- The Critical Care Nurse Fellowship is structured as a three-phase program designed for new graduate and experienced nurses to gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to transition successfully into the critical care nursing specialty.
- This fellowship introduces participants to the complexities of caring for high-acuity patients, equipping them with the competencies required to work effectively in various intensive care settings, including Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Coronary Care Unit, Cardiothoracic ICU, and/or Neurosurgical ICU.
- Performs an age-specific plan of care for a designated group of patients using the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care.
- Collaborates with physicians and other health team members in coordinating and implementing procedures and treatments.
- Uses leadership skills/clinical judgment in coordinating patient care and directing/delegating activities of the patient care unit team.
- Job Responsibility Conducts patient interview, explains policies and procedures to patient/ significant others, reviews patient’s chart and answers questions correctly and courteously; assesses gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and neurological health status; determines mobility, sensory deficits, prostheses use, and skin condition and adjusts plan of care, as appropriate; assesses level of pain and pain management; communicates/documents patient’s physiologic health status and plan of care; assesses patient’s psychosocial health status; elicits perception of medical/nursing care and the expectation of care.
- Determines coping mechanism, knowledge level, and ability to comprehend; identifies cultural/ethnic requirements to reduce anxiety and ensure patient satisfaction; communicates and documents psychological status and care plan of support groups, counseling services, and social services; identifies patient outcome; develops criteria for measurement of patient outcomes; identifies actual/potential patient problems; identifies patient’s need for teaching based on psychosocial and developmental assessment.
- Develops patient outcome statement (s) and establishes individualized patient goals; identifies care activities and establishes the priorities necessary to achieve expected outcome; coordinates the cost-effective use of supplies, equipment and medication to achieve expected outcome; documents the plan of care and collaborates with physicians and other health team members; implements the plan of care; maintains constant vigilance over patients care to ensure that safety precautions/needs are followed (side rails up, call lights and bedside stand within reach, etc.).
- Exercises professional skills related to the plan of care; reassesses patients as needed and appropriately revises plan of care; correctly administers prescribed treatments; correctly uses equipment necessary for patient care; provides emotional support to patient and significant other; applies scientific principles in performing procedures; carries them out safely, timely and efficiently; makes accurate observations of patient’s conditions during treatments/procedures; reports and records same as appropriate; Keeps accurate documentation of patient’s treatment, activity and condition, as well as patient’s responses to medical and nursing interventions; uses appropriate methods of documentation according to departmental policy; acts rapidly and effectively during any emergency situation, managing self, patients and other employees; provides a calm, quiet, restful atmosphere; communicates effectively with the patient’s family or caretakers; participates in planning for discharge and coordinates referrals, as appropriate; provides discharge instructions to patient and significant other; evaluates care provided for patient outcome.
- Demonstrates ability to measure effectiveness of care provided and documents same; performs variance analysis related to outcome data for performance improvement; designs, implements, and evaluates systems to improve care in unit; keeps accurate documentation of patient’s treatment, activity and condition; uses appropriate methods of documentation according to departmental policy; collaborates with other care team members in planning and carrying out treatment regimen; provides direction to other members of the care team; collaborates with the appropriate physician on patient’s plan of care.
- Accurately interprets and implements treatment regimen as prescribed by the Physician; assists the Physician during treatments and/or diagnostic procedures; keeps the Patient Care Manager/designee and/or physician, abreast of changes in patient’s condition and/or treatments, as appropriate; uses clinical judgment in delegating assignments in providing patient care, and ensures that assignments are completed in a timely fashion; performs grade I-IV Decubitus Care; performs preventive skin care measures; applies simple dressings, maintaining principles of aseptic technique.
- Applies warm and cold compresses, consistent with facility procedure; performs irrigations, consistent with Facility procedure; performs other procedures related to skin care, as necessary; administers medications correctly and safely; correctly identifies medication in terms of action, dosage, side effects, and implications for the patient; meets standard on medication administration examination; demonstrates preparation of local solutions.
- Administers and documents medication correctly; educates patients and significant others related to drug and food interactions; educates patients and significant others related to drug and food interactions; participates in patient and family education; provides patient with an explanation of his/her condition as indicated; communicates assessment data in an orderly fashion by recording, updating and verbalizing pertinent information to care team members and to appropriate agencies; recognizes and utilizes health teaching opportunities and resources /materials available for this teaching; provides for early discharge planning and appropriate referrals for post-hospital care; evaluates the effectiveness of teaching by feedback from patient/ family and documents same.
- Performs related duties as required.
- All responsibilities noted here are considered essential functions of the job under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Duties not mentioned here, but considered related are not essential functions.
- Job Qualifications: Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, preferred.
- Must be enrolled in an accredited BSN program within two (2) years and obtain a BSN Degree within five (5) years of job entry date.
- Current License to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State required, plus specialized certifications as needed.
- Current BLS certification through The American Heart Association
Preferred Qualifications
BSN preferred Prior exposure to a critical care setting through capstone/clinical hours, externship, or related work experience. *Additional Salary Detail The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future. When determining a team member's base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., location, specialty, service line, years of relevant experience, education, credentials, negotiated contracts, budget and internal equity).