares information and observations of the patient and/or patient’s family in a manner that advocates for optimal patient care.
4. Appropriately prioritizes nursing interventions based upon completed assessment. Promptly identifies changes in condition as evidenced by nursing assessment, labs, x-rays, etc. Reports changes, takes follow-up action as appropriate. Actively involves patient in plan of care and keeps patient, family and/or care-giver informed.
5. Evaluates implemented interventions and modifies care according to the evaluation. Documents interventions and modifications to the plan of care in an accurate and timely manner.
6. Adheres to appropriate hospital and/or Department of Nursing policies, procedures, clinical pathways and nationally accepted standards of nursing practice. Incorporates ANA standards, into the provision of safe, quality patient care, utilizing current literature, and research. Practices in accordance with our Professional Practice Model “Relationship Based Care” and delivers care using our Care Delivery System “PACE” – Patient Focused, Accountable, Coordinated and Continuous and Evidence Based.
7. Provides appropriate and timely answers and/or education to patients, patient’s families, significant others and/or caregivers. Completes accurate and timely documentation of all education provided including discharge plan of care. Assesses competence, obtains feedback/evaluation of understanding from patient, family, significant others and/or /caregivers. Demonstrates effective communication based on individual patient needs and learning preferences.
8. Welcomes and orients patient, family, significant other and/or caregiver to the unit. Encourages patient/family participation in care. Reviews personalized patient plan of care with patient/family every shift. Updates white boards accordingly and sets daily goals with patient input. Explains special diets, tests, procedures and medications in easily understood and appropriate language. Makes hourly rounds on patients and communicates when they will return.
9. Duties performed may include one or more of the following core functions: a) Directly interacting with or caring for patients; b) Directly interacting with or caring for human-subjects research participants; c) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting patient records (including patient financial records); or d) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting human-subjects research records.

·        **Other Duties: Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

The following is the acronym, “PACT”, and is fundamental to all non-clinical positions at UT Southwestern Medical Center:

Ø P-Problem Solving: Employees take ownership in solving problems effectively, efficiently, and to the satisfaction of customers, or managers. They show initiative in addressing areas of concern before they become problems.

Ø A-Ability, Attitude and Accountability: Employees exhibit ability to perform their job and conduct themselves in a professional and positive manner reflecting a professional environment readily assuming obligations in a dependable and reliable manner. 

Ø C-Communication, Contribution, and Collaboration: Who are our Customers?  Anyone who requests our help, needs our work product, or receives our services.  Employees focus on customer service with creative solutions while improving the customer experience through clear, courteous, and timely delivery and communication.  Sharing ideas with others helps expand our contribution to department goals.

Ø T-Teamwork: Employees work to contribute to the department’s success by supporting co-workers, promoting excellence in work product and customer service, and in maintaining a satisfying, caring environment for each other.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is primarily performed in a hospital unit/environment.  The incumbent may be exposed to body fluids and infectious diseases.  Pass pre-employment physical exam including colorblind testing.

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimums require prior approval of the Vice President for Human Resources Administration, or his/her designee.

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.