Registered Nurse 2, NS31 Labor & Delivery (Nights)

The Department of Nursing at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a full-time Registered Nurse 2, Labor & Delivery (Nights).

Distinguishing Characteristics 

Advanced performance level; provides direct nursing care to individuals in an acute care environment requiring advanced clinical interventions; performs professional nursing functions in three areas: direct individual care, preceptor, and clinical management.

Illustrative Duties

Direct Individual Care: 

• Provides nursing care to individuals in an acute care environment requiring complex nursing skills; uses advanced knowledge and skill in nursing assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation activities. 

• Observes and responds to individual emergency situations, and sets priorities for care based on individual acuity, preferences, and the possibility of effective intervention. Implements nursing interventions in response to changes in individual status and unusual circumstances.

• Interprets assessment data to determine if individuals are at physiological or psychosocial risk. 

• Takes steps to decrease stress and increase the effectiveness of individual coping mechanisms; uses effective communication strategies with individuals, families, staff, and the general public.

• Assesses individual status upon entry to the hospital and throughout hospitalization. 

• Identifies implications of individuals’ statuses and prioritizes data collection based on individuals’ immediate needs. 

• Identifies safety and security risks to promote a culture of safety and to prevent injury and harm to individuals, visitors, and staff.

Preceptor: 

• Guides lower-level, and new to specialty, registered nurses in choosing nursing interventions, developing skills, and applying knowledge. 

• Serves as a resource nurse for staff members, orienting new staff and providing feedback on nursing skills for specialty care areas. 

• Develops and maintains care standards knowledge bases for specialty care areas and develops care guidelines for unit-specific individual populations. 

• Maintains a minimum standard of continuing education for specialty areas. Evaluates and assesses individual staff and nursing student development needs. Counsels and implements a variety of teaching strategies to meet those needs in consultation with nursing management staff. 

• Participates in in-service and other educational programs related to clinical specialties. 

• May identify, develop, and implement nursing research studies on clinical units, in consultation with medical staff consultants.

Clinical Management: 

• Consults and coordinates with other health care team members to resolve complex clinical issues and develop short and long-term clinical goals for assigned units.

• Integrates and evaluates clinical care knowledge specific to the needs of unit individuals; develops unit-specific policies and procedures in consultation with nursing management staff. 

• Identifies and implements corrective actions to improve the quality of individual care; may oversee equipment testing and supplies. 

• Leads and attends various hospital committees. 

• Assists Registered Nurse Supervisor 1 (T&RC) staff with implementing and achieving unit operating changes; may take charge of a unit in the absence of a Registered Nurse Supervisor 1 (T&RC). 

• Resolves individual relation issues. Identifies and reports issues related to individual care, operation, and quality outcomes. Identifies potential conflict situations and facilitates solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Promotion: possession of a license and current registration as a registered professional nurse in New York State and 1-year of service as a Registered Nurse 1 (T&RC). 

• Open Competitive: possession of a license and current registration as a registered professional nurse in New York State; and two years of post-licensure clinical nursing experience in the acute care specialty area. 

• Substitution: a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing may substitute for 1-year of post-licensure clinical nursing experience; and a master’s degree in nursing may substitute for two years of post-licensure clinical nursing experience. 

55 B/C Qualifications

Individuals certified eligible for the 55 B/C program under the Governor's Program to Hire Persons/Veterans with Disabilities pursuant to Section 55 B/C of the Civil Service Law will also be considered. To be considered, you must provide a copy of your letter of eligibility with your response.

It is essential that candidates clearly and concisely indicate exactly how they meet the above minimum qualifications in their resume. Failure to show how you meet the minimum qualifications above may result in disqualification and removal from consideration.