Job Description

The ICU Virtual RN provides an additional level of support to patients, nurses, and the bedside team by utilizing the nursing process to provide real-time clinical decision support. Virtual nurses are integrated as an important part of the MSRH healthcare team and will have the opportunity to establish trusting relationships with the rest of the clinical team. Leverages technology to collaborate with the bedside nurse and interprofessional teams in order to achieve positive patient outcomes.

• Communicate with patients and other healthcare providers via videoconferencing and equipment such as desktop computers, tablets, and mobile devices.
• Conducting video monitoring and virtual assessments of patients to include physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs.
• Collaboration within patient multidisciplinary rounds.
• Utilization of clinical decision-making skills to escalate concerns to the care team.
• Participation in real-time quality and patient safety surveillance.
• Providing patient and family education.
• Evaluation of patient outcomes and modification of care plans accordingly.
• Participation in patient care admission and discharge activities including documentation of patient history, medication reconciliation, discharge planning, and completing discharge instructions with patients and families.
• Collaboration with the healthcare team is needed to support the development and implementation of patient care plans.
• Providing education and support to patients and family members.
• Conducting post-discharge follow-up phone calls.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy of the patient throughout all areas of patient care.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English is necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially concerning activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.
• Uses therapeutic communication to establish relationships with patients, families, and interprofessional teams and collaborate on the plan of care.
• Strong assessment, organizational, and problem-solving skills as evidenced by the capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components.
• Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care teams, and patients and their families.
• Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act.
• The promotion of expert professional practice by evaluating his/her practice and evaluating patient outcomes,
• The ability to plan for care expertly using the nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation of outcomes utilizing nursing art and science.
• The ability to provide others with expert Peer Review to improve practice.
• The practice of expert anticipatory care is alert to changing patient conditions before a critical incident.
• The expert integration and support for patient safety systems by role-modeling for others, such that to “Do No Harm
• The application of expertise in the improvement of the best in patient care.
• The ability to contribute to the profession's knowledge by valuing discipline to bring organizational nursing excellence to the institution.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's of Science in Nursing required
• Current Texas Board of Nursing (or Compact State) RN license; Or a Temporary Texas RN License (Permanent TX license within 90 days upon hire).
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, within 7 days of hire.

This position may require the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure per Texas EO-GA-48.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is a nationally recognized, top-tier public research university that unites the power of higher education, biomedical discovery and healthcare within one visionary institution. As the third-largest research university in Texas and a Carnegie R1-designated institution, UT San Antonio is a model of access and excellence — advancing knowledge, social mobility and public health across South Texas and beyond. UT San Antonio serves approximately 42,000 students in 320 academic programs spanning science, engineering, medicine, health, liberal arts, AI, cybersecurity, business, education and more. With 17,000 faculty and staff, UT San Antonio has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Company Culture.

Benefits Overview

UT Health San Antonio offers an excellent benefits package for its employees. Employees who work at least 20 hours a week, with an appointment of at least 4.5 months, are eligible for benefits.

Medical - UT SELECT Medical insurance is offered free for employees and administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Family members can be added to the plan through payroll deduction. Employees and their dependents can also receive discounted copays and coinsurance when using UT Health Physicians, a network of 800 premier physicians including more than 100 specialists. Employees receive $50,000 of group term life insurance and $50,000 of basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance for free, with options to purchase additional employee and dependent coverage for both at group rates.

Dental - Three dental insurance plan options are available for employees and their families through Delta Dental Insurance Company, two PPOs and one dental HMO plan. Both PPO plans allow employees to choose any licensed dentist.

Vision - Fully insured Vision Care benefits are offered by Superior Vision Services. Two vision plan options that offer either standard or enhanced vision benefits.

Disability - Employees can enroll in the Disability Insurance which provides income if a non-work related illness or injury prevents you from working.

FSAs - Employees can enroll in flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to set aside money from earnings before taxes for qualifying dependent day care expenses or out-of-pocket health care expenses.

Retirement - Employees are eligible for either the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) or the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP). TRS is a defined benefit retirement plan which UT Health matches employee contributions. ORP is for eligible faculty staff employees. Voluntary retirement programs are also available to invest before- or after-tax dollars with the choice of five quality retirement plan providers.

Time Off - A generous leave program offers multiple paid leave options:

• Front-loaded Paid Time Off: 128 to 208 hours (16 to 26 days) of Paid Time Off based on years of service, given at the start of each fiscal year. PTO may be prorated in year one based on date of hire.
• Extended Illness Bank: 8 hours (1 day) accrued per month which can be used for illness or injury after one day of Paid Time Off is taken.
• Paid Family Leave: Up to 240 hours (6 weeks) to care for a spouse, child, or parent after 6 months of consecutive employment.
• Holidays: 12 set paid holidays each year.

Discounts - Employees enjoy a range of discounts on services, tickets, and gym membership.

EEO Statement

UT Health San Antonio is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. It is our policy to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.