Gastroenterology Registered Nurse - United States Air Force Academy

About the Role

Coordinate patient care and facilitate the achievement of optimal outcomes in relation to clinical care.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patient care through a continuum and facilitate the achievement of optimal outcomes in relation to clinical care, quality, and cost effectiveness.
• Accountable for making patient appointments and follow-up.
• Assess patient needs telephonically and/or in person.
• Ensure compliance with standards of care and practice in accordance with all established policies, procedures, and guidelines used in the medical treatment facility. Provide care within ethical and legal boundaries.
• Prescribe and communicate treatment plans and patient teaching in accordance with established protocols.
• Collect and assess significant patient history information and perform all necessary patient teaching.
• Make referral appointments and arrange provider scheduling (in coordination) as appropriate. May be required to manage surgical schedules.
• Perform/assist with procedures such as bladder catheterizations, administration of oxygen, visual acuity tests, EKGs, irrigation of eyes and ears, tympanograms, splinting, phlebotomy, and other clinic-specific procedures, in accordance with established protocols.
• Ensure proper documentation of procedures/treatments within the prescribed timeframe.
• Ensure all equipment is properly cleaned and stored at the end of each work shift.
• Ensure preventive maintenance and routine cleaning are performed as directed. Ensure medication/supplies are replenished.
• Participate in newcomer's orientation and complete annual training, as required.
• May be required to work various shifts or augment clinical nursing support during the absence of other team nurses due to illness, leave, or deployment.
• Ensure a safe work environment, employee safe work habits, and patient safety in accordance with regulatory agencies, infection control policies, and process improvement initiatives.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in nursing from a National League of Nursing (NLN) or from an American Academy College of Nursing accredited college. A nursing program from a college/University accredited by the national nursing accreditation agencies of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Hold a current, active, full, and unrestricted Registered Nurses (RN) license in a nurse compact state or Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) or have a license from any United States jurisdiction.
• Hold a national or state nursing license that is valid and current with no limitations, stipulations, or pending adverse actions. License must be unencumbered and remain in effect during contract employment.
• At least twenty-four (24) months of experience within the last forty-eight (48) months in a primary care clinic setting.
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certificate from the American Red Cross, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). These certifications must be current at all times.
• Strongly preferred working knowledge of the military health care system including TRICARE health benefits.
• Knowledge of professional care theories, principles, practices, and procedures to perform nursing assignments, utilizing nursing judgment and approved telehealth/triage protocols for assessing pediatric, adolescent, adults, obstetrics, and geriatric patients, as appropriate.
• Utilize the nursing process as a basis for professional practice.
• Knowledge of a wide range of medical disorders/conditions and disease processes across the lifespan, as appropriate.
• Knowledge of preventive health schedules, procedures, processes, and education methods.
• Knowledge of disease management and population health principles.
• 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.
• Knowledge of the administrative requirements for proper documentation of patient conditions including disease progress, acknowledgement of teaching, and follow-up care.
• Knowledge of computer operations and proficiency in the use of basic word processing, data entry, and automated medical records.
• Telephone and in-person assessment/evaluation includes the determination of optimal time and location for patient management (ER, clinic, homecare) and follow-up care as required.
• Must obtain and maintain the site's required health screening and immunization requirements.
• Must obtain and maintain any necessary security access and/or background checks.

Skills

• Excellent oral communication skills for patient/family education and telephone triage of patients.
• Excellent written communication skills to perform accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity, including telephone contacts, in accordance with requirements and established timelines.
• Ability to synthesize data from a variety of sources and make appropriate clinical decisions.
• Ability to recognize adverse signs and symptoms and quickly react in emergency situations.
• Skill in setting up, operating, and monitoring specialized medical equipment such as cardiac monitoring devices, EKG units, oxygen analyzers, nebulizers, and other clinic-specific equipment.

Schedule

Full-time. May be required to work additional hours as needed to complete assignment or project.

Work Environment

• Work is performed primarily indoors at a well-lit military treatment facility such as a clinic, outpatient facility, or hospital. The environment is normally air-conditioned, but conditions may change dependent upon circumstances.
• Work may need to be performed in a fast-paced environment requiring quick thinking and rapid judgments.
• Exposure to a wide variety of clients in differing functions, personalities, and abilities.
• Exposure to bloodborne pathogens and bodily fluids, latex, radiation, or other contaminants and safety issues.
• May be exposed to infection or diseases from contact with patients.

Physical Demands

• Position consists of standing for long periods of time.
• Periods of walking, standing, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, and lifting and carrying at least 100 pounds, and to push and pull objects that weigh more than 50 pounds.