Registered Nurse (RN) - Observation Unit

$5,000 sign on bonus with experience!

Tucson Medical Center is currently seeking medical professionals to work on our new, 18 bed observation unit. This unit is needed when the Emergency Department treatment has not successfully improved the patient’s condition for discharge and transfer to the observation unit is necessary for ongoing treatment and stabilization requiring reassessment for discharge or hospital admission.   The registered nurses on the unit will be responsible for carrying out the nursing process:  including assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, evaluation, documentation and time management.  A nurse on Observation is responsible for the care of general patients that do not meet inpatient admission criteria, these patients must be 18 years or older, clinically and psychologically stable, and Obstetric patients that are less than 20 weeks pregnant. 

SUMMARY:

Coordinates patient care planning with other disciplines utilizing the principles of the nursing process and critical thinking skills in order to maintain patient safety and well-being. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialists as required and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure safe patient care.

Writes or obtains initial nursing histories, assesses patients' conditions and develops individual care plans; maintains patient documentation.

Receives and reviews preceding shift reports and floor nurse reports; makes complete rounds of all units, and notes patients' condition.

Notifies appropriate physician regarding any unusual or unexpected events or problems requiring direct physician consultation.

Works with other members of the interdisciplinary patient care team, implements and reinforces patient instructional needs with patient and family offering informational material and pointing out special areas of concern.

Evaluates outcomes of patient care, consults with other specialists as needed and adjusts nursing care processes as necessary to ensure optimal patient care.

Identifies and resolves workplace health and safety issues.

Provides appropriate, direct patient care utilizing appropriate aseptic techniques.

May manage IV lines, ensure that sterile techniques are adhered to, and oversee patient movement and positioning to ensure that the patient is handled in a medically safe manner.

May perform the administration of pharmacological vasodilator medications for the purpose of nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging; complies with examination competency as defined in the Imaging Services Practice Standards.

Complies with policies, procedures, regulations, and standards and takes corrective action when violations occur.

Orients, instructs, and educates assigned personnel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: Graduation from a qualified, nationally-accredited nursing program. 

EXPERIENCE: One year of nursing experience in an acute care setting preferred.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION: Current RN licensure permitting work in the State of Arizona and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.  Some departments such as OR, Ambulatory Surgery, Pediatrics/PICU, PACU, and GI Lab will require advanced life support certification (ACLS and PALS).