JOB SUMMARY
This position works under the general supervision of a physician, advanced practice provider, and/or nursing leadership to provide nursing services in care and treatment of patients.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Job Duties

• Performs and accurately documents physical, psychosocial, and emotional assessments. All assessments take into consideration age specific criteria (children, adolescents, adults and elder adults).
• Actively anticipates patient’s 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.
• 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, 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.
• 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 they 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). Participates in multidisciplinary quality and practice improvement teams
• 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). Participates in meetings and on committees and represents the department and hospital in community outreach.
• 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.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

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).

• Licenses and Certifications
  (BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC). and
  (ACLS) ADV CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC). and

Preferred

• Education
  Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing (BSN)

• Experience
  1 year experience in an acute care setting, starting IVs/Ports, administering Amino acids
• Strong MS Excel skills for reporting

• Licenses and Certifications
  (NLC) NURSING LICENSURE COMPACT-BNE Current Texas (or BNE Compact State) license, BSN and
  Professional certification in a nursing organization

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent IV skills required, as well as excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Must be able to read, write and communicate in English.
• Work requires a change agent attitude that includes flexibility and adaptability to perform in a high volume facility.
• Work requires ability to actively anticipate patient 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.
• Work requires ability to devise creative alternatives and suggestions to workflow constraints.
• Work requires ability to maintains and utilize competencies per unit expectation.
• Work requires ability to respond to and interact with all stakeholders with the PACT standards.
• Work requires ability to utilize critical thinking skills in planning and prioritizing nursing care.

PACT STATEMENT

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

• P-Problem Solving: To achieve excellence in patient care and service, all employees are expected to take ownership in solving problems effectively, efficiently and to the satisfaction of the patient.
• A-Ability, Attitude and Appearance: In keeping with a professional healthcare environment, all employees are expected to have the ability to perform their jobs and to appear and conduct themselves in a professional and positive manner.
• C-Communications and Compassion: It is our goal that all our communications are clear, courteous, timely, and delivered with compassion, respect and appropriate confidentiality.
• T-Teamwork: In our medical environment, our patients regard every employee they encounter as a member of the Southwestern Medical Center team. Our goal is to individually work hard to contribute to our team, support our co-workers, and to achieve not only excellent patient care and service, but also a satisfying, caring environment for each other.

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 Statement

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.