IV Nurse Specialist

Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento has two acute care hospital campuses, Sutter General and Sutter Memorial, and has provided healthcare to residents of Sacramento since 1923. Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento also includes Sutter Center for Psychiatry, providing psychiatric, mental health and chemical dependency services since 1958.With 772 licensed beds, Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento is not for profit and fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.



The IV Therapy Nurse Specialist provides direct patient care as the expert resource for establishing and maintaining optimum venous access. The IV Therapy Nurse Specialist evaluates patients for, and places peripheral intravenous access infusion catheters, heparin or saline locks, and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines).



The IV Therapy Nurse Specialist provides coaching to the staff RNs and LVNs in developing their venipuncture skill. This position serves as a resource person for RNs with other types of implanted central lines and venous access lines.



This position functions within the scope of RN licensure to assess patient IV access needs, plan, implement, evaluate effectiveness, make recommendations to nursing staff and physicians and document. Patient & family education is provided appropriate to the type of therapy the patient is receiving.



The patient population served includes patients receiving infusion therapy primarily in the inpatient setting, upon request for outpatient settings housed within SMCS buildings, and Sutter Transitional Care Center. Sutter Oaks Midtown is served for PICC insertions.



The IV Nurse Specialist provides care based on the age related needs of the pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient with consideration of their development/ psychosocial needs, environmental safety, education needs, communication style, and level of understanding

REQUIREMENTS


Education:

Graduate of a school of nursing.

Current California RN license.

BSN preferred.

CRNI (Certified Registered Nurse Intravenous)preferred.

Experience:

Demonstrated clinical competency in intravenous nursing or equivalent background through experience in medical-surgical, critical care, or home infusion nursing positions in the last 2 years is required.

Documented competency in IV Therapy, catheter repairs and PICC insertion is preferred.

Phlebotomy experience is preferred.

Knowledge:

  Demonstrated competency in the fundamentals of nursing and pharmacology are required.

Knowledge of inpatient and outpatient infusion clinical practices is preferred.

Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills.

Special Skills/Equipment:

Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification "health care provider" level.

Strong ability to work independently or as a team, and to prioritize workload and to reprioritize frequently based on call volume and patient acuity.

Completion of basic IV Therapy skills validation process required within 2 weeks of full time employment or equivalent if part time or per diem.

PICC competency validation required within 3 months of employment