SUMMARY

The Float Pool RN Residency Program is a structured, comprehensive 24-month program designed for currently licensed RNs with less than 12 months of nursing experience. This program helps participants develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to meet the standards of practice set by the American Nurses Association and relevant specialty nursing organizations. The program focuses on providing safe, high-quality care across various clinical settings. Over the course of 24 months, participants will engage in a series of experiences and activities aimed at fostering organizational integration, enhancing practice-based learning, and promoting professional growth and development.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1.       Performs and accurately documents physical, psychosocial, and emotional assessments. Takes all assessments into consideration age specific criteria.

2.       Anticipates patient’s and/or patient’s family needs and expectations and utilizes these in conjunction with assessment to develop appropriate plan of care for 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 completed assessment. Completes documentation of interventions. Coordinates interdisciplinary plan of care. Confers with all members of health care team in collaborative, fashion, sharing information and observations of patient and/or patient’s family in manner that contributes to optimal patient care.

4.       Prioritizes nursing interventions based upon completed assessment. Identifies changes in condition as evidenced by nursing assessment, labs, x-rays, etc. Reports changes and takes follow-up action.

5.       Evaluates implemented interventions and modifies care according to evaluation. Documents interventions and modifications to plan of care.

6.       Adheres to hospital and/or Department of Nursing policies, procedures, clinical pathways and nationally accepted standards of nursing practice while delivering nursing care to patients. Provides nursing care based on current literature and research, incorporating ANA standards and professional practice model (Shared Governance) into the provision of safe, quality patient care.

7.       Provides appropriate and timely answers and/or education to patient and/or patient’s family. Completes documentation of all education provided. Obtains feedback and evaluation of understanding from patient and/or family. Demonstrates effective communication based on individual patient needs and learning preferences. Contributes to patient and/or family verbal comfort with after discharge care.

8.       Welcomes and orients patient and/or family to unit. Encourages patient and family participation in care. Reviews plan of care with patient and family every shift. Explains special diets, tests, procedures and medications in easily understood language. Makes frequent rounds on patients, and communicates when will return.

9.       Assumes accountability for all actions in workplace. Reports errors promptly and takes appropriate follow-up action to rectify error. Provides supervision of and direction to unlicensed support personnel and nurses new to environment. Delegates duties appropriately and within legal parameters.

10.   Serves as advocate to patient and/or family. Responds to patient’s and or patient’s family’s complaints. Reports complaints to Clinical Nurse Manager or their designee. Utilizes chain of command to resolve patient, operational, or personal work related problems.

11.   Participates in performance improvement activities as directed. Attends at least 80% of scheduled staff meetings and 100% of mandatory educational sessions.

12.   Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Required

·         Education

o   Bachelor’s Degree Candidates are new nurse graduates with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree who have graduated from an ACEN or CCNE accredited/state approved program or Associate’s Degree (ADN) with current UTSW experience.

·         Licenses and Certifications

o   Graduate of accredited nursing program. Current Texas (or BNE Compact State) RN license, current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, both accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC), and current NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification required. Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Certification within 180 days of hire date.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

Ø  Work requires constant walking, standing, bending, turning, and stooping. Pushing and pulling heavy objects such as patient beds. Must be able to help lift and turn patients.

Ø  Work requires good interpersonal skills and verbal and written communication skills.

Ø  Work requires contact with physicians, residents, fellows, allied health personnel, and other medical and non-medical office personnel to coordinate necessary information and to provide optimal level of patient care.

Ø  Work requires telephone skills when in contact with patients, referring physicians, and pharmaceutical representatives outside of university, vendors, and third party payees.

Ø  Work requires ability to read, write, and perform mathematical calculations.

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 performed primarily in a hospital setting where incumbent may be exposed to body fluids and infectious diseases.

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 thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code §51.215.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of: race; color; religion; national origin; sex; including sexual harassment; age; disability; genetic information; citizenship status; and protected veteran status. In addition, it is UT Southwestern policy to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.