Vascular Access Nurse (FT, days)

The University of Kansas Health System•Olathe, KS

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) uses the nursing process to coordinate interdisciplinary patient care and provide safe, therapeutic, holistic, and systematic care. The RN integrates knowledge, skills, and experience to meet the needs of patients and families throughout the continuum of care, collaborating with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team. The RN also supports practice improvement through lifelong learning, provides direction and guidance to others, serves as a resource, preceptor, and mentor, and demonstrates leadership in decision-making and problem-solving. Practice is conducted within the boundaries of the Kansas Nurse Practice Act, specialty standards, and organizational and departmental policies and procedures. The Vascular Access Nurse assesses patients’ vascular access needs, procures and coordinates vascular access in the hospital setting, and places appropriate devices. The role includes reviewing records and orders, obtaining consent, placing ultrasound-guided vascular access devices, troubleshooting complications, providing education, documenting care, and communicating needs or complications to relevant clinicians.

Requirements

High school graduate.
Associate degree in nursing.
Licensed Registered Nurse (LRN) with a Kansas single-state license or compact license.
CPR/AED/BLS certification; the posting specifies BLS within 14 days.

Responsibilities

Consistently meet the work schedule.
Independently perform comprehensive assessments to provide effective care for the patient population.
Anticipate and respond appropriately and promptly to concerns related to patient and staff safety.
Communicate and interact professionally with patients, families, nurses, and other medical professionals.
Follow hospital medication-safety policies and practices.
Assess patient and family readiness to learn, provide individualized education, evaluate understanding using teach-back, and adapt the approach as needed.
Develop, implement, and evaluate plans of care, adapting them to changes in the patient's condition.
Delegate appropriately and function as an independent, supportive team member; help maintain an environment where team members thrive.
Use technology correctly for patient-care delivery, required programs and competencies, and policies and procedures.
Seek additional learning opportunities, including unit-specific certifications, consultation with experts, in-services, rounds, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Model individualized therapeutic communication that considers patients' and families' psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural needs.
Assess patients needing long-term IV therapy and determine the appropriate vascular access device.
Review medical records for contraindications to peripheral vascular access, review physician orders, and obtain consent for access.
Place ultrasound-guided PICC, midline, and peripheral vascular access devices, or recommend alternative access.
Troubleshoot difficult vascular access device complications or assist staff with them.
Educate patients, families, and associates about device care, complication management, and vascular access needs.
Document completely and accurately in the patient's permanent medical record.
Report vascular access needs or complications to the primary nurse, coordinator, and/or physician as necessary.
Place difficult peripheral IVs, with or without ultrasound, as needed.
Perform the professional, clinical, and/or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.