Career Center

PLEASE BE ADVISED that this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the National Nurses Organizing Committee. Pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement, Cook County will exhaust internal eligible applicants prior to considering external applicants. Cook County is assembling a list of qualified candidates for this position that will be considered should the position not be filled with internal eligible applicants.

Job Summary

Location: JHS | Stroger Hospital

Department: Renal Dialysis

Shift: 1:30pm - 12:00am (Monday-Friday) | Every other Saturday with on-call availability.

The Clinical Nurse II is a professional care provider on the Dialysis Unit who is responsible and accountable for coordinating and providing safe, effective individualized nursing care for patients and supportive care to significant others, assists other professionals in implementing plans of care. Nursing care involves application of the nursing process and utilizing technical skills for patient care delivery. These activities require nursing judgment based on application of scientific principles of nursing, problem solving and teaching/learning.

Typical Duties

Clinically provide individualized nursing care through the use of the nursing process.

Assessment

* Performs a physical assessment prior to and following dialysis.

o Particular care is given to the heart, lungs, abdomen, catheter site, general condition of the skin and the presence or absence of pitting edema.

Planning

* Develops a plan of care which is based on the patient's identified problems and needs with outcomes as well as short- and long-term goal.

o This plan should be tailored to the needs of the Dialysis Patient.

o The plan should be coordinated with the goals of the Multidisciplinary Team.

* Reviews the plan of care to ensure compliance with the ESRD regulatory agencies.

* Participates in the Dialysis Multidisciplinary Team Care Conference.

Nursing Interventions

* Provides safe and effective dialysis treatments within the Policy and Procedural guidelines including those for Infection Control.

* Obtains, reviews and implements Medical Orders for the treatment of patients according to the Hospital, Department and Unit Policy and Procedure.

* Recognizes and takes Actions in anticipated or actual life-threatening emergencies which may arise as consequence of dialysis.

* Teaches patient and significant other facts concerning renal disease, prescribed treatments, medications and their impact on the patient's state of well-being, documenting this teaching as required by policy and regulatory agencies.

* Circulates to ensure staff is maintaining scheduled patient within chairs or chair is assigned to inpatient.

* Maintains flow of hemodialysis patients.

* Participates as an active member of Nursing, the unit, and quality improvement team.

* Makes assignment for incoming nurses prior to arrival.

* Arrives early to set up unit for plan of care for patients.

* Notifies/follows up with physicians for physician orders for inpatients no later than noon.

Evaluation

* Evaluates the patient's response to dialytic and other interventions on a continuing basis collaborating with others in the health care team to resolve and identify problems, revising the plan of care, goals and outcomes.

* Reviews and evaluates the laboratory findings for the dialysis patient.

* Participates in the Quality Improvement activities of the unit to ensure the quality and appropriateness of the care that is given.

Leadership

* Assists in the maintenance of the Patient schedule, making adjustments as may be necessary after consultation with the Charge Nurse and/or Nurse Coordinator.

* Assists in the monitoring evaluation, establishment of levels and the procurement of supplies necessary to dialyze the load of anticipated patients.

* Acts either in concert with the Charge nurse/Nurse Coordinator or independently as required to resolve issues which may impact on patient care or the efficient operation of the unit.

* Acts as a preceptor/mentor to new employees on the unit during and following their orientation. Supervises new orientees in the absence of the Nurse Clinician.

Education and Research

* Assumes responsibility for clinical competency and continuing education as it relates to this specialty field.

o Attends hospital sponsored programs as well as outside seminars relating to their field of practice.

o Shares information learned at outside seminars with the rest of the staff on the unit.

* Cooperates and participates in research projects for the hospital or agencies regulating ESRD Care Facilities.

Documentation

* Provides clear, concise documentation of the assessment, Pre and Post dialysis for each patient under her/his care on the appropriate form. Reviews and countersigns all observations and subjective findings done by LPN's assigned to the team.

* Maintains a clear concise legible record of each treatment given to a patient on the appropriate form. This should include all patient teaching that is done during the course of dialysis.

* Documents all significant changes in the patient condition during the course of dialysis on the Progress Notes including the Physician that such changes were reported.

Minimum Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university

* Licensed as Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois

* Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

* Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification

* Three (3) years of current Dialysis nursing experience

Preferred Qualifications

* Current Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) certification

* Bilingual

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

* Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of staff and a patient population composed of diverse cultures and age groups

* Strong interpersonal skills

* Analytical skills, problem solving skills

* Accurate mathematical skills to calculate medications levels using weight, age, etc.

* Attention to detail

* Work to deadlines

* Flexibility and adaptability in performing duties

* Emergency response skills

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment. The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures: complying with Personal Protective Equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department specific engineering and work practice controls and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide policy and departmental procedures.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

PLEASE READ

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service.

To take advantage of this preference a Veteran must:

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, "Are you a Military Veteran?"

• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver's License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER'S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• 100% Tuition reimbursement for nursing-related programs

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/

MUST MEET REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION

Degrees awarded outside the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.

*Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.

*CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER