Rapid Response Nurse (RN)- Inova Alexandria Hospital PRN

Inova Alexandria Hospital is seeking a PRN Rapid Response Nurse.  This is a day shift position 7:00am-7:30pm.

The Rapid Response Nurse ensures patient safety by escalating issues, following standard processes, maintaining equipment and using evidence-based practice techniques. Keeps patients, families, and hospital team informed of updates. Responds to RRT Code calls promptly while assessing patients' conditions as observed/reported by nurses. Implements measures for immediate stabilization when necessary.

Job Responsibilities

• Incorporates evidence-based practice when developing and implementing plans of care and when making clinical decisions.
• Uses SBAR framework when communicating and/or when arriving to MSET/rapid response situations. Relays information to departments and care givers as appropriate, communicating with patients, families and hospital staff in a courteous, respectful and professional manner.
• Provides psychosocial and spiritual support to patients' families during MSET/rapid response situations.
• Maintains a record of patient data such as vital signs, procedures, medications and patient response. Documents findings and interventions in patients' medical records.
• Recognizes actual and potential code circumstances, taking appropriate action to notify proper persons and/or activating the code notification system.
• Controls the emergent environment and provides coverage for other participating healthcare providers. Performs immediate measures to control and secure the safety of self, others and/or the environment until help arrives.
• Recognizes and responds to patients' signs and symptoms that are indicative of deteriorating or of actual or imminent life-threatening crisis including cardiopulmonary instability.
• Initiates basic life support measures by following the American Heart Association and other applicable standards of practice/policies as necessary.
• Maintains equipment in the unit such as monitors, ventilators and drug infusions in addition to taking ownership of airway management, knowing the location of all crash carts and conducting proper equipment maintenance.
• Reports any safety-related events according to hospital policy by using the established reporting system and notifies supervisors as appropriate.
• Participates in MSET/rapid response-related quality assurance and performance improvement activities and initiatives including data collection for the sepsis program.
• Provides training and education on emergency response within the organization.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum qualifications: 

• Experience: Three – five years of experience as a Critical Care or Emergency Room RN.
• Education:  Bachelor's Degree Nursing (from an accredited school of nursing). If RN has an Associate's Degree, must complete BSN within 5 years of start date.
• Certifications: BLS and ACLS required (AHA)
  CEN or CCRN within 6 months from date of hire 
• Licensure: Licensed or eligible for licensure in the Commonwealth of VA as a Registered Nurse or active multi-state RN license.  

Preferred qualifications:

• 3-5 years of ICU or ED RN experience
• Bachelor's Degree Nursing (BSN)
• CEN or CCRN
• Unit involvement / Leadership
• Previous Rapid Response Nurse experience