Registered Nurse/Break Nurse, Telemetry Unit - Valley Presbyterian

Job Summary

• The Break Nurse is a licensed professional supervised by the Clinical Supervisor/Clinical, Nurse Manager/Nursing Director.
• The Break Nurse is accountable for continuing the coordination of patient care and education to the patient and family in accordance with the standards, policies, and practices in a compassionate, supportive, and therapeutic environment.
• These services further the mission of Valley Presbyterian Hospital, which is to provide high quality, cost effective healthcare for the community served by VPH.   

Education

• Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing degree preferred. RN staff hired on or after April 2023, with an associate degree in nursing are required to be enrolled in an accredited BSN program within 30 days of employment and successfully obtain a BSN degree within four years of the RN hire or reclassification date.

Licenses and Certifications

• Current licensure with the California Board of Registered Nursing
• Must successfully complete and maintain BLS and ACLS certification
• Must successfully complete and maintain LA City Fire Card certification at the time of hire or within the first 30 days of employment.
• Must successfully complete and maintain certification for Management of Assaultive Behavior (ex. CPI- Non-violent Crisis Intervention) within 30 days of employment.
• NIHSS Certification (Obtain within the first 30 days of employment or transfer)
• Annual VPH Critical Care Swank Stroke Education (Obtain within the first 30 days of employment or transfer)

Experience

• Minimum one (1) year of recent nursing experience, preferably in an acute care setting as a registered nurse - Preferred.

Required Skills

• Clinical Inquiry and Critical Thinking- Challenges and evaluates practice, role modeling informed practice to the bedside. Creates practice changes through research utilization and experiential learning.
• Communication - Communicates with RN's, Physicians, and other members of the health care team in a professional and collegial manner. Utilizes SBAR communication format when appropriate. Patient Discharge Process - Provides ongoing discharge instruction and education to patient/family based on individual patient needs. Adheres to VPH discharge process and applies necessary standards of care.
• Confidentiality - Maintains strict confidentiality at all times. Follows HIPAA and VPH policies for confidentiality at all times. Conducts daily activities within the appropriate ethical and legal guidelines as defined by the Compliance program and in accordance with Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s mission, vision, and values. Maintains confidentiality, security, and integrity of patient and hospital data.
• Delegation - Delegates tasks according to the BRN legal scope of practice and effectively supervises patient care.
• Documentation and System Utilization - Utilizes information technology and tools to document processes of care in a timely manner.
• Evaluation of Care - Evaluates the effectiveness of the care plan through observation of the patient's physical condition, psychosocial behaviors, signs and symptoms of illness, and reactions to treatment, through communication with the client and the health team members and modifies the Plan of Care as needed.
• Infection Control - Demonstrates knowledge of and adheres to Universal Precautions, and VPH infection control standards, including hand sanitation before and after each patient contact.
• Information Seeking and Validation of Care Standards – Helps develop and monitors policies, guidelines, and current practice, seeks resources and information to improve patient care and safety.
• Medications/ Safety - Administers medications per hospital and department policy and role-modeling patient medication rights with proper identification of patient prior to administration. Reports medication errors to Charge Nurse, Manager, or medication safety hot line. Promptly notifies physician of any medication error to patient. Serves as a safety role model for prevention and all other safety initiatives.
• Nursing Process, Assessment, and Diagnosis - Collects and accurately interprets complex patient data using the nursing process to provide for total patient care needs, patient/family issues or problems. Provides highly effective physical, technical, interpersonal, and organizational skills to problem solve. Formulates a nursing diagnosis through the observation of the patient's physical condition, behavior, and through interpretation of information obtained from the patient and others, including the health care team. Consistently completes accurate, up to date care plans and/or treatment plans. Performs skills in a highly competent manner based on patient need, explains the treatments to the patient and family and teaches the patient and family how to care for their health needs.
• Patient Advocate – Represents the patient and family, advocating in support of their values and beliefs. Recommends and implements best practices and standards.
• Patient Experience - Demonstrates caring and compassion uses a warm approach; maintains a kind attitude; provides a gentle touch. Anticipates patient and family needs so waiting is avoided when possible. When waiting is required, keeps patient/family informed and provides a comfortable setting for waiting. Apologizes for the unexpected delays in service. Promotes individualized patient care plans, hourly rounding, and individualized discharge teaching for patients. Functions as a team player, eager to offer assistance with an approachable attitude.
• Patient Throughput - Supports patient throughput efforts to place, transfer, and discharge patients in a safe and timely manner. Assists case management personnel in preparing the patient for a timely discharge and facilitating next level of care needs are met.
• Preceptor– Orients new staff. Actively and willingly participates as a preceptor for new RN's, nursing students, and other clinical personnel.
• Performance Improvement - Actively participates in achieving unit or hospital quality initiatives such as patient satisfaction, core measures, DNV/regulatory compliance, DHS requirements, and PI projects (i.e., fall prevention, decreasing the use of restraints, preventing hospital acquired pressure ulcers, and pain management)
• Relief Charge Nurse – May serve in the Charge and Operations supervisor (with documented ICU and/or ED competencies for the operations supervisor role).
• Must be able to fulfill the essential functions of the position and other duties as assigned.

