About the Position This position is located within the Gastroenterology Service, Tacoma, Washington. The purpose of the work is to aid with and performance of a variety of complex diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients with various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Serve as a rotating on-call nurse staff for various weekdays and the occasional weekend for the MTF, to include a 30-45 minute report time. This is a Direct Hire Solicitation
Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Nurse (Clinical/Ambulatory): Degree: A graduate or higher-level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.). Licensure: A current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States; and you must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination. Foreign Degree: A degree from a Foreign Nursing School. Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools. Exemption: You are exempt from the basic requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0610 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Applicants claiming this exemption must meet the requirement below. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status. Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated State accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Active, current registration as a professional nurse in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Education and Experience: A diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree in nursing from a professional nursing program and possession of at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or above) which includes providing outpatient care to patients with complex gastrointestinal conditions; educating patients on gastrointestinal system functions and sedation procedures; administering medications through intravenous routes; and maintaining comprehensive and accurate clinical documentation.. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) "NOTE" A Required 30-minute callback time and a preference for candidates with critical care experience. OR Education: A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field including but not limited to such as e.g., Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), or Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc). (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) EXEMPTION: You are exempt from the qualification requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0610 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Applicants claiming this exemption must meet one of the requirement below. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status. Completion of all requirements for a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) from a professional nursing program OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education from a professional nursing program
Provide comprehensive nursing care to patients with complex gastrointestinal disorders in the outpatient and critical care area of the hospital - ICU East/West, the Emergency room, Radiology, or the Operating Room.
Educate patients/family about normal gastrointestinal function and the underlying disease processes associated with gastrointestinal disorders.
Promote a multi-disciplinary environment to ensure a safe patient care environment is maintained, including comprehensive knowledge of the inpatient environment.
Serve as a preceptor and subject matter expert for the interdisciplinary team, including serving as charge nurse.
Triage clinical data to identify deviations, perform appropriate interventions and notify the physician of findings/interventions/recommendations.
Identify and interpret life-threatening situations, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as necessary.
Perform targeted patient assessments to ensure admit criteria has been met for the scheduled endoscopy procedure and sedation level.
Perform targeted patient assessments to ensure sedation level is appropriate to the type of sedation ordered/consented.
Perform targeted patient assessments to ensure discharge criteria has been met, to include management of acutely unstable patients.
Operate and maintain specialized equipment, including advanced endoscopy equipment, endoscope automatic re-processor and telemetry monitors.
Document comprehensively within the patient chart (endoscopy software and local EHR), including systematic audits.
Perform care across the outpatient and inpatient continuum, serving as a resource nurse for the gastroenterology and anesthesia team, as needed.
Assist the physician with diagnostic and therapeutic EGDs, colonoscopies, flexible sigmoidoscopies, ERCPs, EUS, biliary stents, stricture dilations, and foreign body removals.
Perform interventions to ensure airway and hemodynamic stability including intravenous medications, fluid resuscitation and airway maintenance.
Perform moderate sedation (intravenous administration) and assess/monitor their effects IAW local guidance.