PQC is accepting applications for experienced, civilian Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB/GYN), Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI), Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Registered Nurses (RN) to work onsite at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Bethesda, Maryland).

Work Environment
Monday-Friday, 8-hour shifts with a 30-minute unpaid meal break

• Monday to Wednesday: 6:00AM-2:30PM
• Thursday to Friday: 6:30AM-3:00PM

Responsibilities
• Be knowledgeable of equipment and supply terminology and skill sufficient to identify and use necessary equipment and supplies properly and to communicate proper use with nurses, medical staff, patients, and family members.
• Shall be knowledgeable and possess skills necessary to provide care appropriate to any age-related needs of the patients. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development appropriate to the appropriate patient population served: Infants, Children, Adolescent, Adults, and Geriatric (>65).
• Assess, coordinate, facilitate, deliver and evaluate care for infants to geriatric patients using the nursing process.
• Knowledge of a wide range of medical disorders/conditions, diagnostic studies and treatments related to prevention, and detection of illnesses in adults, is desirable.
• Be knowledgeable in professional care theories, principles, practices, and procedures to perform nursing assignments of moderate difficulty, such as on patients with special needs, paralysis, amputations, and expressive disorders.
• Fully comprehend and be fluent in speaking and writing the English language.
• Shall be able to, when required as a part of nursing work, assist with bed-to-bed, bed-to-chair, chair-to-chair, wheelchair-to-commode, and commode to wheelchair transfer; walk the distance of 500 yards without needing rest, push an occupied wheelchair, push an occupied gurney, lift linen bags of 30 lbs.; be dexterous enough to type efficiently and prepare medications from vials; and be able to read (with or without assistive devices) computer screens and medication vials/packets.
• Caring for and monitoring critically ill patients and invasive lines; responding to life-threatening changes in a patient's condition; titration of vasoactive medications; working with specialized medical equipment, such as epidurals, PCA's, cardiac monitors, IV pumps, management of airway adjuncts, artificial airways, and mechanical ventilators.
• Provide a scope of care which includes emphasis on evaluation, management, and education of patients undergoing Anesthesia (general, regional, or local), Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) or Moderate Sedation.
• Conducts duties in accordance with PACU policies and procedures.
• Delivery of treatment within the personnel and equipment capabilities of the medical treatment facility (MTF), provision of mandated nursing surveillance and preventive services.
• The quality and timeliness of treatment records and reports required to document procedures performed and care provided.
• Participates in educational and continuous improvement programs to include training of the enlisted and LVN/LPN/CNA staff assigned to the PACU, as appropriate.
• Assess nursing needs, formulate, and implement a plan of nursing care for each patient consistent with established nursing standards and protocols for this unit and with the prescribed plan of medical care.
• Contribute to the medical/nursing plan of care by observing, recognizing, recording, and reporting changes in the patient's condition, subjective symptoms and objective signs, reactions to medications, and responses to therapy.
• Performance of supportive life functions such as management of medications, suctioning (to include tracheostomy suctioning) maintenance and electrolytic fluids, and oxygen administration for maintenance of airway, cardiovascular, and respiratory functions.
• Collect, document, and evaluate patient data for a wide variety of adult patients with medical or surgical problems to include maintenance and discontinuation of NG tubes, foley catheters, leg bags, colostomy bags, and rectal tubes.
• Maintain all required patient care records and report pertinent information to the medical officer and/or charge nurse as appropriate.
• Administer prescribed medications and intravenous therapy. 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.
• Will be knowledgeable in administrative requirements for the documentation of patient's condition, progress and acknowledgement of teaching, and follow up care.
• Be familiar with local anesthetic administration devices such as On-Q ®.
• Conducting a complete physical screening assessment utilizing techniques of observation, inspection, auscultation, palpitation and percussion, as well as proper use of instruments to aid in the evaluation.
• Ensure that patients are properly informed and prepared for a wide variety of special tests and examinations (Magnetic resonance imaging, Electroconvulsive therapy, Lumbar Puncture, Needle localization of tumor).
• Provide individualized health teaching for patients and their significant others throughout hospitalizations to ensure that transfer or discharge objectives can be achieved.
• Utilize diversified professional concepts, principles, and practices while performing procedures, treatments, and tasks related to the specialty area.
• Interpret and operate highly specialized equipment used for required patient care. (To include external fixators, JP drains, TLS drains, wound vacs, etc.)
• Assist in nursing quality assurance activities through problem identification, development of nursing practice evaluation criteria, development of plans of action, and result monitoring.
• Perform special tests and procedures following appropriate standard protocols (Serum glucose, urine HCG, tilts, vitals, and fill-and-pull).
• Provide support and proper referral for those patients and families experiencing critical illness and/or potential death.
• Assist in maintenance of the unit environment and with ordering supplies and equipment. Be responsible for the security of narcotics, dangerous drugs, and other controlled substances.
• Contractors will demonstrate emotional empathy with patients and coworkers; engaging in purposeful work-related conversations in a manner that conveys dignity and respect for others, improves individual resiliency, and is directed at achieving a safe and harmonious environment of care.
