Special Procedures Nurse - Ambulatory Float Pool, Full-Time, Days

Join one of the nation’s most comprehensive academic medical centers, University of Chicago Medicine, in a thought-driven role as a Special Procedures Nurse for our Ambulatory  Float Pool at our DCAM- Hyde Park location. Our employees deliver world-class care in an environment where opinions are respected, decision-making is rewarded, and teamwork is the order of the day. Our staff is encouraged to achieve their career goals, which in turn benefits all of our patients and the University of Chicago Medicine as a whole.

UChicago Medicine is seeking a Nurse Associate to join the Ambulatory Float Pool team, supporting multiple outpatient clinics in Hyde Park and surrounding locations. This role provides the opportunity to deliver high-quality patient care across a variety of specialties, including Cardiology, Neurology, Oncology, Primary Care, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, and more. 

Under the direction of an Attending Physician or a licensed independent practitioner, RN provides technically complex and high risk nursing care services to patients which may include one or more of the following categories:  sedation, intravenous infusions, complex procedures, e.g., lumbar puncture, cardiac catherization; This may also include specialized monitoring during procedure and recovery phase; The RN may have Charge Nurse responsibility for his/her assigned unit.

Essential Job Functions

• The RN is expert in assessing and treating and evaluating patient conditions specific to their work area, e.g., anxiety, pain, claustrophobia and underlying disease conditions. Due to the complex nature of pain, RN will evaluate and treat pain in a prompt, caring fashion and reassess after each intervention, charting per UCMC protocol.
• RN maintains hospital required nursing & ICU unit specific competencies needed to provide proficient nursing care; RN will provide continuity of care for infant, pediatric or adult patients based on area of specialty. This includes assisting in the care of critically ill patients during sedation/procedural encounters. Administering high-risk infusion and transfusion (i.e. chemotherapy medicines).
• Contributes to the Patient Services Sector/Outpatient Services Sector offering constructive suggestions for change and participating in the planning, implementation and evaluation of new and existing programs utilizing evidence based practice.
• RN uses nursing knowledge to anticipate and plan for patient care needs. The RN understands and applies safety principles and serves as a resource to other healthcare personnel on patient care. RN knows the potential risks and complications from specialty procedures and can assist in the initial treatment of adverse effects in their area of expertise.
• Under the Physician direction, the RN administers minimal / moderate sedation analgesia providing patients the ability to tolerate unpleasant procedures while maintaining adequate cardiorespiratory function, protective reflexes, and the ability to respond purposefully to verbal and /or tactile stimulation.
• As it is not always possible to gauge how a patient may respond to sedation, the registered nurse must possess clinical skills to rescue the patient whose level of consciousness progresses to deep sedation.
• Patient selection for sedation is based on established criteria developed through interdisciplinary collaboration by UCMC Critical Care Professionals; the RN will utilize a sedation assessment to determine a patient’s suitability for RN monitored minimal/moderate sedation by identifying potential risk factors for undesirable outcomes. The monitoring RN will conduct the assessment and include data from numerous sources, such as chart review, patient physical assessment and interview, and consultation with other health care providers as appropriate.
• The RN must have the ability to analyze patient data obtained during sedation to identify risks and/or complications throughout a procedure. Must possess excellent airway management skills to prevent adverse outcomes that could potentially occur during moderate sedation. RN identifies changes in patients’ condition and reports findings immediately to the physician. RN must comply with UCMC sedation monitoring documentation protocols throughout the patient encounter.
• The RN will understand the pharmacology of sedation medications and reversal agents and observes the patients for desired medication effects thereby avoiding medication reactions or complications; accurate documentation of the patients’ response is an integral component of the monitoring process.
• Patient education is an integral component for successful moderate sedation; The RN will provide pre-procedure preparation information and education, verbal and written post-procedure instruction. RN will assess for sufficient understanding of patient/families ability to process information. RN will work collaboratively with interpreter as needed and other multidisciplinary team members as needed.
• Computer proficiency: familiarity with UCMC Information Systems preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to handle a wide variety of public contacts, including conflict resolution and communicating both verbally and in writing with discretion and courtesy with patients, families and co-workers
• Requires the knowledge & ability to administer minimal and moderate sedation as prescribed and directed by the attending or licensed independent practitioner.
• May require extensive familiarity with hematologic and oncologic diseases, chemotherapy drugs and treatment protocols
• Follows UCMC sedation policy to monitor and recover sedated patients.
• Maintains critical care competencies not limited to: management of artificial airways, including endotracheal tubes and tracheostomy tubes, hemodynamic stability, and thermoregulation for critically ill patients
• Brings excellent organizational skills as demonstrated by: abilities to prioritize and work independently with a high degree of initiative, flexibility, problem solving and adaptability to an ever changing work environment
• Demonstrates ability to work under pressure, exercise good judgment and assume responsibility in a stressful work environment
• Ability and willingness to cooperate with multidisciplinary team to fulfill patient/family needs
• Identifies issues, presents strategies and acts as a change agent to resolve unit and patient care issues
• Accepts responsibility for learning as part of the development of their own professional practice
• Maintains annual competencies for area of expertise
• If applicable will commit to acquiring OCN certification within two years of hire
• Participates in unit based councils under shared governance model

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Currently licensed as a registered professional nurse in the State of Illinois
• Current CPR, ACLS, and/or PALS Certifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership/Management experience in area of specialty
• Experience working in a research environment.
• 2 years Chemo/IV Therapy experience and certification
• One additional certification in area specialty

Position Details

• Job Type/FTE: Full-time
• Shift: Day shift - 10s (7:30 am - 5 pm) or 8s (8 am - 4:30 pm)
• Location: Onsite - DCAM Hyde Park
• Unit/Department: Ambulatory Float Pool
• CBA Code: NNU

We’ve been at the forefront of medicine since 1899. We provide superior healthcare with compassion, always mindful that each patient is a person, an individual. To accomplish this, we need employees with passion, talent and commitment… with patients and with each other. We’re in this together: working to advance medical innovation, serve the health needs of the community, and move our collective knowledge forward. If you’d like to add enriching human life to your profile, UChicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront, we’re doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

UChicago Medicine is growing; discover how you can be a part of this pursuit of excellence at: UChicago Medicine Career Opportunities

UChicago Medicine is an equal opportunity employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.

As a condition of employment, all employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical, background check, drug screening, and comply with the flu vaccination requirements prior to hire. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered for flu vaccination consistent with applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits Overview

UChicago Medicine is committed to transparency in compensation and benefits.  The pay range provided reflects the anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position.

The pay range is based on a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) and is reflective of current market data, reviewed on an annual basis. Compensation offered at the time of hire will vary based on candidate qualifications and experience and organizational considerations, such as internal equity. Pay ranges for employees subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements are negotiated by the medical center and their respective union.

Review the full complement of benefit options for eligible roles at Benefits - UChicago Medicine.