Registered Nurse (RN) - Duke Health

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke Life Flight

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke Life Flight, which is Duke Health's critical care and emergency air and ground transport team, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. The team includes paramedics, nurses, respiratory therapists, emergency medical technicians, and communications specialists who work quickly to provide compassionate care and transport services to critically ill patients of all ages. Duke Life Flight also maintains a Code Blue Response Team and helps support event medicine needs.

*** This position is eligible for a $15000.00 Commitment Bonus for experienced RNs that are joining the Duke University Health System for the 1st time****

Join our CAMTS Accredited multi-disciplinary team of RNs, RRTs, Paramedics, EMTs, and Communications Specialists working in a cohesive environment that expands across the Duke Health System.  As part of our team, you will expand your knowledge base by practicing in an evidenced-based and protocol driven autonomous environment.  Every day has the potential for different experiences – when not transporting, you will round on the inpatient units, conduct medical record audits, participate in continuing education, and policy revisions/updates. 

Along with a strong neonatal and pediatrics knowledge base your ambition, energy, flexibility, adaptability, trust and compassion make you the ideal candidate.

When time and specialized services are crucial to patients’ outcome and survival, the Duke Life Flight team is called.  The intense level of care patients receive, from the time we pick them up to the time they arrive at Duke University Hospital, makes a significant difference in their survival and recovery.

Helicopter Transport

As a critical part of our Neonatal/Pediatric transport program, each aircraft is staffed with a pilot and two highly trained critical care providers (Respiratory Therapist and Registered Nurse). Coordinated by our communications center as well as DUHS Neonatology and Pediatric physician support, this team responds to ill and injured patients with state of the art equipment utilizing the safest and most appropriate mode of transport possible.

The neonatal/pediatric team utilizes isolettes, nitric oxide, ECMO, Neo Mate, Pedi Mate, Baby Pod and high flow oxygen therapies, to name a few, during rotor wing operations. Rotor wing operations comprise of approximately 10% of this specialized teams transport volume.
 

Ground Transport
Although Duke Life Flight was founded as an air-only transport program, the teams ground assets are utilized more often and for all levels of care from ALS to critical care.  

Serving as "rolling intensive care units’ that can meet any patient’s transport needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, each ambulance is staffed with team members that complement the patient's needs. 

• Critical care ambulances are split strategically between bases in Durham, Henderson, and Smithfield.
• Ground units cover a 180 mile radius from their bases, and provide world-class care to parts of North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina.

Shifts

• Days and Nights Rotating Shifts (7a-7p or 7p-7a) at Duke University Hospital (Durham) 
• 3- 12 hours shifts per week

Experience Requirements:
A minimum of 3+ years pediatric/neonatal critical care experience in PICU, ICN or NICU (5+ years experience preferred).

• Air and/or ground transport nursing experience is preferred. 
• Must have recent direct patient care experience within the last six months of application.
• Must possess BLS, ACLS, PALS and NRP certifications. 
• At least one specialty certification (CEN, CFRN, CCRN, CTRN) must be obtained within 2 years of hire.
• One current trauma course prior to hire: PHTLS, TNCC, TPATC, BTLS or ITLS.
• Certified as a North Carolina EMT within one year of hire
• Must have the ability to work in a diverse, autonomous environment.

Knowledge, Skills, Education, and Experience Required:

• Previous work experience as a clinical nurse is required (3+ years required)
• Graduation from an accredited Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (or higher), Associate's Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma program is required.
• All registered nurses without a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (or higher) will be required to enroll in an appropriate BSN program within two years of their start date and to complete the program within five years of their start date
• Current registration with North Carolina State Board of Nursing as a registered professional nurse OR current compact RN licensure to practice in the state of North Carolina required.

Physical requirements (height/weight restrictions):

• Not greater than 230 lbs. in full uniform and no greater than 6' 4" in height.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.