Critical Care Nurse, MedSurg, Observation Unit, Staffing Center, Long Term Assignments, Variable Shifts, Shore Medical Center, Cambridge - University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System is a 14-hospital system with academic, community and specialty medical services reaching every part of Maryland and beyond. UMMS is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, Neurocare, cardiac care, women’s and children’s health and physical rehabilitation. UMMS is the fourth largest private employer in the Baltimore metropolitan area and one of the top 20 employers in the state of Maryland. No organization will give you the clinical variety, the support, or the opportunities for professional growth that you’ll enjoy as a member of our team.

General Summary

This role is considered the minimum role for all nurses who have greater than 12 months experience. Provides and coordinates independent care to patients within a clinical specialty as a fully effective and participative member of the multidisciplinary patient care services team.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.  These are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified. 

Clinical Practice:

1. Provides independent care to unit specific patient population; serves as clinical resource for others, utilizes and integrates evidence into practice, functions effectively in roles specific to unit (such as arrest team for ICU, triage for ED, etc).
   1. Accountable to patients and families for the processes and outcomes of care during an episode of care.
   2. Accountable to peers for the advancement of group practice on the unit, and to the nurse manager for the totality of work performance. 
2. Serves as an effective primary coordinating nurse; collaborates with interdisciplinary team to plan and coordinate care addressing patient/family needs.
3. Serves as clinical resource for others.

Service/Quality:

1. Assists in team development and evaluation of the Relationship-Based Care model; suggests methods for improvement.  Participates in collection of data related to Relationship-Based Care outcomes (e.g. hand offs, medication safety, etc).  
2. Participates in implementation efforts addressing Nursing Sensitive Quality Indicators (NSQI).
3. Participates and contributes to Performance Improvement, or Evidence Based Practice, or research at the unit level.
4. Complies with standards and participates with unit level activities for regulatory compliance. 

Unit Operations:

1. Supports charge nurse decisions; performs charge role for assigned shifts as needed.
2. Follows and supports the AACN guidelines for Healthy Work Environment (communication, collaboration, effective decision making, recognition, leadership, staffing); participates as team member focusing on elements within the Healthy Work Environment.

Professional Development:

1. Serves as preceptor, coach, mentor to new nurses and students. Contributes to ancillary personnel skills and development, attends educational offerings and in-services independently.

Patient Safety

Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department or unit patient safety initiatives.

1. Acts to correct observed risks to patient safety.
2. Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.
3. Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.

Education & Experience

1. Unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in the state of Maryland, or a Nurse Compact License (NSL)
2. BSN preferred. 
3. Two years recent (within the past 12 months) critical care nursing experience. Solid knowledge and clinical skills. (See attached Professional Self-assessment skills checklist)
4. Maintenance of 10 contact hours of education every two years.

License and Certification

1. Intensive Care (ICU)
   1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
2. Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU)
   1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
3. Pediatric Intensive Care (PICU)
   1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
4. Trauma Intensive Care
   1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
5. Post Anesthesia Care (PACU)
   1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
6. Emergency Department (ED)
   1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
7. Trauma Emergency Department (ED)
   1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
8. Pediatric Emergency Department
   1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
9. Interventional Radiology (IR)
   1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
10. Cath Lab
    1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS
    2. National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (Preferred)
11. Transplant Unit
    1. Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS

*All Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) must be obtained through the American Heart Association. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) must be obtained through the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

1. Responsible for maintaining competencies required for the patient care setting; focus on advancing      own professional development
2. Ability to practice and adhere to the guidelines specified in the UMMC Role of the Professional     Nurse Job Charter/Description.
3. Demonstrates highly effective interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
4. Demonstrates leadership qualities through effectiveness as charge nurse, preceptor, or clinical resource.
5. Demonstrates effectiveness as a multidisciplinary team member.
6. Ability to learn and use computer systems in order to manage patient information.
7. Ability to participate in team-building efforts on units; supports and models teamwork
8. Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient population(s) served.  Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and ability to assess data reflective of the patient's requirements relative to his or her population-specific and age specific needs

26 wks Long Term Assignments

Days, Nights or Rotating Shifts

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.