Certified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT) - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) operates at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care. VUMC is a community where expertise is valued, knowledge is expanded, and abilities are challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and uniqueness is celebrated.

About the Role

Applies the nursing process to plan and implement the care of patients, including patient and family education and continuum of care planning. Effectively communicates pertinent patient/family information to the health care team. Collaborates in establishing patient goals and evaluates progress to ensure effective outcomes. Furthers professional growth by engaging in learning activities according to the Board of Nursing standards.

The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Nurse provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to patients under the direction of a wound care provider (physician or APP). The HBOT nurse is responsible for operating a monoplace hyperbaric oxygen chamber, monitoring chamber function and patient response to therapy during each dive, intervening to improve patient condition or avoid harm, and upholding all protocols and safety standards. They will work within the service's scope of practice and collaborate with other relevant disciplines.

Department Summary

The Vanderbilt Wound Center provides specialized, multidisciplinary care for patients with chronic or complex wounds that have not responded to traditional treatments. The center delivers compassionate, patient-centered care using both proven treatment methods and advanced wound-healing therapies. The team supports patients and families by helping navigate insurance processes to ensure access to necessary treatments and supplies.

The center treats a wide range of challenging conditions, including diabetic foot wounds, pressure wounds, gangrene, necrotic wounds, osteomyelitis (bone infections), calciphylaxis, failed skin and muscle flaps, and pyoderma gangrenosum.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates in establishing the plan of care, coordinates and implements care delivery while anticipating patient care needs across the continuum.
• Analyzes comprehensive information pertinent to the patient's care and management to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Continually utilizes the nursing process to evaluate patient's progress towards goals and applies appropriate interventions to ensure effective outcomes.
• Employs strategies to promote health and a safe and healthy environment.
• Provide hyperbaric chamber operations and maintenance in accordance with UHMS standards.
• Recognize changes in patient condition and intervene appropriately.
• Demonstrate competency in core/unit specific skills.
• Deliver relevant pre and post dive care including cleaning and dressing wounds.
• Accurately and completely document all care provided according to hospital and department policy.
• Provide patient/family education including assessment, documentation, instruction, and materials.

Technical Capabilities

• Patient Assessment & Clinical Judgment (Intermediate): Performs thorough patient assessment; synthesizes clinical data to identify risks, contraindications, and changes in condition requiring intervention.
• Hyperbaric Chamber Operations (Intermediate): Safely operates monoplace chambers; manages pressurization/decompression protocols; monitors chamber systems and responds to alarms or malfunctions.
• Emergency Response & Advanced Life Support (Intermediate): Recognizes emergent conditions and initiates appropriate interventions, including ACLS, in a hyperbaric environment with environmental constraints.
• Wound Care & Therapeutic Support (Intermediate): Provides fundamental wound care, dressing changes, and supports multidisciplinary treatment plans aligned with evidence-based practice.
• Safety & Regulatory Compliance (Intermediate): Ensures adherence to UHMS and institutional safety standards; maintains readiness of equipment and participates in safety drills and quality initiatives.
• Nursing Patient Assessment & Evaluation (Intermediate): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate the ability to assess and evaluate patients in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Conducts primary care patient interviews and physical examinations. Demonstrates sufficient acumen to recognize problems, ask questions, and contact the patient's primary care provider and other members of the healthcare team. Has experience in gathering pertinent clinical data that aid in referral, treatment, or other primary care pathways.

Nursing Philosophy

We believe highly skilled and specialized nursing care is essential to Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s mission of quality in patient care, education, and research. We believe nursing is an applied art and science focused on helping people, families, and communities reach excellent health and well-being.

Benefits

• Affordable high-quality health plan options
• Dental and/or vision plan
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Paid Time Off (flex PTO)
• Tuition reimbursement and adoption assistance (maximums applied)
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Subsidized backup childcare
• Inpatient nursing supplemental pay program

Requirements

• Certification as a Registered Nurse or other healthcare certification (e.g., LPN, MA, paramedic)
• 1 year of relevant work experience
• Graduate of an approved discipline-specific program

Schedule

Monday - Friday, Days

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance.
• Problem Solving/Complexity of Work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area.
• Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities

• Supporting Colleagues:
  • Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance and gain knowledge in new areas.
  • Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.
  • Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences.
• Delivering Excellent Services:
  • Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.
  • Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.
  • Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness.
• Ensuring High Quality:
  • Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.
  • Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them.
  • Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring.
• Managing Resources Effectively:
  • Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.
  • Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.
  • Makes Data-Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities.
• Fostering Innovation:
  • Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.
  • Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.
  • Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.