Registered Nurse (RN) - Clinical Decision Unit

Status: Full Time

Hours: 7 am-7pm

The Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital will be a designated 12 bed department that allows our providers to monitor and evaluate the medical condition of patients who do not meet criteria for an inpatient admission but are not well enough to go home without requiring further observation or diagnostic testing. This new unit, also referred to as an observation unit, marks Advocate Lutheran General’s ongoing effort to improve throughput by centralizing and streamlining care for observation patients.  

The CDU will be a dedicated care unit in which patients will be regularly assessed by a multidisciplinary clinical care team. The CDU will provide a clinical department where necessary diagnostic testing, medications, and therapies can be carried out. This department will allow healthcare professionals to observe patients for an additional 24 to 48 hours before determining readiness for discharge or the need for an inpatient hospital admission. The clinical staff will work to identify any care needs post discharge working with the interdisciplinary team. For those patients unable to be discharged within 48 hours, the clinical team will ensure a smooth transition to an inpatient unit. Professional growth experience includes, working in a Magnet environment, a shared governance management style allowing staff participation in the decision-making process at the unit level, hospital and/or corporate level, and nursing leadership advancement opportunities within a large healthcare corporation. 

Major Responsibilities:

Uses the nursing process to assess the needs of the patient, plan and implement individualized interventions and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan of care. Includes the patient and family in planning and implementing care and develops and maintains a therapeutic relationship throughout the healthcare continuum.Anticipates and recognizes significant changes in the patient’s condition, status, and need for care. Provides ongoing assessment of the patient and takes appropriate actions when changes occur. Anticipates and alters the plan of care as needed, mobilizes appropriate resources, and collaborates with other health care team members to coordinate patient centered care.Implements strategies to reduce patient risk and increase patient safety. Assesses patient and family readiness to learn and individualizes the approach as necessary. Works collaboratively to develop strategies to meet the learning needs of the patient and family.Actively coordinates the discharge plan utilizing an interdisciplinary approach. Applies evidence-based practice to deliver patient care. Consistently incorporates nursing and regulatory standards of care into practice.Provides ongoing evaluation of patient, team, and unit outcomes and is empowered to take appropriate action when changes are needed. Supports shared governance activities and initiatives to improve processes and patient outcomes.Demonstrates effective communication, feedback, and conflict resolution skills. Promotes collaboration among healthcare team members. Assumes a leadership role in the care team and delegates appropriately to unlicensed personnel.Promotes a culture of safety through identifying threats to patient safety and intervening to prevent patient harm. Reports patient safety events and near misses in a timely manner. Seeks to identify potential safety issues and assists in the implementation of corrective actions.Applies ethical decision making, demonstrates respect and understanding for peers, and other clinical disciplines. Participates as an effective member of the patient care team to formulate an integrated, unbiased, individualized approach to care.Participates in quality/process improvement initiatives to improve the functions of the department and the patient care experience.Participates in professional activities which contribute to personal professional development and the development of others. Seeks opportunities to be taught, coached, and mentored. Attends required meetings/educational programs and completes annual competencies in a timely manner.Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the team member practices, andBasic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Education Required:

Completion of an accredited or approved program in Nursing.

Experience Required:

Typically requires 1 year of experience in clinical nursing.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

Demonstrates progression to provide holistic patient care and the ability to view clinical situations from a patient and family focus.Demonstrates progression to recognize situational changes that require unplanned or unanticipated interventions, and responds to situations with confidence, timeliness and flexibility.Proficient computer skills, use of electronic mail and electronic medical records systems.Excellent communication (written and verbal), listening and interpersonal skills.Demonstrates human relation skills with the ability to develop rapport and maintain positive, professional relationships with a variety of patients, team members and physicians. Ability to take initiative and work collaboratively with others.Demonstrated ability to effectively make critical, independent decisions.Excellent organization, prioritization and problem-solving skills.Demonstrates time management skills with an ability to multi-task and prioritize in an environment with frequent interruptions.Demonstrates coordination, collaboration, delegation and team building skills.

Certification Addendum:

Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others)

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, reach above shoulders, and twist frequently throughout the workday.Must be able to:lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.lift up to 20 lbs. over the head.carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance.Must be able to:push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.Position requires use of foot pedals on carts or machines.May be exposed to chemical and hazardous waste as well as blood and body fluids and communicable disease. Therefore, protective clothing and equipment must be worn as necessary.Must have functional speech, vision, hearing, and touch with ability to use fine hand manipulation skills for IV insertion and other procedures/functions.Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.