Registered Nurse, Dispatch, Transport Team

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

Location

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Job Description

General Summary:    

Coordinates and oversees the day-to-day operations and staffing of the transport team communication center in addition to functioning in the transport team triage nurse role.  Provides leadership, mentoring and ongoing education to communication center triage nurses.

Essential Job Functions:

• Assures professional and clear communication and exchange of clinical information with referring hospitals, transfer authorizing physicians, and medical control.  Assures that all communication meets clinical and service standards and reflects best practices.

• Participates in continuous quality and process improvement endeavors related to the communication center functioning.

• Provides direction to team members in the performance of job responsibilities and delegates appropriately.  Identifies and evaluates progress toward yearly goals for self as they related to Hospital goals.

• Triages and obtains an accurate and comprehensive assessment of the health status of the patient to be transported.  Documents pertinent data including physical exam, lab and imaging results.  Enters data into Transport Team log and compiles statistics as requested.

• Collaborates with the Transfer Authorizing Physician (TAP) to determine admitting service, and with the Patient Access Center (PAC) to secure bed placement.

• Determines the appropriate mode of transport in collaboration with the transport team members and TAP and dispatches Transport Team as appropriate.  Collaborates with transport team members to determine the team composition, equipment needed, weather conditions and the mode of transportation for safe and expedient transport based on protocol and the stability of the patient.

• Recommends appropriate medical interventions for the stabilization of critically ill patients to the referring facility based on transport team protocols, including anticipation of potential patient deterioration and emergency situations.

• Works collaboratively with the referring and receiving facilities and physicians throughout the entire process ensuring and facilitating a continuous line of open communication until the patient arrives at destination.

• Demonstrates awareness of legal issues associated with the transport process and strives to anticipate and appropriately manage risks.

• Communicates with physician, nursing staff, other hospital personnel and ground/air transport services regarding patient condition and status of the transport.

• Collaborates with Case Management and Resource Transport Team regarding inpatient transports to and from other institutions, mode of transport and team composition.

• Maintains transport equipment and instrumentation in good working order and in a constant state of readiness.  Evaluates new equipment and provides input for budget purposes.

• Performs job functions adhering to service principles with customer service focus of innovation, service excellence and teamwork to provide the highest quality care and service to our patients, families, co-workers and others.

• Other job functions as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing, Bachelor of Science in nursing preferred.

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois.

• Three years of pediatric or neonatal critical care required (Pediatric Intensive Care, Neonatal Intensive Care, or Emergency Department).  Demonstrates extensive knowledge of neonatal/pediatric diagnoses and management.  Equivalent experience may be considered.  

• Experience as a transport team nurse or transport team triage nurse preferred.  Demonstrated knowledge and skills in triaging critically ill patients.

• Demonstrates leadership qualities and capacity for independent judgment and action and ability to p