Critical Care Transport Nurse - Harris Health System

Harris Health System is the public healthcare safety-net provider established in 1966 to serve the residents of Harris County, Texas. As an essential healthcare system, Harris Health champions better health for the entire community, with a focus on low-income uninsured and underinsured patients, through acute and primary care, wellness, disease management and population health services. Ben Taub Hospital (Level 1 Trauma Center) and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital (Level 3 Trauma Center) anchor Harris Healths robust network of 39 clinics, health centers, specialty locations and virtual (telemedicine) technology. Harris Health is among an elite list of health systems in the U.S. achieving Magnet nursing excellence designation for its hospitals, the prestigious National Committee for Quality Assurance designation for its patient-centered clinics and health centers and its strong partnership with nationally recognized physician faculty, residents and researchers from Baylor College of Medicine; McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth); The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; and the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at the University of Houston.

Job Summary
The LBJ Emergency Center Critical Care Transport Registered Nurse (CCT RN) is an experienced registered nurse whose knowledge base has been validated through achievement of board certification and has been specially trained to provide critical care to high acuity patients in the emergency center and during ambulance transport from LBJ to other medical facilities. The CCT RN serves as a nurse clinical leader and resource to the interdisciplinary team in the LBJ Emergency Center. The CCT RN identifies knowledge gaps in nursing practice and develops, implements and evaluates education for the nursing staff. In the hospital setting the CCT RN can manage complex, unexpected and/or emergency situations in the Emergency Center. In the critical care transport setting the CCT RNs assess, monitor, intervene, and stabilize critically ill patients in consultation with the LBJ Emergency Center faculty and under the direction of the Harris Health System Emergency Medical System (EMS) Medical Director aligning with nursing practice regulations, state and national EMS accreditation standards, and organizational policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

Degrees:
Bachelor of Nursing Degree OR Associate Degree in Nursing with a Bachelor of Science preferred

Licenses & Certifications:
a) Registered Nurse; License from the Texas Board of Nursing
b) EMT-Paramedic (EMT-P): Texas Department of Health EMT-Paramedic License (preferred)
c) Basic Life Support (BLS): from American Heart Association (AHA) or Red Cross approved program.
d) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS): from American Heart Association (AHA) or Red Cross approved program.
e) Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS): Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) from American Heart Association (AHA) or Red Cross approved program.
f) Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC): Provider Course from Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
g) Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN): from the Board of Certifications for Emergency Nurses (BCEN)
h) Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN): from the Board of Certifications for Emergency Nurses (BCEN) - Within one year of hire
i) Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN), Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), or Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN): Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN), Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) from the Board of Certifications for Emergency Nurses (BCEN) or Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) from American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) - Within 18 months of hire
j) NIH Stroke Scale Certification: Within 30 days of hire

Work Experience: Three (3) years of Emergency Center or ICU experience that includes 4000 critical care hours

Management Experience: One (1) Year of Clinical Leadership Experience (Meets 2 of 3 Clinical Leadership Requirements): 1.Charge Nurse 2.Critical Care Lead Experience 3.Preceptor

Communication Skills:
Above Average Verbal Communication (Heavy Public Contact)
Writing/Correspondence
Writing/Reports

Proficiencies: MS Word, Personal Computer

Job Attributes

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Analytical Abilities, Mathematics, Medical Terminology Knowledge

Work Schedule: Flexible, Holidays, Weekends

Other Special Requirements:
- Simulation Scenarios: Successfully exhibits critical thinking with appropriate interventions under instructor supervision. Including but not limited to: code blue management, RSI, supraglottic adjunct, obtain EKGs, comprehensive critical thinking of stroke, STEMI, and multi system trauma patients.
- Annual Cadaver Lab must obtain 5 successful intubations with video laryngoscope, perform needle decompression, perform cricothyrotomy, insert intraosseous needle and identify important anatomical locations
- Annual Intubations: Complete 20 with an 85% success rate
- Critical Care Transport Ride Outs: complete a minimum of 10 patient contacts
- Mandatory Education: Including but not limited to, Hamilton T1 Ventilator, Alaris infusion pump, intra-aortic balloon pump, chest tube monitoring, hemodynamic monitoring devices, LVAD, and any other education deemed appropriate by CCT Leadership/HHS EMS Medical Director
- Quarterly Education/Skills Assessment: Must participate in quarterly simulations and education classes as deemed by HHS EMS Medical Director and CCT Leadership
- Mandatory monthly meeting and committee meeting
- Protocol Test: Must pass with 85%
- EMS Medical Director validation required