PICU Registered Nurse RN

• Location: Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA
• Sign-On Bonus: $20,000
• Relocation Bonus: $10,000
• Shift: Rotating - Normal duty hours for the positions shall be 0700-1930 or 1900-0730 Monday thru Sunday to include weekends and holidays

Degree/Education:

• Degree/Education: At a minimum a diploma in Nursing from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated state accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Registered Nurses shall be a graduate of an Associate Diploma or Baccalaureate Degree program from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). A copy of the college transcript and diploma shall be submitted.

• Certifications in addition to Basic Life Support: All HCWs shall maintain current certification in a basic provider cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course through the American Heart Association (AHA), Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) from the American Red Cross (ARC). Web-based classes do not meet the MTF standards.

• Experience: At least one (1) year of qualifying experience in the specialty is required.

• Licensure: Shall have and maintain a current, valid, active, and unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse (with no limitations, stipulations, or pending adverse actions) in any U.S. jurisdiction within the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam or the US Virgin Islands as required in the TO.

Job Responsibilities:

• Contract nurses providing services under this contract shall perform the same clinical duties as those required of any military or government civil service nurse of similar experience assigned to the same unit. Contract individuals must be designated by MAMC, Department or Nursing Service personnel to provide charge nurse responsibilities, team lead, provide orientation, and other activities as deemed appropriate. All nurses may be rotated throughout MAMC’s clinical areas however they will not be required to work outside their scope of practice

• Performs critical care duties to include assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating age specific nursing care across all ages. Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the interrelationship of body systems in maintaining and restoring health. The ICU nurse shall provide labor intensive care to a variety of patients with numerous complex medical and surgical pathologies. Clinical documentation according to standard operating procedures including obtaining patient history, pertinent family history and advanced medical directive information. Observes, assesses, and records symptoms, reactions, and progress; assist physicians during treatments and examinations; administer medication; administer prescribed treatments, completes admissions and discharges, and promotes convalescence and rehabilitation. RNs are responsible for monitoring and interpretation of collected data by the LSNs and unlicensed assisted personnel, informing the medical staff as appropriate.

• Functions as a patient advocate. Assesses patient/family knowledge level, develops and implements a plan of instruction and documents demonstrated level of understanding. Assessment plans will be targeted at age specific needs. Each nurse will manually and/or electronically document all patient care given and the progress of the patient utilizing the Department of Nursing documentation standards in the patients' medical record.

• Manages patients requiring hemodynamic monitoring, titration of vasopressor drugs, and a wide range of procedures where there is high risk for infection such as pulmonary artery catheters, arterial lines, central venous lines, external ventricle drainage devices, chest tubes, internal feeding tubes, endotracheal tubes and mechanically life support equipment.

• Communicates pertinent patient information to the charge nurse and/or physician as appropriate. The RN verifies transcription of physician orders. The RN assesses the patient and plans for appropriate nursing care. The care provided is documented in the patient's medical record along with their progress. RNs also develop and manage nursing care plans; instruct patients and their families in proper care; and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health.

• Medication will be administered using the “five rights” and medications shall be administered within the scope of nursing practice and include intravenous, subcutaneous, oral, transdermal, rectal, and intramuscular. Uses current resources to research medications prior to administration. Anti-cancer chemotherapy drugs are excluded unless contract employee has obtained appropriate documented education in cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and administration.

• Assesses patient’s condition for potential or life-threatening crises and can distinguish between normal and abnormal physical findings; initiates life saving measures in the absence of a physician. Knowledgeable of the pharmacology of the most commonly used emergency drugs, anticipated results, usual dosages, and their location on crash cart.

• Operates emergency equipment including, but not limited to defibrillator, EKG machine, cardia monitor and other equipment determined by MTF, unit and position. Depending on position and protocol, may serve as member of Rapid Response Team or emergency code team.

• Manages and ensures proper procedures are followed with the tissue/skin bank and the organ donor bank.

• Manages care of patients for a wide range of procedures of an advanced nature and difficulty where there is a high risk for infection and bodily functions are mechanically assisted by life support equipment.

• Assists with management and/or performs invasive procedures depending on scope of practice, such as pulmonary artery catheter insertion; balloon pump management, temporary pacemaker insertion, arterial punctures, endotracheal intubations, and other invasive procedures.

• Obtains patient history, and pertinent family history, and advanced medical directive information. Observes, assesses, and records symptoms, reactions, and progress; assist physicians during treatments and examinations; administer medication; administer prescribed treatments, completes admissions and discharges, and promote convalescence and rehabilitation. RNs are responsible for monitoring and interpretation of collected data by the LSNs and unlicensed assisted personnel, informing the medical staff as appropriate