Ambulatory Divisional Registered Nurse (RN) Thoracic/Cardiovascular Surgery Division - Days

About the role

The Ambulatory Divisional Registered Nurse provides, develops, coordinates, and manages clinical duties related to the specific service line division. This job supports clinical care across multiple outpatient locations, requiring interdisciplinary partnership with multiple providers within the division. The position collaborates with Ambulatory Leadership, Division Chair, and Medical Director in the development and management of processes to provide safe, timely ambulatory care. The nurse will have a working knowledge of outpatient management of patients within a specialty division, including general medical, complex medical, pre‑operative and post‑operative care.

Responsibilities

• Follows documented physician/licensed provider orders within the boundaries of the Nurse Practice Act, licensure, and established standards, policies, and practice guidelines.
• Triages patient calls and in‑basket messages in accordance with ambulatory and division‑specific standards.
• Facilitates training as needed to improve the specialty knowledge base across all ambulatory clinic locations.
• Partners with the care team to complete chart prep for return visits; reviews records (lab work, imaging, diagnostic reports) prior to patient visit.
• Completes necessary new patient referrals, ensures outside records are available, performs chart review/prep to ensure patients are scheduled into the correct clinic.
• Provides disease‑ and procedure‑specific education to patients in clinic.
• Creates educational materials to support commonly encountered topics within the division.
• May assist providers during clinical procedures across the division.
• Partners with providers, Assistant Clinical Manager, Program Coordinators, and Nurse Navigators to ensure continuity of care across clinic sites for division patients with expertise in service, preoperative, postoperative, and medical management for specific patient populations.
• Performs multi‑site nursing visits as directed by providers to include education, treatments, or assessments.
• Supports prior authorization requirements specific to emergent/same‑day prior authorizations and denial appeals.
• Partners with Assistant Clinical Manager and clinic nursing staff to aid providers in obtaining clinic testing and treatment.
• Consistently monitors patient satisfaction and customer feedback, taking prompt action on issues striving for service excellence.
• Serves as a nursing clinical role model and division subject‑matter expert for management of ambulatory patients across multiple sites.
• Seeks collaborative relationships that can lead to effective partnerships in research, evidence‑based practice, or process improvement.
• Contributes to revising and developing clinical practice and/or nursing care guidelines for specific patient populations using current best evidence and shares the synthesis of current best evidence at the department/division level.
• Takes appropriate actions to enhance positive outcomes, even in the most challenging situations.
• Anticipates needs to provide quality and efficient care for patients.
• Maintains professional growth and development in specialty through ongoing formal and informal education and training.
• Performs other duties as assigned and/or participates in special projects to support the mission of VCUHS and the division.
• Accepts alternate assignments as required.

Patient Population

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development across the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs, and to provide equitable care as described in departmental policies and procedures.

• Neonates (0–4 weeks)
• Infants (1–12 months)
• Pediatrics (1–12 years)
• Adolescents (13–17 years)
• Adults (18–64 years)
• Geriatrics (65 years and older)

Qualifications

Education

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program.
• Preferred: Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program.

Licensure & Certification

• Required: Current Registered Nurse license; BLS Certification.
• Preferred: Nursing specialty board certification.

Experience

• Required: Minimum 3 years of nursing experience.
• Preferred: 1–2 years experience in the designated pediatric or adult division.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Required: Strong communication and time‑management skills; ability to set priorities, make timely decisions, and meet multiple deadlines; ability to work collaboratively within a large, complex, fast‑paced environment.
• Preferred: None specified.

Working Conditions

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. General office environment. May be exposed to physical altercations and verbal abuse. Required to travel by car to off‑site locations, occasionally in adverse weather conditions. Travel between clinic sites is required; long‑distance or air travel as needed, not to exceed 10% travel. May be exposed to high noise levels, limited hazardous substances or body fluids, human blood and other potentially infectious materials. May have periods of constant interruptions and prolonged periods of working alone. Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands

• Lifting/Carrying: 0–50 lbs.
• Push/Pull: 50–100 lbs.
• Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Climbing, Balance, Bending

Work Position

• Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements / Hazards

• Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination)
• Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder
• Reach above shoulder
• Repetitive arm/hand movements
• Finger Dexterity
• Color Vision
• Depth perception
• Exposure to toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents
• Exposure to moving mechanical parts
• Exposure to dust/fumes

Mental / Sensory / Emotional Requirements

• Strong recall, reasoning, problem solving
• Hearing, speak clearly, write legibly, reading, logical thinking
• Fast‑pace environment, steady pace, able to handle multiple priorities
• Frequent and intense customer interactions
• Noisy environment
• Able to adapt to frequent change

Compensation

Compensation Range: $35.16 – $58.05 per hour. Actual salary offers will be based on several key factors including relevant work experience, credentials, and qualifications.