Career and Education

Department Overview

OHSU Specialty Pediatric Float Pool nurses provide high-quality, innovative and compassionate family-centered nursing care. Pediatric Float Pool nurses support pediatric acute and critical care units (in some cases also Mother-Baby, pediatric Emergency Department, and pediatric PACU). Pediatric Float Pool nurses support these units for selected planned and unplanned absences and for other staffing deficits.

Function/Duties of Position

Doernbecher Children's Hospital, which is associated with a three-time Magnet designated hospital, Oregon Health & Science University's (OHSU), is a regional referral center in Portland Oregon, for acute and critically ill children, At Doernbecher, Pediatric Float Pool nurses provide state-of-the-art, high-quality, innovative, and compassionate family-centered nursing care. Pediatric Float Pool (PFP) nurses support pediatric Acute and Critical Care units as well as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Here are some reasons to be excited about the Pediatric Float Pool (PFP) at Doernbecher:

• You become an expert in pediatric nursing - as there is a separate float pool for adult care areas.
• PFP RNs provide seamless care for patients across the continuum of care, from the NICU, to the PICU, to acute care, and upon discharge.
• PFP RNs float to 6 different Pediatric units including: Medical, Surgical, Intermediate, Hematology/Oncology, Pediatric ICU and NICU.
  • Surgical services include Ortho, General Surgical, Cardiac, ENT, Plastics, Urology
• OHSU/Doernbecher is nationally recognized Level 1 Trauma Organization.
• The state of Oregon is ranked very high for RN pay as compared to the rest of the country.
• Your professional development is supported by our staff educator and orientation coordinator, as well as our team's robust Shared Governance.
• This job posting is a night shift only position, meaning there is no required rotations between night and day shift. Opportunities to switch to day shift arise when there are open day shift positions to transfer into.
• Once minimum requirements are met , you will earn an $8/hour float differential on top of your base pay. There are also additional differentials such as night shift and weekend.

Here are some reasons to be excited about living in Portland:

• The Pacific Northwest is an outdoor enthusiast's playground! We have extraordinary beaches to the West and the wild, scenic, and fun Columbia River Gorge to the East. National forests are everywhere. You can be skiing, beach combing or deep in a forest within a 1-2 hour drive from Portland.
• Portland is quirky, independent, fiercely intelligent, intensively livable and totally down to earth:
• It's a great walking and biking city, with plenty of public transportation, a beautiful airport with non-stop flights to loads of international destinations, a population that celebrates the arts, a culture of great food, artisan coffee, and neighborhoods full of shops selling handmade clothes, crafts and furniture.
• Take a look at more information about Portland here: https://www.travelportland.com/

This position also comes with great benefits! Some highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care plans paid 100% for employees.
• $25K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from.
• Vacation: 192 to 288 hours per year depending on length of service.
• Sick Leave: up to 96 hours per year for full time.
• Holidays: accrue up to 64 holiday hours per year.
• Substantial public transportation discounts.
• Tuition Reimbursement program.
• Innovative Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Required Qualifications

• Associate or Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from a program accredited by Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA)
• BSN preferred
• Associate Degree Nurses required to enroll in BSN program within 3 years of hire and complete within 5 years of hire.
• Current, unencumbered Oregon State Registered Nurse License
• BLS at time of hire and must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network branch of AHA (upload documentation with online application)
• BLS must not expire during orientation or probation period, and must have the same expiration date (upload documentation with online application)
• 2.5 years recent pediatric RN experience with ages 0-18 years in a high-acuity pediatric setting
• PALS and NRP certifications
• Self-reflective, self-directed learner who achieves progressive growth
• Identify gaps in knowledge and initiate seeking resources to identify and manage risks, practicing safely with a wide variety of patient populations
• Able to advance plan of care when there is a lack of continuity of patient assignments
• Excellent time management
• Integrate into a diversity of team cultures, including:
  • Speaking up about questionable assignments, identifying alternatives
  • Inquiring about performance improvement changes
  • Actively participating in huddles
  • Helping secure break coverage for self and others
  • Seeking resources to support completion of work when going to float to another unit within shift
• Ability to lift, bend, stoop, reach, carry, push, pull and walk throughout the work period. Able to lift 35 lbs independently. Complies with the safe patient mobilization policy when lifting or positioning dependent patients, including using mechanical lifts and coordinating the assistance of other personnel.
• Must be able to use all senses: seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and speaking. Reasonable accommodations include corrective lenses and/or hearing aids.
• The work environment carries risk of exposure to human tissue/fluids and radiation.
• Must be able to deal with competing needs and priorities of internal and external customers, including making correct judgments regarding ensuring safe conditions for patients, families, and other personnel.
• Use of all hospital approved clinical equipment. Significant use of computers, copier, multi-line phones, and fax.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current OHSU employees: BSN preferred
• 5 years pediatric RN experience in a high-acuity pediatric setting
• CPN certification or other applicable pediatric specialty certification
• Experience in a float pool

Additional Details

Department-Specific Working Conditions:

• Float to a variety of assigned units; sufficient time management, flexibility, and prioritization skills to float up to every 4 hours if necessary
• Required to keep up to date with departmental communications by e-mail and mailbox since there is no physical location for the "home" unit
• May be required to provide continuing care and monitoring of patients in locations off unit to meet patient specific needs.

Orientation:

• Average of 4-5 weeks for basic pediatric care areas (tailored to individual needs). Further orientation for individually selected additional units: Average 12 shifts for PICU; 2-3 shifts for pediatric ED; 3-4 shifts for pediatric PACU. No new orientations for Mother-Baby Unit are planned.

Getting to Work:

Commuting to OHSU is a unique experience and planning ahead for your first visit is highly recommended. Parking at OHSU is limited and employees are required to purchase a permit to access parking. OHSU is committed to reducing traffic congestion and rewards commuters for a variety of options. Learn about cash incentives, free shuttles, transit discounts, the aerial tram, dynamic carpooling, free ride share for early and late commuting, and request a custom trip plan at www.ohsu.edu/commute.