BASIC FUNCTION:

• Provides and assures patient centered, cost efficient, safe, culturally competent, linguistically sensitive and quality care by adhering to evidence based practice; continuously assesses, diagnoses, plans, implements and evaluates outcomes; follows hospital, Nurse Practice Act, District of Columbia Board of Nursing, accrediting and regulatory agency regulations regarding standards of care.

DIMENSIONS:

• Indeterminate.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

• Interact(s) with staff, physicians, patients and their families, other healthcare providers, Hospital and University officials, and the general public.
   

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Collaborates with patient/family and health care team to determine health goals and interventions and to revise plans of care as needed. Maintains awareness of the unit’s periodic statistics regarding core measures, nursing quality indicators, customer satisfaction measures, and actively participates in activities/behaviors that progressively improve the statistics.
• Provides nursing care consistent with the nursing practice standards, policies and procedures established by the unit, department, division, and institution, professional ethics and standards, and legal requirements. Serves in the role of charge nurse upon completion of the 6 month orientation period, and with approval by the nurse manager.
• Participates in unit performance improvement programs through ongoing design, assessment and measurement, and performance improvement activities. Identifies patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.
• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families. Promotes patient's independence by establishing patient care goals; teaching patient, friends, and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills; answering questions.
• Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments; following hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by Nurse Practice Act of the District of Columbia, and other governing agency regulations.
• Resolves patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies. Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations. Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Maintains continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs. Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential. Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques. Maintains nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies; using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Maintains a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information; responding to requests; building rapport; participating in team problem-solving methods. Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. Meets all of the standards for a Clinical Nurse II as outlined in the most recent Howard University Hospital Clinical Advancement program.
• Achieves appropriate Hospital performance, quality, and productivity standards as established.
• Promotes adherence to the Health Sciences Compliance Program, the Howard University Code of Ethics and the Health Sciences Standards of Conduct.
• Attends annual and periodic mandatory Compliance Program training including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy training. Participates in activities that promote adherence to federal healthcare program requirements. Actively participates in Health Sciences Compliance Program activities.
• Adheres to the requirements of the HIPAA Privacy Policies and Procedures. Maintains confidentiality of patients, families, and staff. Assumes other duties and responsibilities that are related and appropriate to the position and area.
• The above responsibilities are a general description of the level and nature of the work assigned to this classification and are not to be considered as all-inclusive.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrates competency in clinical skills, bedside manner, infection control, physiological knowledge, administering medication, medical teamwork, multi-tasking, listening, verbal communication, health promotion and maintenance.
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills. Demonstrates willingness to learn. Knowledge of professional nursing and biopsychosocial principles, theories, concepts, and their adaptation to nursing practice.
• Knowledge of pharmacology of various drugs and their therapeutic and adverse actions and complications. Competence in both oral and written English.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and harmonious work relationships with staff, physicians, Hospital and University officials, and the general public.

CARES CRITERIA:

• Must demonstrate collaboration; accountability; respect; excellence; and service.
• Works with team members and peers in and outside of their immediate work group to create an exceptional experience for patients, students and other visitors; looks for ways to achieve departmental/institutional results by partnering.
• Accepts responsibility for his/her actions to provide health care and or ancillary functions in a highly efficient and compassionate manner.
• The employee must function as a Steward (Have Ownership) of the Howard values that foster a commitment to improving the patient and student experience, organizational efficiency and the environment.
• Embraces diversity; cares holistically for those we serve; treats all as we would like to be treated; manages the patient’s right to privacy with meticulous care 100% of the time and keeps patient and proprietary information about the institution confidential.
• Anticipates the patient’s and student’s needs, presents as a model representative of the institution and maintains high standards of care while striving to improve performance and create exceptional experiences for our customers.
• Behaves in a friendly, resourceful and professional manner towards all they encounter; treats patients, students and visitors in the same way that they would want their family members or themselves to be treated.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS :

• Associates Degree Required.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the District of Columbia.
• Maintains active American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, CNOR preferred.
• At least 18 months clinical experience in acute care nursing.

Must be able to stand, walk, sit, lift manually lift up to 35lbs and transfer/lift using the appropriate device to accomplish the patient care task, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, bend, pull, push, reach, handle, write, type, file, speak, hear, see, (depth perception, color vision), calculate, edit, evaluate, interpret, and organize for extended periods of time.

 

COVID-19 Vaccination 

Howard University Hospital requires all external applicants to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before commencing employment.  External Applicants may be required to furnish proof of vaccination and, if offered, may elect to be vaccinated at a designated Howard University Hospital location. 

Note: This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as may be required. The hospital has the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not be construed as a contract for employment. The Hospital does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, marital status, religion, or disability. Veteran status and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Inquiries regarding provisions for persons with disabilities, equal employment opportunity, and Title IX should be directed to the Office of Employee Relations and Equal Employment Opportunity at (202)-806-1316.