Education:
- Associate's Degree from an accredited School of Nursing required.
- Bachelor's Degree preferred.
Work Experience:
- Minimum of one (1) year of acute care nursing experience preferred.
- One (1) year of experience should be relevant to the specific department in which the employee will be working. Refer to departmental addendums for additional requirements.
- Experience with Electronic Health Records (EHR) preferred.
Licensure/Certification:
- Current Registered Nurse (RN) licensure required.
- Advanced Dysrhythmia/EKG certification required.
- NIH Stroke Certification required.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
- Advanced Life Support Certification (ACLS) required.
- De-Escalation Training required within six (6) months of hire.
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to operate critical care equipment, including ventilators, temporary pacemakers, defibrillators, and other emergency equipment.
- Ability to set up, maintain, and interpret cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring equipment and respond appropriately based on nursing practice standards and hospital procedures.
- Ability to perform specialized procedures including endotracheal and tracheostomy suctioning, tracheostomy care, extubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), arterial punctures, chest tube and Pleurevac management, and assistance with peritoneal dialysis, paracentesis, and thoracentesis procedures.
- Ability to manage specialty intravenous drips utilizing approved protocols.
- Successful completion of a critical care course approved by the Community Chief Nursing Officer prior to assignment as the sole RN provider in a critical care unit.
- Demonstrated competency in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and airway management.
- Demonstrated competency in EKG interpretation.
- Knowledge of pharmacology, including emergency intravenous drug therapy.
- Knowledge of hemodynamic monitoring principles and critical care procedures.
- Successful completion of competencies in Moderate Sedation, Stroke Modules, and Restraint Management.
- Adequate orientation to unit policies, procedures, equipment, safety practices, infection control standards, and performance improvement activities.
- Strong critical thinking, clinical judgment, communication, and patient assessment skills.