Nurse III

Job Description:
Nurse III
Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence.
The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state.

The state of Texas offers many benefits to employees. HHSC is a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making qualifying monthly payments. We also offer excellent health benefits, a lifetime monthly retirement annuityas well as (k) and Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you

Free CEUs and updated resources through Lippincott access for all nurses.

The RN Shift Supervisor is responsible for coordinating and overseeing nursing activities and ensuring appropriate nursing staff coverage during the assigned shift. Serves as the point-of-contact for other interdisciplinary staff for coordination of nursing services for the assigned areas, or the SSLC as a whole, specific to SSLC needs. Responds to emergency situations to provide assessment and ensures safety and care of individuals and staff. Provides treatment to HHS employees injured in course and scope of employment. Performs complex nursing work, including comprehensive physical assessments and care intervention, such as health screenings, treatments and other nursing procedures. Evaluates and documents healthcare needs and/or issues and reports health care needs and/or issues to the appropriate person(s). Provides oversight and coaching of, and delegates work to, nursing staff including direct care RNs and LVNs during the assigned shift. Assists with on-the-job nursing instruction and training of other nurses as instructed and serves as a resource for other nurses. Reports personnel issues to the assigned nurse managers for follow up. Provides input into subordinate nursing staff evaluations, as requested. Models appropriate interaction with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their family members, and with staff members. Develops and presents information for inservice training or staff development, as assigned. Communicates with others, such as direct care staff, physicians, primary care practitioners (PCPs), administration, and other nursing staff to ensure optimal care as part of the interdisciplinary team. Notifies the Nurse Manager, Nurse Operations Officer (NOO) or other designated supervisor, of trends and concerns to ensure that communication is in place to provide consistent, high quality care for all persons served. Maintains a professional, harmonious working relationship with facility employees as well as outside agency employees. Keeps informed of and follows all agency, and facility policies and procedures. Completes other assignments as instructed. Works under general supervision of the Nurse Manager, NOO or other designated supervisor, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

This position may be eligible to earn additional pay for work performed on evenings, nights and/or weekends.

Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

During the shift, is assigned to either a home, group of homes or the SSLC as a whole, depending on SSLC size. Ensures appropriate nursing staff coverage is maintained for the assigned area during the assigned shift by collaborating with person(s) responsible for nursing schedule and other appropriate staff. Makes adjustment to nursing assignments based upon call-ins and the immediate needs of individuals served. Delegates work assignments to nursing staff within the assigned area and reports significant nursing coverage issues to the appropriate administrator.

Serves as the point-of-contact for other interdisciplinary staff for coordination of nursing services for the assigned areas, or the SSLC as a whole, specific to SSLC needs. For the assigned area, receives calls for assistance from staff members such as direct care nurses, the campus coordinator, home supervisor, on-duty supervisor, incident and risk management staff and other department heads. Responds to these calls by assessing nursing services being providing and the need for additional or different services. Coordinates with other nursing staff, medical staff or administrative staff to ensure the needed services are received in the assigned area. Needs might include a specific nursing assessment, treatment, or consultation with medical staff for consideration for transfer offsite to a hospital to receive assessment or treatment.

Performs complex nursing work including comprehensive physical health assessments, health screenings, and treatments campus wide. Performs technical nursing procedures according to facility and state regulations after demonstration for competency, i.e., tracheostomy care, gastrostomy/jejunostomy care, wound care, breathing treatments. Maintains competency in use of all medical equipment as ordered by physician/PCP. Administers medications, immunizations, and treatment and observes patients for unusual symptoms and reactions. Demonstrates knowledge of medications administered in order to identify desired effects or adverse reactions. Evaluates and documents healthcare needs and/or issues and reports health care needs and/or issues to the appropriate person(s). Communicates health status/needs to other disciplines, and to families as needed.

Provides teaching and training to staff and individuals. Assists with on-the-job nursing instruction and training of other nurses, such as LVNs and Nurse Is during the assigned shift by observing them perform their essential job duties and providing feedback to them in their performance of nursing protocols and treatments. Develops and presents information for inservice training or staff development, as assigned. Serves as a resource for other nurses by answering their questions about nursing protocols and providing information about where to seek additional information for their professional development such as the use of online learning platforms. Models appropriate interaction with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their family members, and with staff members. Provides input to nurse manager and other supervisors to assist in the evaluation of employee performance.

Responds to emergency situations to ensure safety of individuals. Performs CPR, suctioning, and other emergency procedures as directed by physician/PCP/protocol. Administers emergency medications as prescribed. Demonstrates a working knowledge of emergency procedures and emergency equipment. Recognizes and coaches appropriate Safe Use of Restraint (SUR) procedures. Provides treatment to HHS employees injured in course and scope of employment.

Performs related work as assigned. Serves as resource/mentor to other nurses. Cross-trains other registered nurse(s) to back–up as RN Shift Supervisor, as needed. Provides back-up coverage for nursing activities on an as-needed basis. For example, as needed, assists in lab to draw blood samples as per scheduled time periods, etc. Collects specimens for laboratory examination and conducts appropriate screening tests (after competency is documented) as requested by lab personnel.

Actively participates in, and prepares for in advance, essential meetings related to care of persons served in order to manage and coordinate health care to achieve optimal health. Updates necessary items in the automated system(s) and other tracking documents and takes the necessary action to communicate information to other disciplines.

Participates in competency-based training and continuing education activities and meetings to maintain competence in nursing best practice. Demonstrates knowledge of safety and infection control practices to ensure a safe working environment. Complies with state mandated continuing education to maintain licensure as a registered nurse. Follows information security protocols in order to maintain the accuracy and confidentiality of consumer records. Complies with all State/Federal/Local standards; Facility Policy, ICF Standards, and Texas Nurse Practice Act. by following standard precautions to minimize cross contamination.

Provide treatment to HHS employees injured in course and scope of employment.

Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
•Knowledge of nursing techniques, standards, and procedures; of health care laws and regulations; of medical diagnoses and procedures; of accepted medical treatment patterns; of community health and nursing care principles, practices, and procedures; of program regulations and procedures; and of utilization review and control measures.
•Knowledge of state and federal laws and Intermediate Care Facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID) rules, regulations, policy and procedures related to State Supported Living Center or ability to quickly gain that knowledge.
•Knowledge of nursing care standards, the Settlement Agreement and the Healthcare Guidelines or ability to quickly gain the knowledge.
•Knowledge of infectious diseases and infection prevention and control principles and practices in the healthcare setting. Knowledge of standards and Infection Prevention Control standards related to infection control and utilization management.
•Skills in the use of computer/software and an electronic health record system
•Skill in the care and treatment of patients.
•Exceptional physical assessment skills.
•Exceptional organizational skills.
•Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present ideas clearly and concisely in both written and oral communications, and via telemedicine equipment.
•Ability to provide patient care; to prepare and maintain records; to organize, coordinate, and evaluate nursing activities and delivery of health services; to interpret policies and procedures; to interpret health care regulations; to recognize patterns of medical necessity treatment; and to plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.
•Ability to interpret regulations and communicate them effectively both orally and in writing.
•Ability to appropriately interact with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, with their family members, and with staff members.
•Ability to work independently and productively with all levels of staff.
•Ability to train all levels of staff and coordinate shift assignments.
•Ability to make decisions and recommendations to SSLC leadership including on-call administrators.
•Must maintain current CPR certification. Must have strength and flexibility to safely perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
•Knowledge of emergency procedures and emergency equipment, i.e., CPR., and ability to assess and care for residents and/or staff members in emergency situations.

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