RN or Pharmacist, Specialist in Poison Information

Department Overview

The Oregon Poison Center (OPC) operates as a 24-hour emergency response center, offering critical information to efficiently triage and manage patients experiencing poisoning or toxic exposure. The center supports both the public and healthcare providers across Oregon and Guam, and serves individuals of all age groups. Pharmacists or registered nurses are responsible for answering emergency phone lines.

 

Function/Duties of Position

Primary responsibilities include patient assessment, providing treatment recommendations, and facilitating appropriate referrals to healthcare facilities when necessary.

 

Ongoing patient evaluation and follow-up are essential components of this role. Registered nurses or pharmacists also participate in OPCs research, educational, and outreach activities, and serve as preceptors for students from colleges of pharmacy, nursing, and medicine. OPC staff utilize a collaborative practice model as a framework for care provision. The policies and procedures in the center are consistent with a planned system.

 

The toxicologists, pharmacists, and nurses at the OPC work closely with healthcare providers at other facilities to treat individuals with poisoning and toxic exposure, ensuring consistent, high-quality care. This collaborative framework emphasizes shared clients, collegiality, mutual accountability, and joint decision-making. Mutual trust and respect are essential in fostering an effective collaborative practice environment.

 

Serves all individuals who call the OPC. Oregon and Guam are our service regions.

Required Qualifications

 

FOR RN:

• Current unencumbered Guam Registered Nurse License or obtain within 60 days of hire
• Minimum 2 years of nursing experience in critical care, emergency medicine, or high acuity pediatrics.
• BSN Graduates: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from a program accredited by Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) 30 days before start date.
• ADN Graduates: Associate Degree in Nursing from an accredited program 30 days before the start date.
• Associate degree Nurses required to enroll in BSN program within 3 years of hire and complete within 5 years of hire
• Current, unencumbered Oregon State Registered Nurse License
• BLS at time of hire and must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA)
• BLS must not expire during orientation
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation
• Failure to pass exam upon 3rd period of eligibility will result in termination of SPI position consistent with national poison center accreditation standards and regulations, and possible termination of employment with OHSU.

 

 

 

PHARMACIST:

• PharmD degree
• Oregon Pharmacist license OR
• Pharmacy experience in critical care, emergency medicine or high acuity pediatrics OR experience in working/training in a poison center
• Competency in drug therapy and principles of pharmacology (dosage, indications, side effects, etc.)
• Excellent interpersonal communication
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Competency in performing simple mathematic calculations (basic algebra)
• Experience and excellent skills in telephone triage and communication
• Skills in EKG interpretation, ABG interpretation and interpretation of chemistry profile
• Competency in computer skills-keyboarding, utilization of MS Word and MS Teams programs
• Basic troubleshooting skills if eligible to work remotely at home
• Must take national certification exam for specialist in poison information upon eligibility (completion of 1,200 work hours and management of 2,000 human exposure cases).
• Failure to pass exam upon 3rd period of eligibility will result in termination of SPI position consistent with national poison center accreditation standards and regulations, and possible termination of employment with OHSU.

   

   

Preferred Qualifications

For RN:

• Demonstrated experience and strong skills in telephone triage.
• Proficiency in EKG interpretation, ABG analysis, and chemistry profile interpretation.

For Pharmacist:

• PGY 1 Residency
• Certified specialist in Poison Information (CSPI)
• Experience in toxicology
• Previous poison center experience
• Minimum 2 years of pharmacy experience in critical care, emergency medicine or high acuity pediatrics
• Experience in working remotely

All are welcome

Oregon Health &am