WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you’ll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career! 

The Bridge Unit (BRU) Registered Nurse provides patient-centered care in a unique hybrid unit designed to relieve ED boarding and centralize observation patients. RNs in this role deliver safe, efficient, and compassionate care for patients admitted to the hospital awaiting inpatient placement, as well as those managed under structured observation protocols. The Bridge RN plays a key role in patient flow, ensuring continuity of care, reducing crowding in the Emergency Department, and supporting optimal use of inpatient capacity.

Core Responsibilities:

• Provide direct nursing care for patients in the Bridge Unit, including monitoring, medication administration, and coordination of diagnostic/treatment plans.
• Manage observation patients under defined protocols, ensuring timely reassessment and disposition.
• Collaborate with physicians, inpatient teams, and the ED to support smooth transitions of care.
• Maintain high standards of safety, documentation, and patient/family communication.

• Adapt to a fast-paced, high-turnover environment while ensuring quality outcomes.

• Sign-on
  Dayshift sign-on is $5,000 and Nightshift sign-on is $10,000. Half is paid after 6 months and half after 12 months.

   

• BENEFITS
  UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Required

• Education
  Graduate of an approved/accredited nursing program either by a governmental authority, nursing board, or by a licensing authority that has jurisdiction over approval/accreditation of nursing programs (Texas BON 217.1). 
  Must be able to read, write, and communicate in English. 
   

• Experience
  1 year of RN experience 
  Specialty areas may have increased experience requirements as dictated by unit or standard of care 
   

• Licenses and Certifications
  (NLC) NURSING LICENSURE COMPACT-BNE current Texas (or BNE Compact State) license, and 
  (BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC). 
   

Preferred

• Education
  Bachelor’s Degree BSN 
   

• Licenses and Certifications
  Professional Certification in a Nursing Organization 
   

JOB DUTIES

• Performs and accurately documents physical, psychosocial, and emotional assessments. All assessments take into consideration age specific criteria (children, adolescents, adults and older adults).
• Actively anticipates patients and/or patients’ 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.
• 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.
• 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 caregiver informed.
• 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.
• Adheres to appropriate hospital and/or Department of Nursing policies, procedures, clinical pathways and nationally accepted standards of nursing practice. Incorporates ANA standards, professional practice model (Shared governance) and care delivery model (Relationship Based Care) into the provision of safe, quality patient care. Nursing care is based on current literature and research.
• 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.
• 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 will return.
• Advocate for resources and support that enhance patient safety and unit/hospital-based initiatives. Participates in evaluating data to guide decisions regarding unit/department budget formulation and implementation.
• Performs Peer Evaluation to provide constructive feedback to peers regarding performance. Holds co-workers accountable for their behavior and compliance with policies and standards. Actively intervenes when patient safety is at risk.
• Performance Improvement: Accountable for patient care and quality/safety initiatives (EX: patient safety, patient satisfaction, core measures, infection control).
• Shares professional and technical information with colleagues and students. Offers self as a resource as needed to others (Ex: preceptor, charge, mentor, unit expert, lends a hand when needed).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT

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

EEO
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.