Transfusion Safety Officer

We have a wonderful new job opportunity for a Transfusion Safety Officer in our Transfusion Safety and Blood Mgmt. team. The primary role of the transfusion safety officer is to educate nursing staff and physicians at assigned hospitals regarding safe transfusion practices. Help create required nursing competency education and orientation materials related to blood and transfusion. Work with hospital IT departments to create blood utilization reports designed to help with patient blood management. Work closely under the direction of the Bloodworks Northwest transfusion medical directors on process improvement activities designed to provide optimal transfusion support to patients.  Reports to the Chief Medical Officer with indirect reporting relationship to Bloodworks transfusion service medical director assigned to the hospital TSL. A strong working relationship should also be established with the hospital nursing education director if requested by the hospital.   Principal responsibilities include, but are not limited to: As a Bloodworks lead-level employee: Within the department: Consistently model values of Blood Center and coach for same expectation; contribute and build upon current practices and procedures in support of values, mission and goals. Understand the vendor-customer relationship of the transfusion service within a hospital. Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with coworkers and customers. Exhibit respect for others and help others willingly.     Principal responsibilities include, but are not limited to: As a Hospital Transfusion Safety Officer: Under the direction of the transfusion service medical director: Provide education related to the ordering and administration of blood components, safe transfusion practices, and recognition and prevention of transfusion reactions. Address blood component transfusion-related questions from clinical staff of the assigned hospital and Bloodworks. Review hospital policies related to transfusion and prenatal/postnatal care of patients. When needed, work with appropriate hospital nursing staff to revise and update policies. Participate in hospital initiatives designed to improve the process of provision of blood to patients. Under the guidance of the hospital nursing education director, create teaching materials for annual nursing competency related to blood transfusion. Create and deliver nursing orientation materials related to blood transfusion and processes that may be specific to the hospital. Educate the clinical teams as to the role of the laboratory and the regulations guiding the laboratory and educate laboratory staff on the daily work and workflow of clinical teams as it relates to optimal communication and teaming. When requested by the hospital, perform reviews of emergency bleeding cases and lead meetings to discuss the findings and the success in following standard work. Provide feedback and education to hospital nursing managers when errors arise that could lead to unsafe transfusion, such as incorrect labeling of pre-transfusion testing specimens. Be aware of hospital safety events related to blood and when needed, help evaluate and respond to gaps in education on the hospital provider/nursing side with regard to ordering blood and coagulation lab panels. Conduct bedside/chart audits for pre-transfusion sample acquisition, blood administration and documentation. Attend joint meetings such as the Intersecting Circle of Quality meeting between the hospital laboratory and BWNW. Present at the hospital Transfusion Committee meetings when requested by the TSL medical director. Provide a regular report of activities to the TSL medical director.   Assist TSL medical director with chart review of reported suspected transfusion reactions and blood component transfusion-related incidents as needed. Utilize BWNW and Hospital Laboratory process improvement reporting mechanisms when process improvement opportunities are identified and share process improvement suggestions with the TSL medical director. Work with the hospital CPOE group to develop and revise Clinical Provider Electronic Orders for blood products. Serve as the onsite consultant on blood ordering and support of patients who are actively bleeding, both outside and inside the operating room. Engage the TSL medical director in these cases. Evaluate issues related to blood with massive transfusion events. Participate in root cause analysis events related to transfusion as appropriate. Work to understand the regulations that pertain to transfusion, both on the hospital side and on the transfusion service side. Understand the role of the Bloodworks QA/RA department in guiding activities of the transfusion service. Support patient blood management programs.  Support hospital, working in conjunction with hospital IT, to develop a blood utilization database. Help provide physicians with regular feedback to clinicians with goals of increasing the appropriateness of transfusions and decreasing overall utilization. Participate successfully in training required by the hospital. Comply with all applicable Standard Operating Procedures as written. Ensure full compliance with the standards outlined in the BWNW Quality practices manual. Must maintain an active Washington State Registered Nurse License (or applicable license). Must complete TSO training provided by Bloodworks, and successfully pass periodic competency assessments. Attend local TSO networking meetings when available. Attend Bloodworks weekly clinical meetings for education on transfusion management of complex patients. Collaborate with other BWNW TSOs for ideas related to education and hospital process improvement activities. With approval from the CMO, participate in the advancement of transfusion safety and blood management initiatives through work with regional and national committees. Perform other duties as assigned.   REQUIREMENTS:  Education & Experience: Registered Nurse/Bachelor of Science - Nursing, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician’s Assistant with current Washington State license. Experience in leadership roles in nursing and/or transfusion therapy is preferred. Experience with providing in-service education for health professionals is preferred. Prior experience with transfusion administration is preferred. Specific job skills include, but are not limited to:  Knowledge of standards of practice regarding transfusion administration. Ability to write and evaluate written procedures. Strong organizational skills. Enthusiasm and effectiveness as an educator. Ability to remain calm and effective to the clinical team in emergent bleeding situations. Self-motivated and able to function independently, while using discretion in assessing need for further action by appropriate medical staff. Ability to team with staff in several different settings and roles. Required mental activities involve the use of discretion and interpersonal skills, presentations/teaching, teamwork, problem analysis, customer service, and the ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English (all used frequently); negotiation, mentoring, the ability to remain calm in stressful situations and the performance of basic mathematics (all used occasionally); and creativity and the performance of advanced mathematics (all used rarely). Required physical activities include frequent sitting, talking, hearing,g and repetitive motions of hands/wrists.  Required physical activities used less frequently include standing, walking, reaching, handling, and feeling (all used occasionally); and kneeling, crawling, and climbing (all used rarely). The ability to push, pull,l and lift an average of 10 pounds throughout the day is required, as is the ability to carry an average of 10 pounds throughout the day. Possess and maintain a driver's license for at least 1 year. Valid State Driver's License with an acceptable driving record in the State of residence. Use of a company or personal vehicle for company business requires an acceptable driver's record as defined by the vehicle policy. Must meet MVR standards required by BWNW Vehicle Safety and Training Policy.   WORKING CONDITIONS Job conditions include flexibility in hours during weekdays in order to educate clinical teams and occasionally stay late to help with support of a bleeding patient.  This position has direct exposure to blood-borne pathogens. This position may be based at an assigned hospital(s).   Benefits and Perks: Employees regularly scheduled for 24 hours per week are covered by medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, with family coverage also available. Also able to participate in retirement plans (401a & 403b), consolidated paid leave program (4.8 – 6.8 weeks of time off accrued per year, based on length of service), subsidized transit program, and educational reimbursement.  Candidates hired from outside of our service area may be eligible for a relocation assistance bonus* *Conditions apply

Salary : $120,848 - $194,480