RN Clinical Coordinator in Bunkie, Louisiana at Bunkie General Hospital

Job Summary

The Clinical Coordinator RN carries out all physician-ordered treatments and hands-on patient care within Outpatient Services, applying the nursing process to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for patients receiving infusions, injections, line care, wound care, catheter care, and other outpatient treatments. The Clinical Coordinator RN serves as the clinical team lead for the department, organizing daily patient flow, escalation pathways, and readiness of the patient care area, and leads the Endoscopy service line, including team organization, patient screening/preparation, and coordination with pharmacy and ancillary departments. This role requires sound clinical judgment and the ability to independently recognize and respond to changes in patient condition, including adverse reactions and medical emergencies, in a setting where a physician is not present at all times.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Infusion and Treatment Room Care

• Correctly identifies the patient prior to initiating infusion therapy or any ordered treatment, consistent with hospital patient identification policy.
• Inserts, manages, and monitors intravenous catheters and vascular access devices, including implanted ports and PICC lines, precisely and safely.
• Collects routine laboratory specimens as ordered.
• Assesses patients throughout infusion therapy and other treatments for signs of adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis, and responds appropriately and promptly, including initiation of emergency protocols when indicated.
• Documents medications administered, vital signs, side effects, and the patient's response to treatment accurately and in a timely manner in the electronic medical record.
• Evaluates and manages patients within Outpatient Services through consistent application of the nursing process.
• Supplements advanced nursing care through the performance of treatments and procedures as ordered and as indicated by patient condition.

Department and Medication Management

• Stocks and flips treatment rooms between patients, ensuring rooms are clean, supplied, and ready for the next patient.
• Administers medications and stocks/maintains the medication cart, including routine inventory and par-level checks.
• Checks and maintains the crash cart per hospital policy and schedule.
• Completes incident reports as needed and serves as the department's lead point of escalation for patient care concerns.
• Maintains and troubleshoots infusion equipment, including IV pumps, ensuring proper function prior to and during patient use.

Endoscopy Leadership

• Serves as the RN lead for the Endoscopy service line, organizing the care team and assigning roles and responsibilities for scope days.
• Medically screens and prepares patients in advance of scope procedures, including providing pre-procedure instructions and confirming the patient has arranged a ride/support person.
• Provides patient education related to endoscopy preparation, the procedure itself, and post-procedure expectations.
• Coordinates with pharmacy and ancillary departments to confirm availability and support for scheduled scope days.
• Confirms procedural readiness and equipment/supply availability prior to scope day.
• Monitors patients receiving procedural sedation during endoscopy in accordance with hospital moderate sedation policy, including pre-sedation assessment, continuous monitoring, and discharge readiness criteria.
• Provides discharge education and assists the patient to their disposition destination following endoscopy and other outpatient procedures.

Care Coordination and Communication

• Collaborates with physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other members of the healthcare team to coordinate safe, effective patient care.
• Communicates patient history, current assessment findings, clinical status, and response to care clearly and in a timely manner to the appropriate members of the care team.
• Serves as the point of clinical escalation for the Outpatient Services Technician and Outpatient Access Specialist regarding order clarification and patient care concerns.
• Cross-trains in the Outpatient Services Technician role to provide coverage as needed.

Patient and Staff Education

• Educates patients and their support persons/caregivers regarding infusion medications, premedications, ordered treatments, and post-procedure or post-infusion care.
• Educates self, department staff, and peers regarding infusion medications, treatment protocols, and best practices in outpatient nursing care.

Safety and Quality

• Responds to medical emergencies according to hospital policy.
• Advocates for patient safety and quality of care by recognizing and reporting unsafe practices, changes in patient condition, or deviations from standards of care.
• Follows the hospital's established chain of command to escalate concerns related to patient safety, staffing, clinical decisions, or unsafe practices when issues are not resolved at the point of care.
• Supports a culture of safety by reporting concerns, near misses, and adverse events in accordance with hospital policy.
• Performs other duties as assigned or indicated to support the operations of Outpatient Services.

Qualifications

Education

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing (Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Nursing).

Licensure/Certification

• Current, active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Louisiana, or valid multistate compact RN license.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) required, or must be obtained within 90 days of hire.
• Moderate/procedural sedation competency required for the endoscopy component of this role, or must be obtained within a defined orientation period per hospital policy.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of Registered Nurse experience required; experience in infusion therapy, medical-surgical nursing, endoscopy/GI, or emergency nursing preferred.
• Experience with electronic health records required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to insert and manage intravenous catheters and vascular access ports precisely and safely. Certification and competency in PICC and Midline placement are preferred but not required.
• In-depth knowledge of infusion therapy, medications, and patient care principles.
• Expertise using infusion equipment, including IV pumps.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills, compassion, and patient care skills sufficient to educate patients and caregivers about procedures and post-treatment care.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy for proper dosing and treatment.
• Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration skills within a multidisciplinary care team.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and direct patient flow, including leading and assigning roles to the endoscopy team.
• Sound clinical judgment and the ability to recognize and respond independently to changes in patient condition.

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

Work is performed in a clinical outpatient/treatment room and endoscopy setting. Requires standing and walking for extended periods, manual dexterity for procedural tasks, and the ability to respond quickly to patient emergencies. May involve exposure to bodily fluids, infectious materials, and radiation/sedation-related agents consistent with endoscopy procedures; standard precautions and hospital safety protocols apply. Hours align with Outpatient Services operating hours with scheduling as assigned.