Registered Nurse – Ambulatory Procedures Unit (APU) in Bethesda, Maryland at Prairie Quest Consulting

At PQC, our people are our greatest strength. We are committed to fostering a workplace where every individual feels respected, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. Our culture is built on collaboration, innovation, and growth—because we know the best results happen when everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute.

Here, you’ll find meaningful, challenging work in a supportive environment where your impact truly matters. If you’re ready to grow your career and help deliver exceptional results for our customers, we’d love to hear from you.

PQC is currently seeking a Registered Nurse – Ambulatory Procedures Unit (APU).

Work Environment:

· Monday–Friday, 8-hour shifts with 30-minute unpaid meal break

o Day Shift: 05:00AM–13:30PM

o Evening Shift: 13:00PM–21:30PM

Responsibilities:

· Shall be knowledgeable of equipment and supply terminology and skill sufficient to identify and use necessary equipment and supplies properly and to communicate proper use with nurses, medical staff, patients, and family members.

· Shall be knowledgeable and possess skills necessary to provide care appropriate to any age-related needs of the patients. contractor shall be knowledge of the principles of growth and development appropriate to the patient population served: Infants, Children, Adolescent, Adults, and Geriatric (>65).

· Assess, coordinate, facilitate, deliver and evaluate care for infants to geriatric patients using the nursing process.

· Knowledge of a wide range of medical disorders/conditions, diagnostic studies and treatments related to prevention, and detection of illnesses in adults, is desirable.

· Will be knowledgeable in professional care theories, principles, practices, and procedures to perform nursing assignments of moderate difficulty, such as on patients with special needs, paralysis, amputations, and expressive disorders.

· Fully comprehend and be fluent in speaking and writing the English language.

· Shall be able to assist with bed-to-bed, bed-to-chair, chair-to-chair, wheelchair-to-commode, and commode to wheelchair transfer.

· Shall be able to walk the distance of 500 yards without needing rest, push an occupied wheelchair, push an occupied gurney, and lift linen bags of 30 lbs.

· Shall be able to type efficiently and prepare medications from vials; and be able to read (with or without assistive devices) computer screens and medication vials/packets.

· Conduct duties in accordance with APU policies and procedures.

· Delivery of treatment within the personnel and equipment capabilities of the MTF, provision of mandated nursing surveillance and preventive services.

· The quality and timeliness of treatment records and reports required to document procedures performed and care provided.

· Participate in educational and continuous improvement programs to include training of the enlisted and LVN/LPN/Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) staff assigned to the APU, as appropriate.

· Provide documentation of annual attendance at Joint Commission and Occupational Safety Health Act (OSHA) required classes. These courses will be provided at Government expense.

· Assess nursing needs, formulate, and implement a plan of nursing care for each patient consistent with established nursing standards and protocols for this unit and with the prescribed plan of medical care.

· Contribute to the medical/nursing plan of care by observing, recognizing, recording, and reporting changes in the patient’s condition, subjective symptoms and objective signs, reactions to medications, and responses to therapy.

· Performance of supportive life functions such as management of medications, suctioning (to include tracheostomy suctioning) maintenance and electrolytic fluids, and oxygen administration for maintenance of airway, cardiovascular, and respiratory functions.

· Collect, document, and evaluate patient data for a wide variety of adult patients with medical or surgical problems to include maintenance and discontinuation of NG tubes, foley catheters, leg bags, colostomy bags, and rectal tubes.

· Maintain all required patient care records and report pertinent information to the medical officer and/or charge nurse as appropriate.

· Administer prescribed medications and intravenous therapy. Will be knowledge of a variety of pharmacological agents used in patient treatment, the desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use as well as the accurate administration of the pharmacologic agent, including dosage calculations as required.

· Will be knowledgeable in administrative requirements for the documentation of patient's condition, progress and acknowledgement of teaching, and follow up care.

· Conduct a complete physical screening assessment utilizing techniques of observation, inspection, auscultation, palpitation and percussion, as well as proper use of instruments to aid in the evaluation.

· Provide individualized health teaching for patients and their significant others throughout hospitalizations to ensure that transfer or discharge objectives can be achieved.

· Utilize diversified professional concepts, principles, and practices while performing procedures, treatments, and tasks related to the specialty area.

· Interpret and operate highly specialized equipment used for required patient care. (To include external fixators, JP drains, TLS drains, wound vacs, etc.)

· Assist in nursing quality assurance activities through problem identification, development of nursing practice evaluation criteria, development of plans of action, and result monitoring.

