Registered Nurse - Pediatrics (Days)

Job Description

Currently recruiting a Registered Nurse (RN) - Pediatrics in Bethesda, Maryland, to work in the Inpatient Pediatrics Unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to provide care to Active Duty heroes, their family members, and retirees.


REQUIREMENTS OF THE RN-PEDIATRICS:

• Shall be sufficiently skilled to teach patients proper self-care and to motivate patients and family members to continue the procedures for promoting rapid healing.
• Shall be knowledgeable and possess skills necessary to provide care appropriate to any age-related needs of the patients. The Contract RN shall demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development appropriate to the appropriate patient population served: Infants, Children, Adolescent, and Young Adults.
• Assess, coordinate, facilitate, deliver and evaluate care for infant to young adult patients using the nursing process.
• Knowledge of a wide range of medical disorders/conditions, diagnostic studies and treatments related to Pediatrics, is desirable.
• The contracted RN will be knowledgeable in professional care theories, principles, practices, and procedures to perform nursing assignments of moderate difficulty and experience in assessing pediatric patients, as appropriate.
• Knowledge of computer operations and proficiency in the use of basic word processing, data entry and automated medical records. Composite Health Care System (CHCS). Purpose: Results retrieval for Laboratory results, radiology reports, pharmacy, drug allergies, drug resistant organism status and eligibility for care.
• ESSENTRIS/MHS Genesis: Purpose: All care documentation for the inpatient arena occurs in this application. Proficient in understand and acknowledge physician s orders, working in the medical administration record, and nursing documentation.
• PYXIS: Ward medications are stored in PYXIS medication stations, access controlled by appropriate individual account access security. Thorough understand of the integration of CHCS/ESSENTRIS/PYXIS with regards to medication dispensation/administration.
• Operate defibrillator, EKG machine and cardiac monitor when appropriate.
• Assess patients'condition for potential or life-threatening crises. Distinguish between normal and abnormal physical findings (from physical assessment and vital sign assessment). Plan and implement appropriate nursing care.
• Utilize the nursing process to develop individualized age-specific nursing care plans. The nursing process includes assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. RN shall not make assessments but will implement the care plan and document the care provided with results.
• Obtain patient medical and psychosocial history and pertinent family history and documents on the appropriate form.
• Implement prescribed physician orders and nursing care and documents in patient medical record.
• Assess patient/family knowledge level and learning needs (prescribed medications/therapies and surgical/diagnostic procedures, disease process, preventions) develop and implement a plan of instruction for the patient and family, then document the demonstrated level of understanding. RN shall not assess learning needs but will implement the educational plan and document the results. Assessment plans will be individualized to target age-specific learning needs, barriers to learning, and cultural needs.
• Administer medications with the knowledge of actions and usual dosages of commonly used drugs. For RN only: Anti-cancer chemotherapy drugs are excluded until the contractor employee has obtained education in cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and administration, and administration competency has been appropriately verified per 3W hospital policy. Pediatric Chemotherapy Biotherapy course will be completed individually by contract Registered Nurse, while clinical experience in chemotherapy administration will be verified with WRNMMC Department of Nursing Initial/Ongoing Pediatric Chemotherapy Administration Competency Assessment Competencies will be completed at 3W Hematology/Oncology Ward with contractor RN, a designated observer and unit supervisor.
• All licensed contract employee will document patient response to PRN medications.
• Give inhalation therapy treatments, with knowledge of medications utilized in this treatment and document response to treatment.
• RN will start and administer blood product transfusions and be knowledgeable about adverse reactions and institute appropriate measures in the case of adverse reactions, and document patient response to transfusions.
• Manage and ensure proper procedures are followed with the tissue/skin bank and blood bank.
• Interpret pertinent lab values, notify physician of abnormalities.
• Transcribe or verify transcription of physician orders.
• Communicate pertinent patient data to charge nurse and/or physician as appropriate.
• Identify impending or existing emotional or psychiatric crisis and provide appropriate intervention.
• Safely uses electronic thermometers, infusion pumps and Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pumps, air mattresses, anti-embolism pumps. Immediately pulls from service any equipment with frayed electric cords or that malfunctions and reports to first line supervisor.
• Participate in discharge planning as appropriate and convenes multidisciplinary patient care conferences to address complex medical/nursing care needs.
• Respond to telephone inquiries regarding clinic services and/or follow-up ancillary reports.
