Description
General Summary
This role is considered the minimum level for all nurses with more than 12 months of experience. The nurse provides and coordinates independent care to patients within a clinical specialty as an effective and participative member of the interdisciplinary team.
Principal Responsibilities and Tasks
Clinical Practice
Provides independent care to unit-specific patient populations and serves as a clinical resource for others.
Utilizes and integrates evidence-based practice into patient care.
Functions effectively in unit-specific roles such as charge nurse.
Accountable to patients and families for care processes and outcomes during an episode of care.
Accountable to peers for advancing group practice on the unit and to the nurse manager for overall performance.
Serves as an effective primary nurse by collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to plan and coordinate patient and family care.
Service/Quality
Assists in team development and evaluation of patient care delivery; suggests methods for improvement.
Participates in data collection related to outcomes (e.g., handoffs, medication safety).
Contributes to quality improvement, evidence-based practice, or research at the unit level.
Complies with standards and participates in regulatory compliance activities.
Unit Operations
Supports charge nurse decisions and performs charge role as assigned.
Promotes interdisciplinary communication, collaboration, decision-making, recognition, and teamwork.
Assists in the development of unit practice protocols and standards.
Participates in shared governance activities such as nursing education and practice councils.
Assists in creating and supporting action plans.
Orients Clinical Nurse I staff to shared governance and council structures.
Professional Development
Serves as preceptor, coach, and mentor to new nurses and students.
Contributes to skill development of ancillary staff.
Participates in peer review processes, including providing and receiving feedback.
Attends educational offerings and completes required training independently.
Patient Safety
Ensures patient safety during care delivery and participates in unit safety initiatives.
Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.
Reports adverse events and near misses to the appropriate authority.
Identifies risks in processes, procedures, or devices and communicates them appropriately.
Requirements
Qualifications
Education & Experience
Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state of Maryland or eligible through Compact state agreements.
Associate degree required; BSN preferred.
At least one year of nursing experience with solid knowledge and clinical skills.
Current CPR certification required.
Completion of 10 contact hours of education every two years.
Membership in a professional nursing organization.
Recent applicable clinical experience in a comparable setting.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Maintains competencies required for the patient care setting and focuses on advancing professional development.
Demonstrates strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Exhibits leadership qualities through effectiveness as a charge nurse, preceptor, or clinical resource.
Functions effectively as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
Ability to learn and use computer systems for patient information management.
Supports teamwork and participates in unit team-building efforts.
Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient population served.
Understands principles of growth and development across the lifespan and assesses data reflective of patient-specific needs.
