Registered Nurse (RN) - Clinical Decision Unit 0.9 7P-7A

Department:

35900 Advocate Lutheran General Hospital - Med Surg: Clinical Decision Unit

Status:

Full time

Benefits Eligible:

Yes

Hours Per Week:

36

Schedule Details/Additional Information:

Night Shift, 12 hour shifts, rotating weekends

Registered Nurse (RN)  - Clinical Decision Unit

Status: 0.9

Hours: 7PM-7AM

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 experienc