Overview
The CVICU (pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit) at Levine Children's Hospital is currently a 10-bed unit and will be expanding to 20 beds by the end of 2024. This high-acuity unit is currently ranked #7 in the country as a Best Children's Hospital for Cardiology and Heart Surgery by U.S. News and World Report for 2024-2025. The staffing ratio is usually 1:1 or 1:2 and we care for a wide range of ages, from neonates to 18 years old. Patient population includes pre-op and post-surgical repair of congenital heart defects; heart transplant; ventricular assist devices; acquired heart disease; ECMO; CRRT; etc. Patients are monitored very closely until stable enough to be transferred to the 8th floor (Progressive Care).
Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital (LCH) has taken the community to another level of service to provide care for the growing population of children in our region. At 247 beds, LCH is the largest children's hospital between Atlanta and Washington DC. It serves high acuity patients as the flagship children's hospital within the innovative Atrium Health and offers a full complement of over 125 pediatric subspecialists in over 30 different pediatric specialties. We have 4 pediatric hospitalist teams, a 10 bed PICU, a 10 bed Cardiac ICU (expanding to 24 bed PICU and 20 bed CVICU by the end of 2024), an 85-bed Level IV NICU, and an inpatient pediatric rehabilitation floor. Levine Children's Hospital is also Charlotte's only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. LCH has been named a Best Children's Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for 17 consecutive years and is nationally ranked in 10 pediatric specialties. Currently, LCH is ranked as the #1 children's hospital in North Carolina and tied for #1 in the southeastern United States. Additionally, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center and Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital have earned Magnet re-designation from The American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. Magnet designated health care organizations showcase excellence in nursing practice and patient outcomes.
Job Summary
Responsible for the direct provision of patient care and for assisting the manager with daily operations to include but not limited to coordination of patient care/outcomes, allocation of human and fiscal resources, communications, patient throughput, program development and oversight, patient, physician and employee rounding, selection, development, and retention of staff, clinical supervision and performance appraisal, performance improvement activities, service recovery and compliance with regulatory agency requirements. Maintains clinical and professional competency as appropriate to the population of patients served.
Essential Functions
Supports the manager utilizing systematic approaches to enhance the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice, nursing service administration and delivery of care in the department
Assists with interview, selection, and supervision of nursing personnel in the department
Assists with coordination of communication at regular intervals throughout shifts via staff meetings/huddles to exchange information/ promote dialogue with teammates
Collaborates with manager to ensure understanding and compliance with federal and state laws, to include healthcare services and practice, while complying with all required regulations and policies
Rounds on patients, teammates, and physicians at prescribed frequencies to gain insight into patient care, employee, and physician satisfaction and appropriateness of patient care and/or department operations
Delegates elements of care to appropriate healthcare workers in accordance with applicable legal or policy parameters or principles
Assists in identifying expected outcomes to provide direction for continuity of care/department operations
Assists in evaluating progress towards goal attainment/achievement of expected outcomes and disseminates information to teammates involved with the care or the situation
Performs nursing care, assists with treatments, therapies, procedures, and administers medications as necessary
Coordinates management of patient flow/throughput and staffing through continuous assessment of volume/acuity needs, utilizing resources available to assist in provision of appropriate staffing resources
Physical RequirementsWork requires walking, standing, sitting, lifting, reaching, stooping, bending, pushing, and pulling. Must be able to lift and support the weight of 35 pounds in handling patients, medical equipment, and supplies. Must speak and understand English fluently. Intact sense of sight, hearing, smell, and touch. Finger dexterity. Critical thinking and ability to concentrate.
Education, Experience and Certifications
Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing. Current RN licensure in appropriate state. Minimum two years nursing experience preferred. Previous management experience preferred. BSN required. RN candidates for external hire or internal promotion without BSN must be enrolled in a BSN program within 1 year of Hire/Transfer date and must complete program within 3 years of enrollment in the program. BLS required per policy guidelines. Appropriate professional certification (either clinical or leadership) is required within 1 year of eligibility for professional certification exam. Additional education, training, certifications, or experience may be required within the department by the nurse leader.