RN New Graduate Nurse- 5HV-Cardiovascular Surgery Stepdown

Description

**Spring/Summer New Grads***

Next program start date: May 2026 ‐ August 2026, the New Graduate Nurse Program will offer varied start dates based on graduation and NCLEX dates.

General Program Overview: The twelve‐month UNC Health Rex Nurse Residency program supports the transition from academia to practice for new graduate nurses. The wrap‐around support from all levels of nursing is designed to assist new nurses in developing competence and confidence in the professional role.

In addition to clinical orientation on the unit, the Residency program provides structured clinical and professional growth. The first component of the Residency involves engaging classroom sessions highly focused on clinical skills and issues relevant to the unit and service line of the participants. The next component is comprised of continuing education professional development sessions, as well as completion of a group evidence‐based practice project. Additionally, within the 12‐month program, participants will complete milestones as defined by their unit and attend regular check ins with their unit leadership and educator.

Additional purposes and goals of the program are:

Increase proficiency ‐ from novice to competent nurse
Promote evidence‐based practice at the bedside to ensure best patient outcomes
Develop clinical leadership skills at the point of care

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 diverse employees, whose mission is to improve the health and well‐being of the unique communities we serve.

Why start your career at UNC Health Rex?

Named one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity by Newsweek and Plant‐A Insights
Named Best Hospital in WRAL Voters' Choice Awards
Top 100 Hospital for Stroke Care by Healthgrades
Named one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women by Newsweek and Plant‐A Insights
Named one of the 'World's Best Hospitals 2023' by Newsweek

How do I qualify?

New Graduate Nurse: Graduation from school of professional nursing. Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina by the day of clinical care. Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification.

What is defined as a new graduate nurse? Nursing student in their final semester of nursing program or; Nursing graduate within 12 months of graduation; and RN who has worked less than 6 months as a registered nurse.

*This position qualifies for our UNC Rex Incentive Program, up to $25,000 tuition loan forgiveness or $10,000 Commitment Incentive (for select departments only). In addition, this position is also eligible for up to $5,000 in relocation assistance (based on location) and our employee referral program. Learn more about our UNC Rex Incentive Program here:  Show Contact Details 

Cardiovascular Surgery Stepdown

Unit The Cardiovascular Surgical Stepdown Unit is located on the 5th floor of the Heart and Vascular Hospital. This stepdown unit specializes in the care of structural heart, cardiac and vascular surgical patients that require the titration of inotropes, vasopressors and/or patients with increased oxygen demands, needing advanced non‐invasive oxygen delivery.

The Cardiovascular Stepdown Unit is designed for patients who have moved out of intensive care but need more frequent observation/interventions by nurses to proactively detect subtle changes in patients' condition and act quickly when patients show signs of deterioration. The design of the Cardiovascular Surgical Stepdown Unit mirrors the ICU layout and allows for quick access to resources within each workstation. The rooms are all equipped with bedside monitors that are capable of advanced hemodynamic monitoring and wall mounted computers for easy access to electronic charts.

Nurses can effectively communicate with advanced practice providers, floor assigned pharmacists and respiratory therapists that are present on the unit. The leadership team is shared between both the Cardiovascular Surgery ICU and the Stepdown Unit to provide an environment that fosters critical thinking and supports personal and professional growth.

Summary:

Provides competent clinical nursing care consistent with professional standards. Reporting and accountable to the Nurse Manager/Director, the Clinical Nurse is responsible for coordinating and delivering patient care utilizing the nursing process in a hospital setting.

Responsibilities:

1. Education ‐ Participates in identifying and meeting learning needs of self. Attends education programs based on identified learning needs. With assistance, uses patient education materials relevant to patient population. Assesses readiness to learn of the patient/family/caregivers. Assesses developmental level of patient and factors affecting ability to learn.
2. Evaluation of Care ‐ Identifies expected patient outcomes. Seeks guidance as needed in revision of plan of care. Participates in discussion with members of the interdisciplinary team in evaluation of patient care. Communicates relevant information to promote continuity of care.
3. Implementation ‐ Demonstrates competence in care of patients with complex problems, including population‐appropriate physical, psychosocial, educational and safety aspects of care. Performs bedside point of care testing as required for patient care plan. Utilizes healthcare organization and nursing standards, policies and procedures in delivery of care. Organizes and prioritizes care according to patient/family needs. Consults with appropriate resources in a timely fashion regarding patients with complex care issues, unusual teaching needs and/or those at high risk for discharge planning.
4. Leadership ‐ With assistance, develops goals to promote professional growth or minimize limitations. Achieves goals and objectives within identified time frame or renegotiates with supervisor. Is knowledgeable about activities which facilitate intra/interdepartmental collaboration. Participates in development and achievement of unit goals and performance improvement activities. Effectively uses communication systems. Participates in promoting cost‐effective care. Gives feedback to co‐workers. Is aware of public policy and regulatory guidelines affecting the health care environment. Promotes a safe, clean and secure hospital environment for all
5. Patient Assessment ‐ Recognizes data from complex situations to determine priorities for care. Includes appropriate physical, psychosocial, education and safety needs. Synthesizes assessment data into meaningful whole prior to communication to others. Assesses and anticipates discharge needs of individual patients and families. Develops relationships with families that promote their ability to advocate for the patient and their own needs.
6. Planning ‐ Collaborates with patient/family to prepare or update the plan of care. Makes use of available multidisciplinary resources in planning care. Begins to use full range of communication as a means to convey planning. Identifies and addresses cultural and ethnic issues in planning patient care. Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks for patients with complex problems.
7. Research ‐ Reads journals that contain studies or articles that may be applicable to practice. Brings ideas and questions to the staff at large for assessment of applicability.