Senior Registered Nurse (RN) - Hospital at Home

Interested in a career with both meaning and growth? Whether your abilities are in direct patient care or one of the many other areas of healthcare administration and support, everyone at Parkland works together to fulfill our mission: the health and well-being of individuals and communities entrusted to our care. By joining Parkland, you become part of a diverse healthcare legacy that’s served our community for more than 125 years. Put your skills to work with us, seek opportunities to learn and join a talented team where patient care is more than a job. It’s our passion.

Hospital at Home is an innovative program that combines in-home with remote monitoring, offering patients timely, hospital-level care in their homes. Though the list of diagnoses enrolled in Hospital at Home continues to expand, common disease states include acute pneumonia, cellulitis, COVID-19, urinary tract infection, dehydration, or exacerbations of chronic conditions, such as heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For many patients, the program provides an alternative to the traditional hospital setting and results in improved patient outcomes and satisfaction. The Hospital at Home team is looking for motivated nurses with critical thinking skills, acute care experience, and an interest in serving the Parkland community.

Primary Purpose

The RN is a licensed professional who uses the Parkland nursing professional practice model to coordinate acute patient care delivery in the patient home. Using the nursing process, the RN assesses the patient in their environment, identifies nursing diagnoses based on responses to health problems, develops and implements an individualized plan of care, and evaluates the patient's response. The RN utilizes knowledge of patient needs and providing healthcare in the home environment to assist patients to transition through the healthcare encounter without any preventable complications or delays. The RN delegates interventions to health care personnel based on the Texas Nursing Practice Act, each patient's condition, and the competencies of the employee.

Minimum Specifications

Education

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
• Prefer Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Experience

• Must have two years of nursing experience in the acute care setting.
• Prefer experience in the home environment.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

• None

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must have current, valid RN license or temporary RN license from the Texas Board of Nursing; or, valid Compact RN license.
• Must have current healthcare provider CPR course completion card from one of the following:
  • American Heart Association
  • American Red Cross
  • Military Training Network
• Must have current, valid driver’s license.

Required Tests for Placement

• None

Skills or Special Abilities

• Provides care to assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, established protocols, multidisciplinary plan of care, and clinical area specific standards.

• Provides continuous assessment, consults with other team members as required and provides nursing care which demonstrates patient centered/patient valued care.

• Exercises independent judgment in providing nursing care.

• Must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, and hospital staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.

• Must be comfortable providing healthcare in patient homes.

• Must be able to recognize emergency situations, escalate, and assist in corrective action.

• Must be able to organize and prioritize assignments, duties, and responsibilities

• Must be able to collaborate with various disciplines to meet the patient's plan of care in the home.

• Must be able to identify, address, and escalate patient social needs.
• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to provide direction to non-nursing staff and serve as a preceptor.

• Must be able to respond quickly and positively to dynamic processes, schedules, responsibilities, and expectations.

• Must exhibit understanding of physical assessment, aseptic techniques, IV skills, and universal precautions.

• Must be able to utilize navigational aids to find specific addresses.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a patient advocate, by focusing on patient needs, patient rights, confidentiality, and religious and cultural preferences. Maintains positive working relationships with all Parkland internal and external customers, employees, etc. Serves as a resource for patients and other healthcare team members. Provides patient care educational information and training to patient and family members. May serve as a resource for specific clinical patient care issues.

• Acts autonomously to structure day as well as coordinate and deliver care to multiple patients in Dallas County, following expectations outlined in department nursing procedures.

• Completes appropriate patient assessments, admission criteria, identification and implementation of appropriate clinical interventions, discharge planning, interdisciplinary communication. Utilizes critical thinking skills and recognizes emergency situations and provides appropriate nursing interventions. Consults with other team members as required, notifies providers to report changes in patient condition and implements orders in a timely manner. Exercises independent judgment in providing safe nursing care to patients.

• Completes appropriate documentation by maintaining accurate and timely entries and notations in patient care records and hospital documents. Ensures that all records and documents meet the standards, goals, and objectives of the department and Parkland.

• Maintains and implements knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact or govern Radiology nursing practice, and ensures that Parkland Hospital is in compliance. This may include EMTALA, Order of Productive Custody, Memorandum of Transfer and APOWW. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. Maintains and updates knowledge of sanitation, infection control, safety, supplies, equipment, appropriate utilization of supplies and materials.

• Proactively anticipates and responds to the needs of patients, their families, providers, and coworkers. Demonstrates an energetic and positive approach to work. Maintains a positive working relationship with all Parkland internal and external customers, employees, etc. Demonstrates a sense of ownership and pays attention to details of the job to ensure all mandatory obligations are met.

• Serves as a preceptor or trainer to newer nursing staffing members.

• Prepares and conducts an in-service educational program for the Hospital at Home Department at least once per year.

• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve patient and customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the Hospital at Home department and Parkland. May serve on various unit and interdisciplinary committees as opportunities present.

• Maintains State of Texas Licensure as a Registered Nurse, plus any additional required licensures/certifications. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.

Job Accountabilities

• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the department and Parkland.

• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.

• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.

Parkland Health and Hospital System prohibits discrimination based on age (40 or over), race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, disability, national origin, marital status, political belief, or veteran status. As part of our commitment to our patients and employees’ wellness, Parkland Health is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.