NI-Nurse Communicator (Critical Care)

J  o  b    D  e  s  c  r  i  p  t  i  o  n

JOB INFORMATION

Effective Date:

9/2/2025

Entity:

Illinois

Job Code:

NI-2830AC

Job Title:

NI-Nurse Communicator (Critical Care)

FLSA Exemption Status:

Non-Exempt

JOB SUMMARY

The RN Critical Care Communicator provides leadership within the critical care setting by facilitating initial and ongoing conversations and information exchange between the patient, family, and caregivers. They will be responsible for working with the Nurse Manager(s) of the Critical Care Unit to design and implement interventions to improve the patient, family, and staff experience and facilitate shared decision making using best field practices. Responsibilities include collaboration with cross functional team members to ensure that family meetings occur following ICU admission and routinely after that. The Critical Care Nurse Communicator is the conduit between the patient, family, and caregivers regarding goals of care and will help facilitate palliative care consultations when appropriate. They will leverage expertise in shared decision making and emotional support for patients and families. Programmatic responsibilities include the continuous development and evaluation of family meetings to ensure effectiveness for both patients and staff. The incumbent provides support to communications and clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds, and practice evaluation.

The RN Critical Care Communicator possesses and demonstrates a high degree of skill and knowledge in both critical care nursing and family systems theory. They demonstrate an understanding of the principles of palliative care as well as the family dynamics and family coping and will work to improve the patient and family experience during the critical care stay.

The RN Critical Care Communicator plays an active role within the critical care nurse team by communicating family perceptions to the cross functional clinical team and translating difficult medical issues and prognoses for the family. The Communicator further communicates with the inpatient Palliative Care consult team when appropriate.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

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Ensures the delivery of high-quality communication about prognosis and shared decision making to critical care patients and their families.

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Demonstrates in depth knowledge and skills regarding critical care nursing and family communication.

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Consults with cross functional team members concerning patient care and communication issues.

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Evaluates decision making and ensures clinical care reflects up to date goals of care for patients/families.

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Participates in the development and evaluation of outcomes of communication programs for patients and families.

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Facilitates routine and robust family meetings between the patient, family, and staff beginning on the third or fourth day of the stay.

•

Assists in the consultation to palliative care when appropriate.

•

Provides education to patients and families regarding goals of care to increase the understanding of prognosis and anticipated progression of care.

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Provides critical psychosocial support to patients, families, and staff.

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Evaluates current palliative care nursing practices in relation to expected standards and participates in and facilitates palliative care consults when appropriate.

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Provides expert nursing communication and consultation to nursing staff, surrogate decision makers, medical staff, and others to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive plan of care, including transfer/discharge plan if applicable, for patients within a critical care setting to achieve desired patient outcomes.

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Intermittently provides reinforcement for prognoses and shared decision making to patients and families.

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Provides information and bereavement support when appropriate.

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Develops and operationalizes communication tools for discussions with patients and families in the critical care setting. Utilizes an empowerment model to create patient/family partnerships, employing strategies that strive towards consensus building.

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Tailors interventions to match the patient’s and family’s unique learning needs and barriers (e.g. current level of understanding, developmental status, cultural and language needs, impaired vision or hearing, etc.) and learning preferences.

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Assists in providing cross functional team awareness of shared decision making and palliative care.

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Actively participates in leading quality improvement projects related to patients and their families in the critical care setting.

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Assists in developing and evaluating written policies and procedures pertinent to the role.

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Actively participates in advisory groups to advance the science of shared decision making around goals of care.

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Collaborates with the cross functional team for overall program evaluation. Identifies key benchmarks for use in collaboration with the leadership team.

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Initiates and directs planning related to program development including the identification of program objectives, expected outcomes, resource requirements, and evaluation strategies.

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Develops and implements innovative models of instruction to support better communication with patients. Educates and supports staff needs on an ongoing basis.

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Collaborates with clinical department Directors, clinical Nurse Managers, and other Clinical Nurse Specialists in overall curriculum development and evaluation of communication programs.

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Plans educational programming in critical care communications for new or changing programs of care.

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Evaluate and disseminate research findings through publication in professional journals to enhance nursing care based on new knowledge.

As needed, additional responsibilities reasonably within the scope of duties and physical requirements may be assigned.  ALL DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE PERFORMED CONSISTENT WITH THE UW HEALTH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE COMMITTMENTS.

X

Clinical

Provides age and culturally appropriate assessment/screening, interpretation of clinical and laboratory data and develops and implements age appropriate interventional and plans of care including education within the parameters of his/her position responsibilities and licensure.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's Degree

in Nursing.

Required

Must provide copy of HS diploma or equivalent, or highest level of completed degree obtained.

Required

2 years

of relevant clinical experience in ICU nursing.

Required

Experience documenting patient care in an electronic medical record.

Required

Current RN licensure to practice in the State of Illinois.

Required

ACLS certification.

Required

Bi-annual CPR certification.

Required

Specialty certification (CCRN).

Preferred

LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED PER UW HEALTH POLICY. 

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Knowledge of documenting patient care in an electronic medical record.

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Ability to make knowledgeable clinical assessments and judgments.

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Ability to work independently.

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Ability to educate staff, patients, and families.

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Demonstrates effective and respectful communication with patients, families, and the healthcare team.

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Ability to facilitate multidisciplinary resolution of issues.

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Demonstrates the ability to maintain patient and family privacy and confidentiality.

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Demonstrates competence with a continuum of professional development from beginner to expert practitioner.

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Knowledge of computer-assisted instruction, basic skills in the use of word processing, databases, and PC based presentation software.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

Standing

X

Walking

X

Climbing

X

Bending

X

Crouching

X

Pushing / Pulling

X

Carry

X

Fine Hand / Eye Coordination

X

Color Discrimination

X

Hearing Ability

X

Lifting / Lowering 1 -15 lbs.

X

15 - 30 lbs.

X

30 - 50 lbs.

X

Over 50 lbs.

UW Health does not require, nor does it expect that its employees lift more than 50 lbs unassisted. Objects in excess of 50 lbs should be lifted or moved with mechanical means or through a team lift. Employees in patient care areas are expected to utilize mechanical lifts and adhere to the "Use of Mechanical Lifts (Liko)" policy in the Patient Services Policy and Procedure Manual.

Concentration on Detail

X

Attention Span of 1 + Hours on a Task

X

Ability to Remember Multiple Tasks

X

Oral Communication

X

Written Communication

X

Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids

X

Exposure to Toxins, Cytotoxins, Poisons

X

Exposure to Extreme Heat, Cold, Temp Fluctuations

X

Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals

X

Exposure to Radiation

X

Other

X

Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.

THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB WITH OR WITHOUT AN APPROVED ACCOMODATION. Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.