Registered Nurse Clinic - General Surgery

This position provides professional nursing care for general surgery clinic patients in a fast-paced outpatient setting. You will work collaboratively with providers and the clinical team to deliver quality patient care, utilizing critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. The role requires the ability to provide leadership in all situations, including emergencies, and to delegate duties as needed in the clinic environment.

Clinical Setting

This is a general surgery clinic position where you will care for ambulatory patients across a range of surgical conditions and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and record vital signs and perform initial patient assessments
• Coordinate patient transfers to hospital and manage patient discharge
• Perform telephone triage and accept telephone test results
• Call in provider-approved prescription refills
• Collect specimens including stool, urine midstream, throat cultures, sputum, and wound cultures
• Perform catheterization and manage indwelling catheters
• Conduct pregnancy testing and urine dipstick testing
• Manage eye injuries and administer optic and otic medications
• Assist with clinical procedures including lumbar punctures, vaginal exams, and biopsies
• Provide patient education on crutch and cane walking, walker use, and respiratory hygiene
• Apply splints, moist heat and cold packs, and sterile dressings
• Perform wound care and apply topical and colloidal dressings
• Administer medications via oral, sublingual, rectal, and vaginal routes
• Administer oxygen and chest physiotherapy
• Perform oral and infant suction
• Assist with circumcision and umbilical care
• Attend required meetings and participate in committees
• Participate in professional development and maintain current licensure
• Maintain HIPAA compliance and strict patient confidentiality
• Follow all CHRISTUS Health policies, procedures, and infection control standards

Tasks Requiring Appropriate Training

The following tasks may be performed only with appropriate training:

• Blood collection by lancet
• Pulse oximetry
• Incentive spirometry
• Suture and staple removal
• Ear irrigation
• Administration of breathing treatments
• Administration of allergy, insulin, and immunization medications
• Intramuscular and subcutaneous injections
• Z-track injections

Tasks Requiring Special Training Verification

The following tasks may be performed after providing verification of completion of special training:

• Blood collection by venipuncture
• Audiometry exam
• Titmus vision screening
• EKG
• Electrical stimulation
• Biopsy assistance and processing
• IV push medications and medication addition to IV fluids
• Blood draw from portocath
• Administration and monitoring of conscious sedation
• IV administration of radio contrast media
• Endoscopy assistance
• Saline lock or IV fluid initiation and monitoring

Radiology exams may be performed if approved per state law under the grandfather clause and current requirements are maintained.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Valid State Registered Nurse license
• Current CPR certification

Preferred Qualifications

• One year of professional nursing experience in a clinic setting

Schedule

This is a per diem, as-needed (PRN) position.