• Perform, assist and set up the patient for procedures, i.E., enemas, IV dressing changes, suctioning, blood draw, EKG, obtain vital signs within scope of practice
• Interpret cardiac rhythms and their implications (ER, Critical Care/Intensive Care/ Specialty Care, Emergency Room)
• Knowledge of a variety of pharmacological agents used in patient treatment, the desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use as well as the accurate administration of the pharmacologic agent, including dosage calculations as required. Will be knowledgeable in administrative requirements for the documentation of patient's condition, progress and acknowledgement of teaching, and follow up care.
• Provide care for pediatric patients with simple and complex medical- surgical and/or infectious disease-related problems.
• Care for patients with Hickman catheter to include dressing changes, blood drawing and administration drugs.
• Use cardiac/apnea equipment, interpret generated data and respond appropriately to data. Pediatrics nurses will be expected to identify gross changes in respiratory patterns and/or life threatening arrhythmias as seen on the monitor.
• Possess verifiable experience with infants and children requiring, complex medication management, enteral and parenteral nutrition, intravenous fluid management via peripheral (intravenous and arterial) and central lines (i.E., umbilical catheters, peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), Broviac, etc.), and continuous monitoring
• Demonstrate excellent written communication skills to perform accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity in accordance with requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize adverse signs and symptoms and reacts quickly and appropriately in emergency situations. Must have the ability to obtain, assess, and report critical lab or diagnostic results to patient s physician in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to act on all medical and therapeutic orders in a timely manner.
• Can demonstrate and adhere to peri-operative, infection control and safety policies and procedures used in the MTF and IAW JC guidelines.
• Can demonstrate good time management skills.
• Ensure compliance with standard of care and practice in accordance with all established policies, procedures, and guidelines used in the medical treatment MTF and IAW JC guidelines. Provides care within ethical and legal boundaries.
• Complete orientation and competency verification programs in accordance with unit guidelines.
• Will report to the Nurse Manager. Will take direction from charge nurse and house supervisor as required in maintaining a safe environment for staff and patient(s).
• When assigned, will serve and participate in committees, functions and other meetings. Provide relevant and timely information, and assists with decision-making and process improvement.
• As required, participate in customer service initiatives and medical readiness activities, designed to enhance health services. When required, participate in the orientation, training, and evaluation of duty performance of newly assigned personnel, as appropriate.
• May serve as Charge Nurse. Assist staff and act as resource.
• Possess knowledge of the pharmacology of most commonly used emergency drugs, anticipated results, usual dosages, and their location on crash cart.
• Render professional nursing care to pediatric patients with medical and/or surgical conditions within the Pediatric Unit. Continually assess condition of patients for potential or life threatening crises. Identify and address deviation from baseline vital signs, assessments, and lab tests. Documents, reports, and follows through on abnormal findings with physicians/nurses.
• Assume responsibility for completion of competency assessments and required certifications at designated time intervals.
• Essential personnel paperwork to be completed and updated on a yearly basis.
• Perform other duties as assigned to include floating to other work units as once cross trained to safely practice nursing in that location.
• Obtain, maintain access to DHMRSi program and complete bi-weekly DHMRSi workload documentation

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE RN-PEDIATRICS:

• Degree/Education: A graduate of an Associate, Bachelor or Master s program of Registered Nursing. The institution will be from a National League of Nursing (NLN) approved program.
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Experience: Have a minimum of two (2) years of concurrent pediatric nursing experience in a Pediatric Inpatient Acute Care Unit. Complete and maintain training in Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy administration within 6 months of hire.
• Valid, unrestricted, RN license at least 1 state, territory or commonwealth of the US.
• US Citizen

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Competitive pay
• 10 days paid time off per year plus 7 sick days per year
• 11 paid Federal holidays
• Health & Welfare allowance mostly covers the cost of health insurance, long and short-term disability, and life insurance
• Dental and vision plans offered, 401(k)

ABOUT THE ARORA GROUP:

The Arora Group is an award-winning, Joint Commission-certified healthcare services and workforce solutions company that has provided medical care for the men and women who serve our country since 1989. Arora is one of the nation s top employers of physicians, nurses, allied health, dental, and other professionals in government contract jobs. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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