Specialty Procedures Nurse, Pediatric Sedation - Part-Time, Days

Job Description

Join us At the Forefront, at UChicago Medicine, as a Specialty Procedures Nurse in the Pediatric Sedation Unit.

 

In this role as a Specialty Procedures Nurse, the RN provides technically complex, high level patient care to patients including critically ill or injured neonatal, pediatric and adult patients. Technically complex and high-level nursing care services may include one or more of the following categories: sedation, intubation, intravenous infusions, complex procedures, e.g., lumbar puncture. This may also include specialized monitoring during procedure and recovery phase; The RN possesses clinical skills to identify and rescue the patient whose level of consciousness progresses to deep sedation.  The RN provides the safest transportation to procedures and radiology exams of sedated and critically ill patients. The RN may have Charge Nurse responsibility for his/her assigned unit.

 

Essential Job Functions 

• The RN is expert in assessing and treating and evaluating patient conditions specific to their work area, e.g., anxiety, pain, claustrophobia, and underlying disease conditions. Due to the complex nature of pain, RN will evaluate and treat pain in a prompt, caring fashion and reassess after each intervention, charting per UCMC protocol.
• Maintains and exceeds hospital and nationally recognized pediatric sedation and critical care competencies, including training in advanced pharmacology, ventilator support, and high-risk infusions such as chemotherapy and biologics.
• Contributes to the Patient Services Sector/Outpatient Services Sector offering constructive suggestions for change and participating in the planning, implementation and evaluation of new and existing programs utilizing evidence-based practice.
• RN uses nursing knowledge to anticipate and plan for patient care needs. The RN understands and applies safety principles and serves as a resource to other healthcare personnel on patient care. RN knows the potential risks and complications from specialty procedures and can assist in the initial treatment of adverse effects in their area of expertise.
• Under the Physician direction, the RN administers minimal / moderate sedation analgesia providing patients the ability to tolerate unpleasant procedures while maintaining adequate cardiorespiratory function, protective reflexes, and the ability to respond purposefully to verbal and /or tactile stimulation.
• Demonstrates advanced sedation and analgesia expertise, with the ability to assess and intervene in rapidly evolving clinical situations. Possesses proficiency in airway rescue techniques, advanced cardiac monitoring, and pharmacologic interventions per ASA and JCAHO sedation safety standards.
• Patient selection for sedation is based on established criteria developed through interdisciplinary collaboration by UCMC Critical Care Professionals; RN provides initial patient screening assessment to determine a patient’s suitability for RN monitored sedation by identifying potential risk factors for undesirable outcomes. The monitoring RN will conduct the assessment and include data from numerous sources, such as chart review, patient physical assessment and interview, and consultation with other health care providers as appropriate.
• The RN must have the ability to analyze patient data obtained during sedation to identify risks and/or complications throughout a procedure. Must possess excellent airway management skills to prevent adverse outcomes that could potentially occur during moderate sedation. RN identifies changes in patients’ condition and reports findings immediately to the physician. RN must comply with UCMC sedation monitoring documentation protocols throughout the patient encounter.
• The RN will understand the pharmacology of sedation medications and reversal agents and observe the patients for desired medication effects thereby avoiding medication reactions or complications; accurate documentation of the patients’ response is an integral component of the monitoring process.
• The RN provides transportation and assists with monitoring and treatment of sedated and critically ill patients during procedures and radiology exams.
• The RN with the assistance of the PCM is autonomous in organizing the workflow and adjusting exam assignments to ensure optimal care of the patient and space utilization.
• Possesses advanced vascular access certification and independently performs complex vascular procedures including ultrasound-guided IVs, PICC line insertions, and midline placements across inpatient and outpatient pediatric settings.
• Serves as a key educator and coordinator of care, delivering developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed education to pediatric patients and families. Leads discharg