Acute Care Nurse

Job Description

Acute Care Nurse | VCU Tappahannock Hospital

The Tone:
This is an Acute Care Nurse role at VCU Tappahannock Hospital, located in Tappahannock, VA. The hospital provides essential care for a broad range of medical and surgical patients with acute conditions. This role is vital for delivering exceptional patient care and is supported by a comprehensive nurse residency program for new graduates. You will contribute to a dedicated team focused on patient outcomes and professional growth.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career to Experienced
• Type: Rotating Shifts
• Location: Tappahannock, VA

• Team: Works with RNs, LPNs, Patient Care Techs, and Unit Secretaries, reporting to a Nurse Director and Clinical Coordinator who jointly manage the Acute Care Unit and ICU.
• Mission: To provide comprehensive nursing care for medical and surgical patients with a wide array of acute medical conditions.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Deliver exceptional patient care, especially for new graduate nurses participating in the comprehensive 12-month VIZIENT Nurse Residency Program.
• Provide direct care to medical/surgical patients experiencing acute conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, respiratory illnesses, and post-surgical procedures.
• Complete initial nursing database assessments within 24 hours of admission and perform reassessments every 12 hours or as dictated by nursing policies.
• Organize work, delegate tasks, and supervise other nursing staff, including LPNs, Care Partners, and Unit Secretaries.
• Follow documented physician and licensed independent provider orders, adhering to Virginia nursing regulations and the ANA Code of Ethics for Nursing.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Diploma or Associate’s Degree from a professional nursing program; all registered nurses without a BSN must enroll in an approved RN to BSN program within two years and complete it within five years of their start date.
• Experience: Clin I (New Graduate Nurse): No experience required. Clin II: 12 to 24 months of RN experience. Clin III: 3 years of clinical experience.
• Skills: Current RN licensure in Virginia (or eligible/compact state licensure), AHA BLS HCP Certification or equivalent. Strong clinical decision-making, patient assessment, delegation, and adherence to established nursing practice standards.
• Bonus: Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (or higher). For Clin I: Experience as an LPN, nursing assistant, or care partner in an acute care setting. For Clin II, Clin III: Academic Health Care Experience or experience with similar patient populations in an acute care setting. For Clin III: Certification in a specialty area.