General Responsibilities

• Complies with VPH policies and procedures on customer satisfaction and service excellence.  Demonstrates professionalism and cultural sensitivity in coordinating activities and communicating with all customers, peers, and the community at large.  Conducts self in a professional, respectful, and courteous manner during all interactions.  Works effectively and collaboratively with others toward common goals.
• Communicates accurately, honestly, supportively and in a timely manner with department and interdepartmental team members.  Demonstrates effective business writing and oral communication skills, handwriting is clear and legible.
• Participates in operational aspects of the department and maintains/participates in performance improvement activities within the department.
• Participates in all departmental specific training, Environment of Care (injury/illness prevention, fire/life safety, hazardous materials, emergency preparedness, utilities management, medical equipment management, safety and security management), infection control (standard precautions, TB Exposure Control Plan, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan).
• Demonstrates knowledge of and follows safety practices.  Understands the importance of safety, including patient safety in the workplace.  Maintains a safe environment for self and others.
• Actively participates in the Patient Safety Program, including event reporting.  Identifies sentinel events/near misses and responds per defined organization processes.  Participates in education activities and process implementation.  Demonstrates advocacy for the patient/customer and appropriately acknowledges patients, customers, and visitors.
• The above statements reflect the essential functions considered necessary to describe the principle content of the job. They are not intended to be a complete statement of all work requirements or duties that may be inherent in the job.
• Leads planning and implementation of educational assignments in the LMS.
• Provides system optimization analysis and provides feedback and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Oversees education partners’ exemption rights, administrative privileges, reporting rights specific to unit, checklist evaluation/evaluator updates, and content removal/addition.
• Produces accurate and timely regulatory completion reports to support education initiatives.
• Assigns education per established schedules to meet regulatory compliance standards.

• Performs technical functions in the LMS for registration, online resources, presentations, in-service education, evaluations, tests, tracking, and generation of reports.
• Maintains education class calendars and assignments within the LMS ensuring accuracy.

• Tracks assignments, milestones, and deliverables.
• Escalates issues, as appropriate.
• Serves as educational project intake coordinator for tracking and prioritization of assignments.
• Confirms relevant product performance by designing and running reports.
• Performs special duties, tasks, or assignments as required.
• Provides independent oversight for activities associated with student onboarding.

• Completes system access and security badge requests.
• Schedules computer training and post-conferences.
• Ensures all student onboarding materials are received.
• Maintains records per required guidelines.
• Acts as a liaison between affiliated schools, clinical instructors, hospital leadership, and students.

• Maintains accurate community benefit data for all student specialties and submits reports in a timely manner.
• Maintains accurate CMS data for vaccination status of all students completing education hours on campus.
• Oversees affiliation agreements in collaboration with the hospital’s Contract Administrator.

• Interacts with vendors to provide information and resolve issues. 

 Salary Range: $44.64 - $69.24 per hour