Registered Nurse - Gastroenterology

Military Health Research Foundation•Killeen, TX

111d•Onsite

About The Position

Military & Health Research Foundation (MHRF) is seeking a Registered Nurse with gastroenterology experience to provide patient care at the Ft Hood medical center. The role supports care across multispecialty clinical settings through patient assessment, medication and treatment administration, referrals, procedural assistance, and accurate electronic health record documentation. The nurse collaborates with physicians, providers, and multidisciplinary teams and supports patient-centered care in a mission-focused military treatment facility. The position includes comprehensive nursing assessment, care planning, triage, patient education, medication administration, care coordination, referrals, documentation, and monitoring patients before, during, and after procedures. Gastroenterology-specific duties include supporting endoscopic and related procedures, monitoring patients, assisting physicians and anesthesia staff, and helping with patient check-in, booking, and scheduling. Shifts may vary based on mission needs and may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, training holidays, and federal holidays.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Associate degree in nursing from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
At least one year of clinical or inpatient experience after education, graduation, and licensure, within the last two years, providing direct care in multispecialty inpatient or outpatient clinical settings.
Recent hands-on proficiency assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care for patients across diverse medical and surgical specialties in accordance with current professional nursing standards.
Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
Gastroenterology-specific professional certifications: ACLS and BLS.
Pass a tuberculosis test and pre-employment drug screening.
Submit to a background/security investigation and complete a physical examination.
Comply with Defense Health Agency vaccination requirements.
Wear personal protective equipment during service performance.
Maintain good personal hygiene and a well-groomed, professional appearance in accordance with policy at the place of performance.
Meet physical demands including walking, prolonged standing, stretching, crouching, bending, stooping, lifting up to 50 pounds, and lifting over 50 pounds with assistance.

Responsibilities

Coordinate patient care with healthcare professionals to support clinical outcomes, quality, and cost effectiveness.
Comply with applicable standards of care, policies, procedures, and guidelines at the medical treatment facility.
Perform physical examinations, obtain health histories, and screen patient charts to assess medical history and care needs.
Provide health promotion, counseling, patient and family education, and one-on-one patient orientation on illness, self-care, wellness, preventive health, development, and physiology.
Administer medications, wound care, and other individualized nursing interventions, including oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous medications.
Direct and supervise care provided by other healthcare professionals and assign patient care according to personnel scope of practice and skill level.
Recognize adverse signs and symptoms, respond to emergencies, and report abnormal test results, symptom changes, and follow-up needs.
Communicate and collaborate with patients, families, providers, and multidisciplinary teams regarding care plans, education, and direct patient care.
Perform independent telephone and clinical triage, screen walk-in patients, assess severity, and determine the need for provider intervention.
Arrange referral appointments and coordinate specialty and other healthcare services.
Conduct research in support of improved nursing practice and patient outcomes.
Execute or ensure completion of healthcare provider orders and document patient care and procedures thoroughly and accurately within established guidelines.
Assist healthcare providers with examinations and procedures and educate and support patients undergoing high-risk, painful, or stressful procedures.
Monitor patients before, during, and after procedures in accordance with facility guidelines and assess post-procedure patients before release from the clinic.
Assess patients’ emotional, cognitive, social, and motivational status to determine education needs and priorities, and support treatment-plan compliance by telephone or in person.
After physician approval, assess patient conditions, make nursing diagnoses, and formulate or adjust nursing plans of care and nursing orders.
Coordinate prescription refills and, after physician approval, provide reassurance or advice regarding medication side effects.
Notify patients of abnormal laboratory results per provider instructions and explain further care.
Identify as a contract worker and coordinate referrals to services such as community health nursing, health promotion, social work, dietetics, clinical nursing specialists, chaplaincy, and other directed services.
Provide specialized nursing care to gastroenterology patients, including complex cases involving ERCP and biliary and pancreatic disorders.
Use knowledge of EKG and rhythm tracings, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, ERCP, upper esophagogastroduodenoscopy, hepatic tissue biopsy, Bravo wireless capsule pH probe application, and advanced motility testing.
Monitor post-procedure status and comfort, venous and arterial sites, telemetry and 12-lead electrocardiography data, and appropriate medical therapy.
Assist physicians during endoscopy procedures by providing instruments and equipment; perform endoscopy-room nursing duties, including pre-operative processes, vital-sign monitoring, and documentation of procedural findings.
Assist the anesthesiologist and gastroenterologist during procedures.
Assist with patient check-in, booking, and scheduling.