Job Requirements

General Summary

The Senior Clinical Nurse II (SCN-II) is a member of the health care team and renders nursing care to all patients within her/his assigned unit/area, assuring the nursing process is followed from admission through discharge. The SCN-II collaborates with other members of the health team, delegates appropriately to support staff and directs care to assure the patient's care needs are met. The SCN-II is expected to exercise good judgment in the care of patients and the management of personnel. The SCN-II models teamwork with physicians and personnel from other units/areas/departments. The SCN-II must stay current and help others to stay current with standards of practice through ongoing education relevant to nursing, such as the Nurse Practice Act and specialty standards of practice and ensure staff are updated with respect to best practice. In addition, the SCN-II may function as charge nurse and/or preceptor, and are nurse leaders.

SCN-II demonstrates the ability to lead groups of nurses and/or interdisciplinary groups, set nursing practice standards, evaluate nursing practice, plan for implementation of changes to practice, an ensure changes are made that positively impact nursing practice. He/she participates and collaborates with other disciplines to positively impact improvements in patient outcomes. He/she is able to articulate best practices and speak to nursing research/science/or literature for a specialty area in nursing. He/she demonstrates professional interpersonal skills that facilitate patient customer satisfaction scores that reflect highly on the practice of nursing at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. He/she monitors customer service and patient care standards for his/her areas of practice and ensures others always strive to improve in this practice area. He/she takes an active role in improving and changing nursing service in a positive manner and facilitates the spirit of teamwork. The SCN-II will maintain active membership on a nursing council/committee. Experts' are nurse leaders who are responsible for assisting in creating an environment that establishes the highest standards of practice in the clinical unit and throughout nursing service at University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. He/she works with groups of nurses/nonprofessional staff/patients/ families/other health care staff/ and providers to ensure a safe environment, improve patient safety, and develop nursing leadership. The nurses are responsible for assisting in the development of the clinical skills of RN's in specific specialties.

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.

1.Understands and follows policies and protocols while helping other staff utilize these resources effectively. Performs and assists others in the completion of: core measures, unit based/annual competencies, regulatory requirements, quality measures, service excellence, and education.

2.Functions as a unit leader through charge, precepting, and/or mentoring. Anticipates and manages issues that arise during shifts and related to ongoing practice.

3. Assist others to perform assessments and reassessments, as appropriate for the patient's needs, collecting data from all sources to assist with formulating a nursing diagnosis.

4.Develops and assist others to develop an individualized Plan of Care, based on the patient's assessment, with mutual, realistic and measurable goals and documents this thoroughly in the patient's record.

5.Coordinates and directs available resources and personnel in developing and following the Plan of Care.

6.Performs treatments, including medication administration, as ordered by the physician and carries out nursing interventions in accordance with the Plan of Care.

7.Evaluates the patient's response to treatments/interventions through reassessment and revises the Plan of Care as necessary.

8.Documents assessments and reassessments, thoroughly, accurately and on time. Documents any changes to the Plan of Care and communicates these changes to team members. Documents treatments/interventions including medication administration thoroughly and per hospital policy.

9.Assesses patient's teaching needs, and plans patient education accordingly.

10.Completes patient and family teaching, assesses understanding and document accordingly.

11.Communicates and collaborates effectively with other members of the health care team to ensure continuity and coordination of care, appropriate care delivery and to report changes in patient's condition.

12.Facilitates safe and timely patient throughput, including admission/transfer/discharge, diagnostics and therapeutics and teaches others regarding patient flow management.

13.Complies with hospital policies and practices in all aspects of care and professional behavior.

14.Follows Joint Commission (TJC) and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) standards as part of routine practice.

15.Assists with annual PCT core competency program.

16.Attends and actively participates in unit staff meetings.

17.Take a leadership role in shared governance through participation on committees or task forces.

18.Supports Shared Governance.

19.Demonstrates support and compliance with UMMC Midtown Campus' mission, vision, values, philosophy, goals objectives and policies.

20.Meets the continuing education and participation requirements of the clinical ladder.

Work Experience

Education and Experience

1. Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state of Maryland, or eligible to practice due to Compact state agreements outlined through the MD Board of Nursing, is required

2. BSN or Conferred BSN required.

3. Maintenance of 30 contact hours of education every two years.

4. ACLS provider completion within 1 year of employment in the following departments: ICU/IMC, PACU, Interventional Radiology, GI Lab, and ED.

5. PALS completion within 1 year of employment in the following departments: PACU and Emergency Department.

6. BLS provider completion.

7. Recent applicable clinical experience in a comparable setting.

8. Must be at least a 0.50 FTE.

9. Professional Organization membership is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Considerable walking, long periods of standing and frequently fluctuating activities.

2. Exposure to all types of illnesses, agitated/aggressive patients and environmental hazards including contact with body fluids potentially infectious for blood borne pathogens. Possibility of injury from equipment and injury or strains from moving patients and/or irrational patients.

Patient Safety

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

1. Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.

2. Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.

3. Implements policies, procedure, and standards consistently in the performance of assigned duties.

4. Develops effective working relationships and maintains good communication with other team members.

5. Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.