Clinic Specialty RN – Heart Failure – (Medical Center) – Houston, TX

The Clinic Specialty RN position is considered an expert in a specialty and supports the Medical Staff of the Heart Failure Program and associated services.  The Clinic Specialty RN coordinates the efforts of the patient, physician, referring physicians, multi-disciplinary teams and other health care professional involved in the patient’s care to achieve optimal care in an out-patient ambulatory setting.    

At Houston Methodist, the Clinic Specialty Registered Nurse (RN) position is responsible for functioning as an advanced clinician at the Proficient level according to Benner’s model of clinical practice. The Clinic Specialty RN position provides, and coordinates defined specialty care and associated services to a defined population and is considered an expert in a specialty. Besides assessing patient and associated needs and developing and implementing intervention plans, and evaluates response, this position assists in coaching and mentoring department staff in areas of clinical and professional practice. Role modeling compassionate communication with physicians and the interprofessional health care team, the Clinic Specialty RN position assumes leadership responsibilities with high level contributions in the department and across the institution. Responsibilities for this position may include but are not limited to leading department clinical activities, assessing department needs related to practice and improvement opportunities, serving as a clinical resource for department staff and coordinating department education in partnership with management.

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as a content expert and clinical resource by providing staff and patient education. Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals. Role models and coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication, which includes active listening and teaching.

• Collaborates with other health care providers and/or community services, as appropriate.

• Improves nurse satisfaction by serving as a role model and mentor, facilitating teamwork with RNs, non-licensed and interprofessional staff. Drives improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e., peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Independently obtains detailed health histories and assesses patient and associated needs, develops, and implements intervention plans, and evaluates response on a selected patient population. Advocates on patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns.

• Performs or assists in procedural care requiring complex nursing skills and clinical judgment; treats acute/chronic medical problems, as per physician approved protocol. Administers ordered medications via oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, or sublingual routes.

• Educates patient and family about diagnostic procedures, medications, chronic disease management and treatment instructions. Consistently evaluates the patient’s comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly.

• Role models the patient and family-centered care standards, as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Mentors others regarding specialty populations. Practices in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles.

• Drives department activities to improve department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Models the standards of care related to the nursing process, as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Leads the interprofessional health care team in implementing plan of care. Anticipates/prevents and recognize/resolves early declines in patient condition and emergent situations. Manages complex patients and other department demands.

• Models the standards related to regulatory requirements and professional practice as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols and leads improvements in patient safety-related processes at department or service line level. Contributes to development of service line and clinical standards and guidelines.

• Partners on initiatives to improve quality and safety scores through reporting near misses and identifying solutions by collaborating with the interprofessional team. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Models independent time management effectively and prioritization of daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime. Actively participates in the stewardship and efficient utilization of resources and needs including capital and operational budget needs.

• Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, optimizing efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime, and other areas according to department specifications.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies areas of practice improvements with research-based evidence to achieve quality measures and patient safety outcomes, supported by accurate documentation and patient teaching, which are presented to department and leadership. Supports change initiatives and adapts to unexpected changes.

• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings, and workshops. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited school of nursing

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Five years of nursing experience with two years in specialty