Registered Nurse RN - Vascular Access Team VAT - FT Nights

Northeast Georgia Health System•Gainesville, GA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse on the Vascular Access Team serves as a resource, mentor, and consultant to staff regarding 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. The role participates in VOICE and unit councils, contributing to improvements in nursing-sensitive indicators and patient experience, and works with the care team to recruit and retain an excellent nursing team. The role provides expert clinical support for IV therapy across all age groups, including troubleshooting infusion problems, difficult IV starts, patient and staff education, extravasation protocols, accessing ports and lines, catheter declotting and discontinuation, and sterile central-line dressing changes. The nurse mentors and validates staff skills and supports students and new staff. The position also evaluates and monitors PICC placement, completes required documentation and quality-improvement monitoring, and collaborates with departments to establish IV therapy standards and improve practice.

Requirements

Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in Georgia.
Associate degree in Nursing required.
PICC line insertion certification required within six months of hire.
At least two years of experience as an RN.
Membership in a professional organization.
Knowledge of anatomy and physiology relevant 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 functions.
Successful placement of PICC lines under direct supervision of a nurse certified in PICC placement skills (optional).

Responsibilities

Assist staff with IV therapy patient-care problems, including difficult IV starts; assess infusion problems and implement interventions.
Provide IV therapy instructions and information to nursing staff, students, physicians, patients, and families.
Administer the extravasation protocol for vesicant infiltrates and serve as an expert clinician for IV starts across all age groups.
Stay current on advances in IV therapy, participate in performance-improvement studies, and share relevant updates with staff.
Help units evaluate IV therapy practices and recommend improvements; provide input on equipment and products, including product trials.
Access various types of IV ports and lines, including port-a-caths and triple-lumen catheters, and teach staff about their care and use.
Mentor new RN staff in IV therapy and peripheral IV insertions; consult on care of patients with peripheral and central venous catheters; precept students and new staff; validate nurses’ IV skills annually.
Perform declotting, dressing changes, and discontinuation of central venous catheters, including dialysis access catheters, using sterile technique where required.
Evaluate, recommend, and monitor PICC line placement; insert at least five PICC lines monthly with an 80% success rate; complete required monitoring and documentation; educate patients requiring PICC lines.
Participate in required quality-improvement monitoring, consult with units on IV therapy practice changes, and suggest or develop monitoring tools.
Collaborate with Infection Control, Performance Improvement, nursing units, Pharmacy, and other departments to establish IV therapy standards and guidelines.
Participate in VOICE and unit councils, including contributing to improvement plans for nursing-sensitive indicators and patient experience.
Work with care team members to recruit and retain an excellent nursing care team.