Registered Nurse I (New Graduate Nurse)

About the Role

All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, Children's National Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice. Children's National supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically those relationships associated with the health and well being of the community at large.

Key Responsibilities

• Gather physical and psychosocial data on patient and family and complete accurate and timely patient assessment.
• Demonstrate clinical skills necessary to care for assigned patients.
• Develop assessment, organizational and prioritization skills necessary to care for patients whose clinical needs change throughout the shift.
• Complete documentation in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Continually assess and plan proactively for educational needs throughout hospital/clinic stay and before time of discharge.
• Organize care to complete assignment on time.
• Demonstrate caring in all encounters with patient and family as evidenced by feedback from parents and an increase in patient satisfaction scores.
• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance.
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation.
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation.
• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication.
• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers.
• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance.
• Contribute to MagnetTM re-designation as evidenced by timely annual completion of professional profile and participation in relevant councils, committees, task forces and/or community outreach.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills as evidenced by successful completion of change project.
• Recognize need to escalate patient care issues via chain of command.
• Utilize the currently identified process to ensure accurate hand off.
• Demonstrate ability to work cohesively with ancillary staff to meet patient care needs.
• Cooperate in the implementation of change and support management decisions.
• Demonstrate empathy, concern and a desire to be helpful to others.
• Complete all mandatory education and regulatory requirements and participates in professional activities to enhance nursing practice.
• Participate in performance appraisal and peer review.
• Support department goals for formal education, national certification, national safety standards and service excellence.
• Work in a collaborative manner with all members of the healthcare team and is viewed positively by coworkers.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Associate's Degree ASN (Required)
• Bachelor's Degree BSN (Preferred)
• Registered Nurse licensed in the District of Columbia (Required)
• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (Required)
• The licensed Registered Nurse will successfully complete the hospital and nursing orientation at Children’s National.
• Identify resources and know when to ask for assistance.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
• Identify self learning needs and seek resources to meet those needs.

Heart and Kidney Unit (HKU) Context

• A 20-bed unit focusing on family-centered care for children with cardiac and renal diseases.
• Patient age range: neonates through adults.
• Patient care may involve:
• Heart surgery
• Diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterizations
• Dialysis
• Acute or chronic renal failure
• Nephrotic or nephritic disorders
• Organ transplantation
• All patient beds have cardiac and respiratory monitoring.
• Primarily admits patients from the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Ambulatory Clinic, PACU, and EMTC.
• Also admits 23-hour patients with cardiac and renal disease.

Transition to Practice Program (TPP)

• A 12-month program for nurse residents to transition into the role of a professional nurse.
• Offers guidance and support from clinical nursing staff, nurse educators, and program facilitators.
• Includes didactic and simulated learning combined with hands-on training.
• Facilitates transition from novice to competent nurse.
• Aims to create a strong social network fostering community, support, resiliency, and professional development.
• Offered twice a year to newly-licensed graduate nurses from an accredited nursing program with a passion for children.
• All new graduates with less than one year of clinical experience are eligible after obtaining licensure.
• Accredited with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs.