Registered Nurse, Stepdown, Full-time nights, Clarksville

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization:

VCH Step Down

Job Summary:

Applies the nursing process to plan and implement the care of patients, including patient and family education and continuum of care planning. Effectively communicates pertinent patient/family information to the health care team. Collaborates in establishing patient goals and evaluates progress to ensure effective outcomes. Furthers professional growth by engaging in learning activities according to the Board of Nursing standards.

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Hours of Position:

Full-time (36 hours/week), nights (6:45p - 6:45a)

We are seeking a compassionate, highly skilled Registered Nurse (RN) to join our 21-bed Stepdown/Telemetry Unit. This unit specializes in caring for acutely ill but stable patients who require continuous cardiac monitoring and a higher level of nursing assessment and intervention. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is committed to delivering exceptional patient- and family-centered care.

About the Unit

Our Stepdown Unit is a 21-bed hardwired telemetry department that cares for patients with a broad range of:

• Cardiac and vascular conditions
• Medical-surgical diagnoses
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Patients requiring bedside cardioversion
• Sepsis and stroke management
• Withdrawal management
• Oxygenation and respiratory support
• Post-operative recovery and monitoring
• Patients requiring titratable medications and specialized interventions

With a nurse-to-patient ratio of 4:1, nurses are empowered to provide comprehensive, high-quality care while developing strong clinical expertise.

Clinical Skills and Equipment Experience

Preferred experience with:

Cardiac Monitoring & Procedures

• Hardwired ECG telemetry monitoring
• Cardiac rhythm interpretation
• Bedside cardioversions

Respiratory Support

• BiPAP therapy
• High-flow oxygen therapy
• End-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) monitoring

Medical Equipment

• Alaris infusion pumps
• PCA (Patient-Controlled Analgesia) pumps
• Epidural management
• Bladder scanners

Medication & Infusion Management

• Cardiac drips
• Sedation infusions
• Intravenous fluids
• Blood product administration
• Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

Required Qualifications

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in applicable state.
• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in telemetry, stepdown, progressive care, cardiac, or acute care nursing.
• Telemetry rhythm interpretation experience.
• Professional nursing certifications related to cardiac, medical-surgical, or progressive care nursing.
• Experience caring for complex medical and cardiovascular patients.
• BLS, ACLS

Professional Practice Environment

Our team is committed to continuous learning, professional growth, and clinical excellence. Nurses are encouraged to participate in:

• Shared governance councils
• Quality and safety initiatives
• Professional certification programs
• Multidisciplinary rounds
• Evidence-based practice projects
• Ongoing education and career development opportunities

Orientation & Development

New team members receive a comprehensive 8-12 week orientation program, tailored to individual nursing experience and designed to build confidence and clinical competence within the Stepdown environment.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be:

• A critical thinker with strong clinical judgment
• Team-oriented and collaborative
• Adaptable in a fast-paced environment
• Passionate about patient- and family-centered care
• Committed to lifelong learning and professional development
• An excellent communicator who thrives in interdisciplinary teamwork

Join a highly engaged team dedicated to delivering exceptional care to complex patients while fostering a culture of collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborates in establishing the plan of care, coordinates and implements care delivery while anticipating patient care needs across the continuum.
• Analyzes comprehensive information pertinent to the patient's care and management to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Continually utilizes the nursing process to evaluate patient's progress towards goals and applies appropriate interventions to ensure effective outcomes.
• Employs strategies to promote health and a safe and healthy environment.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

• Care Planning (Novice): Demonstrates ability to anticipate resource needs, identify distinct tasks, set priorities, schedule activities, meet deadlines, and organize work within areas of direct responsibility. Competently handles multiple assignments often simultaneously by prioritizing work into manageable and measurable units. Ability to adapt to changes to patient care and area needs with minimal disruption and loss of productivity. Follows up to assure problems and issues are resolved.
• Nursing Patient Education (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency in providing patient education in practical applications of moderate difficulty.
• Nursing Patient Assessment & Evaluation (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate the ability to assess and evaluate patients in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Conducts primary care patient interviews and physical examinations. Demonstrates sufficient acumen to recognize problems, ask questions and to contact the patient's primary care provider and other members of the healthcare team. Has experience in gathering pertinent clinical data that aid in referral, treatment, or other primary care pathways.
• Evidence-Based Practice (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully search for evidence to answer clinical questions. Generally works under the direction of others while accomplishing assignments.

 Our Nursing Philosophy:  

We believe highly skilled and specialized nursing care is essential to Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s mission of quality in patient care, education and research. We believe nursing is an applied art and science focused on helping people, families and communities reach excellent health and well-being. 

As a Vanderbilt University Medical Center employee, you make a difference to our patients and their families by bringing compassion and care to those in need of hope and healing. Please see our current employee benefits offered:

• Affordable High Quality Health Plan Options
• Dental and /or vision plan
• 403 (b) retirement plan
• Paid Time off (flex PTO)
• Tuition Reimbursement and adoption assistance (maximums applied)
• Short-Long term disability
• Subsidized backup childcare
• And many more... Ask us about our current inpatient nursing supplemental Pay Program!

Achieve the Remarkable: 

Learn more about VUMC Nursing here.

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

LIC-Registered Nurse - Licensure-Others

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level:

Less than 1 year

Education:

Graduate of an approved discipline specific program

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity.  EOE/Vets/Disabled.