Registered Nurse RN - Vascular Access Team VAT - FT Nights

Northeast Georgia Medical Center•Gainesville, GA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse on the Vascular Access Team (VAT) acts as a resource, mentor, and consultant to staff on vascular access therapy assessment, IV starts, products, infusions, and procedures. The nurse inserts and monitors peripherally placed central venous, mid-line, and peripheral IV catheters when certified to do so, and serves as a professional member of VOICE, providing feedback and participating in councils as appropriate. The role also contributes to unit council efforts to improve nursing-sensitive indicators and patient experience, and works with care team members to recruit and retain an excellent nursing team. This position provides expert clinical support for IV therapy across age groups, including difficult IV starts, assessment and resolution of infusion problems, patient and staff education, and management of peripheral and central venous catheters. The nurse supports quality improvement, contributes to IV therapy practice standards and product evaluation, mentors staff and students, and validates nurses’ IV skills. For the vascular access unit, the nurse evaluates and monitors PICC placement effectiveness, inserts at least five PICC lines per month with an 80% success rate, completes required placement documentation and monitoring, and educates patients requiring PICC lines. The role collaborates with infection control, performance improvement, nursing units, pharmacy, and other departments to establish IV therapy standards and guidelines.

Requirements

Licensed to practice as an RN in Georgia.
Associate Nursing Degree required.
PICC line insertion certification must be obtained within six months of hire.
Two years of experience as an RN.
Membership in a professional organization.
Demonstrated knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to central line placement and peripheral vasculature.
Knowledge and demonstration of aseptic technique.
Knowledge of catheter care and maintenance.
Demonstrated expertise starting IV catheters on all age groups.

Nice To Haves

National certification in a clinical specialty.
Bachelor of Nursing Degree.
Acute care RN experience with demonstrated ability to perform the job’s functions.
Successful PICC line placement under the direct supervision of a nurse certified in PICC placement skills (optional).

Responsibilities

Assist staff with IV therapy patient-care problems, including starting IV catheters on difficult sticks.
Assess infusion problems and implement interventions to resolve them.
Provide IV therapy instructions and information to nursing staff, students, physicians, patients, and families.
Administer the extravasation protocol for vesicant infiltrates.
Serve as an expert clinician for IV starts across all age groups and stay current on advances in IV therapy.
Participate in performance improvement studies and required quality-improvement monitoring projects related to IV therapy.
Update staff on advances in IV therapy and recommend improvements to unit practices and patient care.
Provide input on IV therapy equipment and products, including participating in and giving feedback on product and supply trials.
Access various IV ports and lines, including port-a-caths and triple-lumen catheters.
Teach, coach, and mentor staff on the care and use of IV ports and lines; mentor new RNs on IV therapy and peripheral IV insertion.
Precept students and new staff and validate nurses’ IV skills annually.
Consult on management of patients with peripheral and central venous catheters.
Perform declotting, dressing changes, and discontinuation of central venous catheters, including dialysis access catheters, using sterile technique where required.
Evaluate, recommend, and monitor the effectiveness of PICC line placement.
Insert a minimum of five PICC lines per month with a success rate of 80%.
Complete required performance-improvement monitoring and documentation for PICC placements.
Educate patients requiring PICC lines and consult with units on practice changes related to IV therapy.
Suggest and develop monitoring tools for IV therapy issues and work with relevant departments to establish IV therapy standards and guidelines.
Participate in VOICE and unit council activities, including efforts to improve nursing-sensitive indicators and patient experience.
Work with care team members to recruit and retain an excellent nursing care team.