Virtual Acute Care RN

In 2020, united in a fierce commitment to deliver the highest quality care and exceptional patient experience, Virginia Mason and CHI Franciscan Health came together as natural partners to build a new health system centered around the patient: Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Our combined system builds upon the scale and expertise of our nearly 300 sites of care, including 11 hospitals and nearly 5,000 physicians and providers. Together, we are empowered to make an even greater impact on the health and well-being of our communities.

CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason are now united to build the future of patient-centered care across the Pacific Northwest. That means a seamlessly connected system offering quality care close to home. From basic health needs to the most complex, highly specialized care, our patients can count on us to meet their needs with convenient access to the region’s most prestigious experts and innovative treatments and technologies.

While you’re busy impacting the healthcare industry, we’ll take care of you with benefits that may include health/dental/vision, FSA, matching retirement plans, paid vacation, adoption assistance, annual bonus eligibility, and more!

Job Summary:

The RN - Virtual Acute Care position is responsible for providing consultative patient care nursing services via the centralized CHI Franciscan Health Virtual Health Network. This network focuses on the provision of virtual care for patients located in acute care or other inpatient care units that are remote from our centralized command center in Tacoma, Washington. The role works collaboratively with the Inpatient team and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers to facilitate achievement of cross-coverage clinical objectives, quality/customer service standards and improvement of patient care outcomes. 

The incumbent also provides indirect patient care, including assessing, planning, coordinating, evaluating and delegating work to members of the on-site patient care team.  Work is conducted in accordance with the organization’s policies, applicable regulatory requirements and scope of practice for the nursing profession. This employee will also provide education to bedside clinical RNs, nocturnist MDs and other staff members in implementing appropriate nursing interventions for optimal patient care and safety. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Determines and provides recommendations, in consultation with on-site Virtual Franciscan Inpatient Team providers, timely and appropriate responses to pages/requests from bedside primary RNs.
• Gathers relevant patient care data from appropriate resources; collaborates on nursing plan of care based on needs identified by bedside RN during initial and ongoing patient care assessments; considers patient acuity and the competencies of the on-site care team as necessary to ensure the care recommended is consistent with CHI Franciscan Health standards and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborates with the primary RN and Virtual Franciscan Inpatient Team provider to assure appropriateness, accuracy and timeliness of provider orders; recommends holistic, comprehensive and professional nursing care actions for patient within scope of practice.
• Provides advice and counsel regarding the implementation of appropriate patient care interventions; incorporates critical thinking into daily practice as demonstrated by the quality of care recommendations, effective transfer of knowledge, timely follow through and optimal patient outcomes.
• Initiates and/or implements appropriate patient interventions as necessary to respond to routine, urgent and emergent patient issues; assesses and evaluates results to facilitate positive outcomes.
• Determines/recommends, in consultation with on-site healthcare providers, timely and appropriate changes to patient care plan.
• Advocates for patient needs so that all appropriate disciplines are informed of, and participating in, the established plan of care; escalates emergent patient issues per established communication protocols at each hospital site.
• Responds to appropriately by demonstrating effective decision-making and provides follow-up to ensure that patient problems are resolved.
  Documents care delivered and patient status utilizing the nursing process in accordance with CHI Franciscan Health standards of care, including changes in patient condition, patient responses to intervention and reassessments of pertinent findings.
• Documents and assures appropriateness, accuracy and timeliness of Nurse Initiated Orders.
  Provides patient care education and guidance to bedside clinical staff; educates regarding results, findings and diagnoses to primary RN and providers within scope of practice.
• Provides continuing assistance to management with respect to the development and/or improvement of existing clinical/treatment protocols/practices through the ongoing analysis and evaluation of current activities.
• Keeps abreast of trends, developments and regulatory requirements impacting matters within designated scope of responsibility; performs job duties in compliance with CHI Franciscan Health policies and procedures, including safety, risk management and regulatory standards.
• Identifies opportunities for, and participates in, performance/quality improvement activities to improve clinical outcomes, healthcare delivery systems and to address patient safety/satisfaction and cost containment.

Education/Work Experience Requirements:

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing, and three years of related work experience that demonstrates attainment of the requisite job knowledge, skills and abilities.  PCU, critical care and/or Charge/Resource RN work experience is preferred.

Bachelor’s degree in nursing is preferred. 

Licensure/Certification:

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse issued by the Washington State Board of Nursing.
• Current Healthcare provider BLS Certification.
• Specialty certification, as appropriate to the assigned work unit, is strongly preferred.