· Perform special tests and procedures following appropriate standard protocols (Serum glucose, urine HCG, tilts, vitals, and fill-and-pull).

· Assist in maintenance of the unit environment and with ordering supplies and equipment. Be responsible for the security of narcotics, dangerous drugs, and other controlled substances.

· Provide emotional empathy with patients and coworkers; engaging in purposeful work-related conversations in a manner that conveys dignity and respect for others, improves individual resiliency, and is directed at achieving a safe and harmonious environment of care.

· Keep current Command certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, IV administration and venipuncture. Keep current in nursing practice within the specialty of practice.

· Our facility does perform elective terminations of pregnancy (Elective D&E), and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) as prescribed by DOD instruction. Nurses who object to participating in the care of patients undergoing these procedures must make their conscience known by informing the charge nurse and every attempt will be made to reassign the care, if able. Contractors should refer to the nursing practice act of their state, patient abandonment and refusal of care, when confronted with this issue.

· Promote patient and staff safety through adherence to accepted safety and infection control standards. Maintain a clean, safe, orderly, and therapeutic working environment.

· Participate in emergency measures including cardiopulmonary resuscitation in absence of a physician according to established protocols.

· Contractors will have thorough knowledge of documentation requirements and hospital policies regarding the release of information to outside agencies; prepare correspondence and summaries to a variety of requestors, such as the Veterans Administration Hospitals, Social Security Administration, and Insurance Companies. Employees must abide by the Privacy Act to determine what types of patient information can be released.

· Contractor shall assure his/her contract personnel comply with the Privacy Act, 38 USC 5701 and 38 USC 7332 in accordance with FAR Clauses 52.224-1 Privacy Act Notification and 52.224-2 Privacy Act.

· Electronic Health Record (EHR). Contracts will use current EHR for evaluation of diagnostic testing, documenting patient treatments as indicated, and performing other required patient functions. The government will provide training to contract employees. Access to such patient data systems is an "Automated Data Processing Sensitive" position requiring compliance with AR 25-2 and AR 380-67.

· Must be able to type and document patient record of care into electronic medical record.

· Assist with mobility needs of patients to include hospital falls policy, assisted ambulation, transfers, and education on transfer devices.

· Ensure quality of care issues are documented and reported to appropriate personnel and corrective action is taken.

· Staff Orientation: Contractors shall participate in all staff orientation or training that may be required as a precondition to performance as may be prescribed by the hospital Director or designee. Such orientation may include instruction on automated processing, standing operating procedures (SOP), local in-services, quality improvement programs, safety programs. This shall be conducted during the contractors’ regularly scheduled shift.

· Additional training. Contractors may be assigned additional training, such as customer service, computer, new equipment, annual refresher, sexual harassment or discrimination training, resiliency, or other training as assigned by the Nurse Manager or higher authority, to ensure

competence and compliance with mission. These will be conducted at the Governments’ expense.

· HCW shall perform in accordance with established principles, practices, and ethics of applicable healthcare profession and written policies, procedures and requirements of WRNMMC and shall apply age specific knowledge and competency appropriate to patient population served, given organizational guiding principles, and the standards of performance for all HCW in the professional category to which he or she belongs.

· Shall report to the Nurse Manager. Will take direction from charge nurse and house supervisor as required in maintaining a safe environment for staff and patient(s).

· When assigned, shall serve and participate in committees, functions, and other meetings. Provide relevant and timely information and assist with decision-making and process improvement.

· As required, participate in customer service initiatives and medical readiness activities, designed to enhance health services.

Qualifications:

· Education

o Graduate of a school of professional nursing, approved by a legally designated state accrediting agency and hold current registration as a registered professional nurse and has successfully passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Copy of certification and license required. Must have Bachelor or Associates degree of Nursing from a college or university accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

· Certifications

o Basic Life Support (BLS)

· Experience

o Minimum at least 2 current years of experience as a Medical-Surgical Nurse on an inpatient surgery ward or outpatient surgery center, within the last five years.

· License

o Possess current, active, valid, unrestricted license in at least one U.S. State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth, Territory, or jurisdiction.

· Misc

o Possess a valid state driver’s license.

o Possess, or be able to obtain, a background screening.

o Must complete initial and annual training independently.

o Excellent oral communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse group of people for the purpose of informing the healthcare team of plans/actions, for teaching/education to benefit the patient/family and organization. Effectively uses appropriate communication format in addressing professional issues.

o Excellent written communication skills to perform accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity in accordance with requirements.

o Completes orientation and competency verification programs in accordance with established guidelines.

o Contributes to professional environment using appropriate leadership skills.