Clinical Nurse - Clinical Research Unit Full-Time Days/Flex

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

         Clinical Nurse- Clinical Research Unit- Full-time, 3/12 hour shifts, Days/Flex.
This role may occasionally work PM or Night Shift based on needs.  PMs: 9-9:30 or 11-11:30 and Nights would be 7-7:30.

The Clinical Nurse reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Based on the NMH framework for practice, the registered professional Clinical Nurse (RN) is accountable and responsible for the provision and coordination of clinically competent, evidence-based care for an assigned group of patients that includes diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation and evaluation. The nurse adheres to the ANA Scope and Standards of Professional Nursing, the Code of Ethics, and the Nursing Social Policy Statement.   As a member of the clinical care and unit team, the RN participates in decision-making, teaching, mentoring, and collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to advance the patient plan of care, achieve exceptional outcomes and enhance unit operations.  The RN exemplifies the components of what it means to be an NMH nurse, reflects the Mission, Vision, and Values of Northwestern Memorial, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

NMH Clinical Research Unit

The NMH Clinical Research Unit (CRU) and CRU Core Lab are part of NUCATS Center for Clinical Research (CCR). The CRU supports Northwestern Medicine's research mission by providing research specific nursing and laboratory services for the implementation of clinical trials and other Clinical Research, increasing their availability to participants.

Inpatient Services

• CRU nurses serve as the primary nurse, carrying out protocol driven research and clinical activities during inpatient stays. Most participants are admitted to Feinberg 10 East.
• The treating investigator serves as the Attending Physician.
• Studies whose participants are healthy, medically stable, and not in need of highly specialized clinical care are most appropriate.

Mobile Services

• CRU nurses go to NM Central Region procedural, outpatient, and ambulatory settings and NMH inpatient clinical areas to complete protocol driven nursing activities.  
• Allow patients to receive the "right care, in the right setting, with the right caregivers."
  • Clinical teams with the most expertise provide care for patients.
  • Patient experience is optimized by c are in a consistent setting.

Outpatient/Ambulatory Services

• A dedicated, research-focused clinic on Galter 15 staffed by CRU nurses who complete protocol driven nursing activities.

Responsibilities:

The role of the professional Clinical Nurse is unique and essential to the care of the patient. The nurse demonstrates that unique and essential function through the framework for nursing practice. 

Advocate: 

• Practices in accordance with the patient centered care model
• Develops an individualized age-specific culturally sensitive nursing plan of care for the patient that is based on the nursing process.
• Incorporates the role of patient advocate into the plan of care.
• Uses a team approach to develop and achieve daily patient-centered individualized care goals.
• Acknowledges and values the contributions of the patient's significant others as an integral part of the plan of care.
• Identifies potential conflict situations and facilitates resolution using established communication channels.
• Promotes and strives to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient.
• Protects patients by maintaining a safe environment.

Clinical Expert:

• Advances clinical expertise, as demonstrated through pursuit of informal and formal continuing education opportunities and obtaining specialty certification when eligible.
• Continuously enhances skills and abilities to ensure the highest quality patient care.
• Shares knowledge and expertise through educating team members, patients and students
• Demonstrates critical thinking by integrating theoretical knowledge and expertise to pose relevant clinical questions when evidence and practice differ.
• Identifies priorities, sets realistic and measurable goals, prescribes and implements nursing interventions in a safe and timely manner.
• Develops and implements individualized education plans for patients and families using suitable instructional materials and methods.
• Evaluates and documents the patient's responses to nursing interventions in the health record and properly individualizes the plan of care based on the evaluation of findings.
• Identifies situations that require further intervention and escalates appropriately; Consults appropriate experts and resources when needed.
• Participates in the formation, implementation and evaluation of team goals.
• Appropriately delegates and supervises interventions to implement the plan of care.
• Conveys complete, timely and accurate information at hand off at the bedside or any hand off.
• Adheres to ethical standards of practice.

Community Volunteer:

• Participates in one or more volunteer initiatives annually, Northwestern Memorial organized or on his/her own.

Compassionate:

• Consistently demonstrates interpersonal connections with patients and families from introduction through discharge.
• Proactively responds to patient concerns such as speaking to patients about possible/expected delays in plan of care.
• Treats patients, families, visitors and staff in a caring manner with respect and dignity
• Facilities recovery and where appropriate helps ensure a peaceful death for patients.

Professionally Engaged:

• Is a member of a professional organization or participates on a Northwestern Memorial committee or taskforce at the hospital-wide, departmental, or unit level?
• Demonstrates accountability and collaborative practice with co-workers, other disciplines, and departments.
• Assumes responsibility for continued professional growth and education reflecting knowledge and understanding of current nursing practice.
• Serves as a community mentor for team members.
• Serves as a preceptor for new team members.
• Participates in the peer feedback process by conducting a constructive assessment and evaluation of peer performance.
• Works collaboratively with all hospital services to accomplish daily work and maintain an environment of excellence.
• Participates in the development of policies, procedures and systems to support safe and effective care and advance nursing practice at NMH through the Shared Leadership Process
• Assumes personal responsibility for meeting internal (i.e., Best People profile, ELMs, CPR, and health requirements) and external regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Identifies opportunities for innovation and quality improvement; participates in innovation projects and the quality improvement process, including unit-based quality committees.
• Demonstrates accountability to Northwestern Memorial strategic, operational and fiscal goals.
• Exemplifies a professional image in appearance and communications. 
• Maintains and advances the professional image of nursing and the practice of professional nursing through an ongoing analysis of resources.
• Professional Organizations, literature, electronic resources, etc. 

Required:

• Graduate of an NLN accredited school/college of nursing
• Baccalaureate degree in Nursing or higher
• Current State of Illinois, Registered Professional Nurse license
• Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR through American Heart Association.  
• Analytic ability (conceptual and quantitative)
• Oral, listening and written communication skills
• Strong human relation skills to interact effectively and collaborate with others in difficult situations
• Use of a keyboard to enter or retrieve data

Preferred:

• Experience in specific clinical area
• Nursing specialty certification, if eligible

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.