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Patient Population: General Surgery/ Trauma/ Urology/ Vascular
The Urology/ Vascular & Trauma floor is a multispecialty surgical and trauma unit providing the opportunity to care for a variety of post- surgical patients at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Our nurses provide expert care to patients that have undergone a variety of complex urologic, vascular, and general surgical procedures. Additionally, as a Level 1 Trauma Center, our nurses are part of the interdisciplinary team caring for critically ill trauma patients. This unit allows for nurses to advance their skillset by combining cutting-edge technology and critical thinking skills to provide evidence-based comprehensive nursing care to our highly complex patient population.
Specialty surgeries include:
- Vascular bypass surgeries
- Limb revascularization surgeries
- Limb amputations
- Urinary diversion surgeries
- Gender affirming surgeries
- Ostomy placements
- Tumor removal
Clinical nurses on the Urology/ Vascular & Trauma unit gain incredible experience and knowledge in a variety of devices and procedures including continuous bladder irrigation, negative pressure wound therapy, chest tubes, venous dopplers, tracheostomies, complex wound management, and ileal conduits and ostomies.
On this unit, nurses have the opportunity and are encouraged to get involved in departmental quality committees and contribute to advancements in evidence- based nursing care by participating in our LEAD (Lead, Excel, and Develop) Program. We provide opportunities for professional growth and development and encourage lifelong learning to continue career advancement in the nursing field.
In addition, the unit offers a supportive environment that promotes teamwork and collaboration from all members of the interdisciplinary team including Advanced Practice Providers (Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Associates), physical therapists, occupational therapists, physicians, and social work. Attentive leadership and support resources are in place to empower nurses to practice to the top scope of their practice.
Our nationally accredited Nurse Residency Transition into Practice Program, is structured to provide all nurses with less than 1 year experience a thorough, supportive orientation with access to numerous resources to develop acute assessment, critical thinking, and analytical skills that build a strong foundation to a lifelong nursing career.
The Clinical Nurse reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
Based on the NMH framework for practice, the registered professional clinical nurse (RN) is accountable and responsible for the provision and coordination of clinically competent, evidence-based care for an assigned group of patients that includes diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation and evaluation. The nurse adheres to the ANA Scope and Standards of Professional Nursing, the Code of Ethics, and the Nursing Social Policy Statement. As a member of the clinical care and unit team, the RN participates in decision-making, teaching, mentoring, and collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to advance the patient plan of care, achieve exceptional outcomes and enhance unit operations. The RN exemplifies the components of what it means to be an NMH nurse, reflects the Mission, Vision, and Values of Northwestern Memorial, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
Responsibilities:
The role of the professional clinical nurse is unique and essential to the care of the patient. The nurse demonstrates that unique and essential function through the framework for nursing practice.
Advocate:
- Practices in accordance with the patient centered care model
- Develops an individualized age-specific culturally sensitive nursing plan of care for the patient that is based on the nursing process
- Incorporates the role of patient advocate into the plan of care
- Uses a team approach to develop and achieve daily patient-centered individualized care goals
- Acknowledges and values the contributions of the patient’s significant others as an integral part of the plan of care
- Identifies potential conflict situations and facilitates resolution using established communication channels
- Promotes and strives to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient
- Protects patients by maintaining a safe environment
Clinical Expert:
- Advances clinical expertise, as demonstrated through pursuit of informal and formal continuing education opportunities and obtaining specialty certification when eligible
- Continuously enhances skills and abilities to ensure the highest quality patient care
- Shares knowledge and expertise through educating team members, patients and students
- Demonstrates critical thinking by integrating theoretical knowledge and expertise to pose relevant clinical questions when evidence and practice differ
- Identifies priorities, sets realistic and measureable goals, prescribes and implements nursing interventions in a safe and timely manner
- Develops and implements individualized education plans for patients and families using suitable instructional materials and methods
- Evaluates and documents the patient’s responses to nursing interventions in the health record and properly individualizes the plan of care based on the evaluation of findings
- Identifies situations that require further intervention and escalates appropriately; Consults appropriate experts and resources when needed
- Participates in the formation, implementation and evaluation of team goals
- Appropriately delegates and supervises interventions to implement the plan of care
- Conveys complete, timely and accurate information at hand off at the bedside or any hand off
- Adheres to ethical standards of practice
Community Volunteer:
- Participates in one or more volunteer initiatives annually, Northwestern Memorial organized or on his/her own
Compassionate:
- Consistently demonstrates interpersonal connections with patients and families from introduction through discharge
- Proactively responds to patient concerns such as speaking to patients about possible/expected delays in plan of care
- Treats patients, families, visitors and staff in a caring manner with respect and dignity
- Facilities recovery and where appropriate helps ensure a peaceful death for patients
Professionally Engaged:
- Is a member of a professional organization or participates on an Northwestern Memorial committee or taskforce at the hospital-wide, departmental, or unit level
- Demonstrates accountability and collaborative practice with co-workers, other disciplines, and departments
- Assumes responsibility for continued professional growth and education reflecting knowledge and understanding of current nursing practice
- Serves as a community mentor for team members
- Serves as a preceptor for new team members
- Participates in the peer feedback process by conducting a constructive assessment and evaluation of peer performance
- Works collaboratively with all hospital services to accomplish daily work and maintain an environment of excellence
- Participates in the development of policies, procedures and systems to support safe and effective care and advance nursing practice at NMH through the Shared Leadership Process
- Assumes personal responsibility for meeting internal (i.e. Best People profile, ELMs, CPR, and health requirements) and external regulatory and accreditation requirements
- Identifies opportunities for innovation and quality improvement; participates in innovation projects and the quality improvement process, including unit based quality committees
- Demonstrates accountability to Northwestern Memorial strategic, operational and fiscal goals
- Exemplifies a professional image in appearance and communications
- Maintains and advances the professional image of nursing and the practice of professional nursing through an ongoing analysis of resources
- Professional Organizations, literature, electronic resources, etc.