RN Clinical - Gamma Knife - Per Diem 8 Hour Days (Non-Exempt) (Union)

University of Southern California; Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Keck Hospital of USC is seeking a Registered Nurse to provide comprehensive care for Gamma Unit patients, coordinating with Neurological Surgery faculty and Neurology for pre- and post-operative planning. The role emphasizes education, patient advocacy, and adherence to standards within a teaching hospital environment.

The RN will participate in process improvement, collaborate with the Clinical Coordinator for unit flow and inventory, and contribute to ongoing quality and service excellence

Qualifications

• BSN degree required (grandfathered for hires before 12/2019).
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of medical procedures and conditions; able to perform duties including whole blood collection and apheresis per policies.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate complete care for Gamma Unit RN patients and review progress with nursing/house staff.
• Assist with stereotactic radiosurgery procedures in the Gamma Unit and with diagnostic tests in the Gamma Unit Suite as needed.
• Educate patients and families about procedures and plan treatments with physicians.
• Ensure chart documentation of procedures and patient tolerance; participate in departmental process improvement.

Skills

Communication

Clinical nursing

Independent work

Education

BSN

Job description

As an integral part of the interdisciplinary team, the Registered Nurse utilizes the nursing process to provide therapeutic care to patients. The Registered Nurse is accountable for the coordination of patient care and education to the patient and family in accordance with the standards, policies, and practices in a compassionate, supportive, and therapeutic environment.

Departmental Specific Summary

The Gamma Unit RN is responsible for complete care of the stereotactic radiosurgery patient. Communicates regularly with nursing and house staff to review progress and adjust treatment plan accordingly, under the direction of the Neurological Surgery faculty. Provides comprehensive coordination of patients requiring Epilepsy surgery. Communicates with the Department of Neurology with regards to preparation of these patients for surgery and post op follow up care.

Essential Duties

• The clinical practice of a Registered Nurse (RN) is to manage a complex process that requires an orderly method and adherence to scientific practice standards. The RN manages the physiological and behavioral functioning combined with psychological and social support as related to the recovery process. The priority of the professional activity is toward the improvement and/or maintenance of this state. The RN classifies the patient's condition based on physiological, psychological, and social risk morbidity and mortality to predict the amount of work required based on the application of the steps of the professional process. The professional process is composed of six core steps (data collection, data assessment and nursing diagnosis, plan, implementation, evaluation, and patient teaching) used to manage the patient condition for the purpose of the treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems, with the characteristics of altered functional ability and altered lifestyle, reducing risk of morbidity and mortality, and increasing the opportunity for recovery. The RN demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to any age-related needs of the patients served on his/her assigned unit. The professional RN practices according to USCUH collaboration principles and demonstrates respectful teamwork and delegation.
• Participates in ongoing Departmental Process Improvement projects.
• Supports continuous and ongoing customer satisfaction through the hospital wide service excellence standards
• Collaborates with the Clinical Coordinator Gamma Unit procedure room flow issues.
• Collaborates with the Clinical Coordinator for inventory control.
• Completes initial and annual skills validations.
• Functions as a patient advocate.
• Assesses a patient's knowledge base/understanding of their procedure.
• Plans, with the patient, the course of their testing/treatment in coordination with physician.
• Participates in ongoing Departmental Process Improvement projects.
• Supports continuous and ongoing customer satisfaction through the hospital wide service excellence standards
• Assists with the performance of stereotactic radiosurgery procedures in the Gamma Unit.
• Assists with the performance of diagnostic tests in the Gamma Unit Suite when necessary.
• Educates patient/patient's family about procedure and treatment according to each patient's individual needs and documents results.
• Documents accurately, on chart, procedures performed and patient's tolerance.
• Provides for own professional growth regarding trends in clinical nursing, equipment and procedures through formal and informal continuing education.
• Orients and instructs other unit personnel.
• Demonstrates ability to positively influence other's behavior by serving as a role model.
• Provides for continuous evaluation of patient care through the nursing process and patient satisfaction evaluation form.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Req Bachelor's Degree Nursing Degree in Nursing (BSN) *Grandfathered from BSN if hired prior to 12/2019
• Req Must have excellent communication skills, including the ability to speak, read and write English proficiently.
• Req Knowledge of medical procedures and conditions and ability to understand, follow and successfully perform duties, including whole blood collection, and apheresis procedures, in accordance with administrative and clinical policies, regulations and procedures.
• Req Committed to excellence in patient care and customer service.
• Req Demonstrates ability to work independently with minimal direction and supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Pref 2 years Experience in Critical Care, Operating Room, or Day Surgery, with experience in Neurosurgery and Moderate Sedation preferred.
• Pref Surgical Units: ICU and Telemetry experience.

Required Licenses/Certifications

• Req Registered Nurse - RN (CA Board of Registered Nursing)
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)
• Req Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association

Keck Hospital of USC, a 343-bed acute care hospital, provides exceptional and innovative care for complex medical and surgical conditions across a wide range of specialties. The hospital's world-renowned physicians deliver compassionate, customized, patient-centered care and treat the most acutely ill patients with highly innovative techniques and treatment plans. As a leading academic medical center, hundreds of clinical trials are currently taking place at Keck Hospital and its affiliated research institutions, giving patients access to novel and promising therapies that are generally not available elsewhere. Every day at Keck Hospital, physicians, nurses and staff go beyond the science of exceptional medicine to bring patients breakthroughs in the art of caring. Join this world-class team providing highly specialized care, up-to-the-minute research, and innovative clinical trials.

The hourly rate range for this position is $45.76 - $98.80. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.