Medical Imaging Nurse Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
Under the general supervision of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) and the Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE), and in accordance with work direction from the Medical Imaging (MI) Site Coordinator, provides direct patient care, including performing IV insertions, admitting patients, procedural induction, recovering and discharging of MI patients requiring sedation or general anesthesia (GA), assisting Anesthesiologists with sedation/G.A. procedures, and assisting MI team with diagnostic procedures.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1. Maintains patient records by collecting and documenting information including health care
information regarding patients and their families, nursing observations, telephone communications, interventions, teaching, and care evaluations to ensure patient records are current and complete.
2. Provides emotional support and prepares patients for procedures prior to their visit to the department of MI, and for their follow up care afterwards.
3. As part of the multidisciplinary MI team, ensures continuity of patient care while the patient is in MI by performing duties such as reviewing patient/family history, developing a care plan specific for the patient and family, communicating potential problems and special needs to other nursing staff and members of the health care team, and charting appropriate information.
4. Participates as a member of the health care team through contributing information in patient and family care conferences, rounds or huddles, and staff meetings.
5. Assesses patient status prior to, during, and following MI procedures and communicates special needs to the MI team prior to imaging examination.
6. Maintains a safe environment for patients, families and staff by following established emergency procedures and other practices and procedures.
7. Maintains emergency equipment in a state of readiness and provides emergency care when dealing with life threatening situations.
8. Performs and/or maintains IV insertions, urethral catheterizations, and VAD accessing, blood specimen sampling.
9. Administers sedations, medications, and contrast material as directed by most responsible physician. Monitors and takes responsibility for admitting patients under anesthetic or sedation. Ensures continuity of patient care when transferring patients within MI and to other units post procedure, by communicating patient information to other staff.
10. Prepares for and assists the Anesthesiologist in establishing peripheral IV and vital sign monitoring, sedation, anesthetic administration, intubation, positioning and securing the patient, and suctioning and maintaining airways.
11. Recovers post sedation/anesthetic patients.
12. Provides input to the Site Coordinator/MI Operations Director or delegate, regarding policies, procedures and operational requirements by observing service needs and providing verbal or written suggestions which address patient and family needs and promote effective use of resources.
13. Promotes the implementation and evaluation of nursing research and quality monitoring activities as directed by participating in nursing committees, and by keeping current through attendance at educational and in-service opportunities.
14. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience
• Graduation from an approved School of Nursing with current practicing registration as an RN with the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP).
• CPR Training – Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) – Level 1.
• One year of recent Pediatric PACU experience in a tertiary level setting or one year of recent pediatric critical care experience in a tertiary level setting or a combination of pediatric critical care courses. Post Anesthetic nursing courses, Peri-Anesthesia Nursing Course or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years’ recent experience working in a Pediatric acute/critical care setting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification.
Skills and Abilities
• Broad knowledge of British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) standards for nursing practice.
• Broad knowledge of child and youth developmental theory.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to relate effectively to children and their families.
• Demonstrated ability to work with children.
• Ability to demonstrate effective CPR techniques.
• Ability to participate as a member of multidisciplinary care team, and function as a nursing resource.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the job.