• Keep current Command certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, IV administration and venipuncture. Keep current in nursing practice within the specialty of practice.
• Perform other duties as assigned to include floating to other perioperative areas as needed if qualified to safely practice nursing in that location.
• Utilize knowledge of (Mother/Infant care) ethical and legal issues to provide maximal patient/family support during periods of physio-psycho-social stress. Provide appropriate crisis intervention.
• Walter Reed does perform elective terminations of pregnancy (Elective D&E), and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) as prescribed by Department of Defense (DOD) instruction. Nurses who object to participating in the care of patients undergoing these procedures must make their conscience known by informing the charge nurse and every attempt will be made to reassign the care, if able.
• Promote patient and staff safety through adherence to accepted safety and infection control standards. Maintain a clean, safe, orderly, and therapeutic working environment.
• Participates in/Institutes emergency measures including cardiopulmonary resuscitation in absence of a physician according to established protocols.
• Providers will ensure all records are returned to the appropriate location as defined by the MTF within a timely manner.
• Providers will maintain inpatient and outpatient medical records IAW AR 40-60. Medical records will be subject to review by the Medical Care Evaluation Committee, Quality Assurance Committee, and designated representatives of the Director, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity.
• Employees will have thorough knowledge of documentation requirements and hospital policies regarding the release of information to outside agencies; prepare correspondence and summaries for a variety of requesters, such as the Veterans Administration Hospitals, Social Security Administration, and Insurance Companies. Employees must abide by the Privacy Act to determine what types of patient information can be released.
• Shall assure his/her contract personnel comply with the Privacy Act, 38 USC 5701 and 38 USC 7332 in accordance with FAR Clauses 52.224-1 Privacy Act Notification and 52.224-2 Privacy Act.
• MHS GENESIS: will use MHS GENESIS computer system for evaluation of diagnostic testing, prescribing medications, writing doctor's orders, ordering ancillary procedures, laboratory testing, documenting patient encounters not limited to preoperative and post-operative evaluations. Access to such patient data systems is an "Automated Data Processing Sensitive" position requiring compliance with AR 25-2 and AR 380-67.
• Must be able to type and document patient record of care into electronic medical record (EMR).
• Assist with mobility needs of patients to include hospital falls policy, assisted ambulation, transfers, and education on transfer devices.
• Ensure quality of care issues are documented and reported to appropriate personnel and corrective action is taken.
• Staff Orientation: shall participate in all staff orientation or training that may be required as a precondition to performance as may be prescribed by the hospital Director or designee. Such orientation may include instruction on automated processing, standing operating procedures (SOP), local in-services, quality improvement programs, safety programs. This shall be conducted during regularly scheduled shift.
• Additional training: may be assigned additional training, such as customer service, computer, new equipment, annual refresher, sexual harassment or discrimination training, resiliency, or other training as assigned by the Nurse Manager or higher authority, to ensure competence and compliance with mission. These will be conducted at the Governments' expense.
• Perform in accordance with established principles, practices, and ethics of applicable healthcare profession and written policies, procedures and requirements of WRNMMC and shall apply age specific knowledge and competency appropriate to patient population served, given organizational guiding principles, and the standards of performance for all in the professional category to which he or she belongs.
• Shall report to the Nurse Manager: Will take direction from charge nurse and house supervisor as required in maintaining a safe environment for staff and patient(s).
• When assigned, shall serve and participate in committees, functions, and other meetings. Provide relevant and timely information and assist with decision-making and process improvement.
• As required, participate in customer service initiatives and medical readiness activities, designed to enhance health services.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's Degree, Registered Nursing from a college or university accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Certifications:

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Experience: Minimum Combination of experience, having at least two (2) current years of experience as OB/GYN and Medical-Surgical Nurse on an inpatient surgery ward or outpatient surgery center and at least one (1) year of Critical Care experience within the past five (5) years. The expectation is to be able to manage the care of a potentially critical patient for up to two (2) hours.

Board Certification: Trauma Certified Registered Nurse. The institution will be from a National League of Nursing (NLN) approved program. Successfully pass the NCLEX exam. Copy of Certificate and license required. Have successfully completed a Post-Anesthesia Care course/training program or is nationally certified as a Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CP AN).

License: Must Possess current, active, valid, unrestricted license in at least one U.S. State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth, Territory, or jurisdiction.

Members of our team Enjoy:

• Working with a highly engaged staff
• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life
  • Short Term Disability
  • Long Term Disability
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays Off
• Paid Weather Days
• Reimbursement for certifications