RN MS Institute

MS Institute RN

With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation's top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.

Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You will enjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers, strong support from leadership, and fun activities that have kept over 12% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years.

The MS Institute RN is responsible for providing nursing care services for patients in a hospital outpatient setting. Utilize a collaborative interdisciplinary approach to anticipate, integrate, and coordinate plan of care for patients. Serves as a patient/caregiver advocate and acts as a communication link among the internal and external healthcare providers to maintain safe practice and optimize care.

• Utilizes high level of knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis disease process and effectively communicates medical issues with physicians.
• Infuses immunosuppressive, blood (IVIG) products or chemotherapy agents.
• Identifies and manages hypersensitivity reactions to infusion therapy.
• Monitors patient post infusion for reaction and reports to physician/APP for additional care; follows protocol orders for infusion reaction.
• Inserts peripheral intravenous catheters and access and maintains venous access devices (VAD)
• Interprets information from chart prior to treatment, completes assessment and verifies appropriate infusion consent signed and up to date prior to any infusion and utilize nursing judgement that is in line with treatment and physician.
• Identifies and notifies the physician/APP of any contraindications prior to infusion.
• Completes new medication start forms and assists patients and interdisciplinary team with ensuring all required forms are completed and faxed in a timely manner.
• Assess patient's status throughout infusion phases of care:
  • Educational needs
  • cardiovascular system
  • respiratory system and airway management
  • neurological system
  • Hypersensitivity response
  • Urologic function
  • pain and comfort
  • Musculoskeletal safety
• Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to:
  • Exposure to blood-borne and bodily fluid pathogens with blood product administration
  • Cytoxic agents during chemotherapy infusions
• Demonstrates comprehensive nursing assessment and critical thinking skills.
• Verifies medication authorization to ensure appropriate medication dispensing based on insurance requirements prior to reconstitution/administration which includes coordination among Nursing, Pharmacy, Pre-cert, and Patient Access.
• Facilitates scheduling and pre-screening procedures for telehealth appointments for all Providers within the clinic including follow-through for post-visit orders and care coordination.
• Facilitates seamless communication among patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, external case managers with workers compensation, and ancillary departments to ensure comprehensive care coordination.
• Triages requests for same-day or next-day care needs
• Collaborates with Call Center regarding nursing education and care
• Applies acquired knowledge, theory, research and experience to respond to changes in clinical situations.
• Maintains nursing competencies in nursing assessment, nursing procedure, patient and employee safety, and infection control.
• Keeps accurate and complete records of patients' assessments, nursing procedures, medication administration, hospital charges, specimen collection, patient outcomes, education, and adverse events.
• Demonstrates safe operation of patient care equipment, quality control maintenance, and follows policy for reporting and removing unsafe equipment.
• Prepares and administers medications as order with:
  • Aseptic technique
  • Verifying 5 rights of medication administration
  • Correct documentation of medication administration in EHR
• Educates patients/caregivers about medical conditions, medications, infusions, and procedures to be performed using verbal explanations, printed material, and relevant audiovisual aids.
• Collects, analyzes, and reports clinical data as indicated by the patient's physician/APP and/or interdisciplinary teams in accordance with organization standards.
• Consistently communicates effectively and respectfully with the patient, the patient's family, and other members of the healthcare team to optimize patient outcomes.
• Ability to be self-directed to identify and implement a course of action in non-routine situations. Seeks assistance to resolve complex issues. Respects and maintains confidential information.
• Maintains inventory for clinic-specific medical supplies including ordering, storage, inventory management, and safety audits.
• Manages the nursing functions and delegates tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act (if applicable), state board of nursing or professional registration requirements, state laws, and job descriptions.
• Uses problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
• Accepts personal accountability for professional development and growth by maintaining nursing certifications, providing educational in-services to peers, serving on committees or work groups throughout the center.
• Participates in professional activities and organizations to maintain knowledge of current trends, practices, and developments
• Precepts new employees, nursing students, and serves as a resource to colleagues.

Required Minimum Education:

• Graduate of a nursing program from an accredited college or university.

Required Minimum License and Certification:

• Active Georgia RN license or NLC/eNLC Multistate license
• Basic Life Support (BLS)

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum one (1) year RN experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous nursing experience with patients with neurological injury or disease
• Previous nursing experience in ambulatory/outpatient procedure or infusion center
• Phlebotomy and peripheral intravenous catheterization skills

Required Minimum Skills:

• Basic telephone, email, faxing and computer skills.
• Time management, organization, prioritization, and critical thinking by planning and organizing work assignments.
• Communicates effectively using timely verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
• Willingly adapts to changing work demands and work environment.
• Takes responsibility for growing professionally and seeks opportunities for improving skill sets.
• Maintains congenial working relationships with coworkers in other departments.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to transfer and position patients, consistent with lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Uses body, tools, or special devices to safely, effectively, and efficiently to guide or transfer patients to chair, stretcher, and/ procedure table.
• May be required to transport patients by wheelchair or stretcher.

Working Condition and Environmental Factors:

• Factors affecting environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks.
• Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to (depending on clinical area):
  • Exposure to blood-borne and bodily fluid pathogens
  • Administration of bio-hazardous and chemotherapy medications
  • Sterilization and high-level disinfectant heat/chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors
  • Fluoroscopy procedures with lead protective gear
• Application of appropriate personal protective equipment

Gloves, masks, masks, gowns, hair net, goggles