Registered Nurse - Neonatal Intensive Care

Job Description

Job Description

REGISTERED NURSE NICU

SITE OF SERVICE: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth 620 John Paul Jones Circle Portsmouth, VA 23708

HOURS:

Shifts may be scheduled any day Sunday through Saturday for a 12.5- hour period, to include an uncompensated meal break. Typical daytime shifts are 0645 - 1915; typical nighttime shifts are 1845 - 0715. In no instance will individual contracted personnel exceed 80 hours per two-week period. Individual contracted personnel will be required to complete two (2) on-call shifts every six (6) weeks.

On-call: shifts are typically for a 12-hour period when not on duty. Typical shifts are 0645-1845 and 1845-0645. Contracted personnel must respond to calls within one hour, and must report.

Orientation: Orientation and training shall consist of up to 40 hours. Orientation may be waived for personnel who have previously provided service at the treatment facility.

Flexibility required. Minimum of 24 hours per month.

POSITION QUALIFICATION/REQUIREMENTS:

· Education/Accreditation: may be a graduate of one of the following:

o State accredited professional nursing program

o Program accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

o Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

§ Equivalency Determination Request: The Contractor may request an equivalency determination as a substitute for education requirements on this labor category

· Experience: Possess a minimum of 18 months of Level III NICU experience within the past two (2) years.

· Cardiac Certifications : Must have the following hands-on certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross

o Basic Life Support (BLS)

o Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)

o Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

o (S.T.A.B.L.E.)

· Licensure: Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse in any one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

· Letters of Recommendation: Provide two (2) letters of recommendation written within the last two years attesting to clinical skills. A minimum of one (1) of the letters must be from a supervisor. The other letter must be from either a clinic or hospital administrator, or a practicing physician

· U.S. Citizenship: Shall be a U.S. citizen

· English Language Requirement: Shall be able to read, write, speak and understand English well enough to effectively communicate with all patients and other health care providers.

· Physical Capability: Shall be physically capable of standing and/or sitting for extended periods of time and physically capable of performing all services required under the contract.

DUTIES:

· Perform a full range of RN - NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE duties in accordance with assignment under the task order, including patient assessment and monitoring; use of patient monitoring and treatment equipment; appropriate nursing care, procedures, and treatments; execution of physicians’ orders within the guidelines of standard nursing practice; documentation of patient care and observations; and patient education and emotional support.

· Assess each patient and perform triage duties as assigned. Provide treatment and discharge instructions upon patient release.

· Perform assessment/data collection in an ongoing and systematic manner, focusing on

physiological, psychological, and cognitive status.

· Provide a safe and clean environment for each patient. Identify patient/significant other learning needs and implement appropriate measures to meet identified needs.

· Provide clinical guidance and instruction to LPNs/LVNs, nursing assistants and ancillary

personnel (licensed and unlicensed).

· Demonstrate sound knowledge base and action in the care and decision making for designated

patient populations. If weaknesses or deficiencies are identified either by peer reviews, quality control reports (QCRs), or evaluations contracted personnel will be required to complete refresher training (inservices, competency reviews, continuing education, etc.) at Contractor expense.

· Perform documentation (manually and/or by use of computer) duties on unit and in-patient record that are timely, accurate, and concise.

· Implement care in a knowledgeable, skillful, consistent, and continuous manner.

· Demonstrate competency in medication and intravenous (IV) administration to include blood products and Total Parental Nutrition (TPN), intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SQ) administration, and demonstrate competency in phlebotomy as specific to the position.

· Safely administer prescribed medications to include intravenous drips and intravenous push drugs.

· Identify patient/significant other learning needs and implement appropriate measures to meet

identified needs.

· Demonstrate self-directed learning. Demonstrate effective and professional communication methods, and skills, using lines of authority appropriately.

· Formulate and use effective working relationships with all health care team members, patients,

and significant others. Refer unsolved complaints or infractions to the Department Head with

recommendations for appropriate action.

· Practice effective problem identification and resolution skills as a method of sound decision

making.

· Provide individual, group, and family/significant other counseling and health teaching in relation

to the patient's condition and his/her ability for self-care. Provide for accessibility to various literature resources dealing with subjects related to specific patient health problems. Provide physical and psychological support to patients and significant others, explain procedures and treatments, and promote cooperation among staff, patients, and significant others.

· Participate in the orientation and training of newly assigned unit personnel. Participate in cross-training initiatives.

· Provide input into competency assessments of newly assigned unit personnel. Collaborate in the review of clinic standing operating procedures.

· Administer a wide variety of rapid-acting, highly potent medications (direct intravenous and

· other routes) according to unit policies, procedures, and protocols. Utilize a broad knowledge of drugs and fluid and electrolyte intravenous therapy, including properties, indications, dosages, rates, and side effects.

· Closely monitor and document the infant’s response and adjust therapy accordingly.

· Administer and monitor oxygen therapy, ventilator support, and intensive pulmonary care

techniques as needed.

· Administer immunizations, oral, intramuscular, and parenteral medications.

· Administer specific medications at designated times and in designated manner. Receive, report,

and count narcotics with nurse going off duty.

· Chart nursing observations and ensure record is complete with all procedures and test results

recorded. Maintain required clinic records, patient charts, forms, logs, records, registers, census reports and collect required statistics. Maintain access (proper log-in) to all electronic health records utilized for charting and ordering system to include (but not limited to) MHS GENESIS and PYXIS.

· Order diagnostic and therapeutic services as directed.

· Explain procedures and treatments to patients and significant others to allay apprehension and gain cooperation and support.

· Provide clinical oversight and technical direction to assigned staff members including civilian and military professionals, paraprofessional staff, and primary nurse responsible for direct patient care.

· Utilize knowledge of a wide variety of laboratory procedures and protocols to accurately

interpret multiple findings and notify appropriate provider to take corrective action to alter current treatment within medical and nursing plan of care.

· Maintain accurate, current, and complete nursing records which reflect pertinent and factual

observations of the infant’s treatment and progress, plan of care, response to medications, discharge planning, parent education and follow-up as well as other records including statistical records of workload.

· Coordinate and participate in the transfer of critically ill infants from other hospitals or to higher

care facilities.

· Provide complex physiological and psychosocial assessment of patient and family needs in

order to function as primary liaison/advocate for patient and family. Provide referral to in-patient social work and/or follow-up with assigned medical officer utilizing clinical nursing judgment and critical thinking.

· Obtain and document pertinent patient and family history. Orient families to NICU routine and

physical layout.

· Operate, troubleshoot, and monitor the performance of sophisticated equipment used in the care of critically ill neonates, including but not limited to mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring equipment, cardiac monitors, electrocardiogram (EKG) machines, infant resuscitation equipment, infusion pumps, radiant warmers, isolettes, and transport incubators. Interpret and respond to complex technological data generated by such equipment. Maintain passwords and access to essential equipment required to carry out nursing duties.

· Assist with Neonatal Intensive Care Courses. Provide input to Government Personnel in the evaluation process, inspection and maintenance of all emergency equipment and supplies in assigned clinical areas.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/SKILLS

Must be comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Must be able and willing to reprioritize on short notice and work on multiple simultaneous projects. Flexible and able to work with various personalities. Team work skills required. Time management skills required. The ability to meet deadlines in a deadline intensive environment is essential. High level of adaptability and willingness to embrace change in a fast-paced, demanding environment.

LUKE is an Equal Opportunity employer

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