Sepsis Navigator

Job Summary

The Sepsis Navigator is a registered nurse who provides real-time surveillance, alert follow-up, escalation support, handoff reinforcement, missed-case huddles, and multi-shift pathway coverage for patients at risk for severe sepsis or septic shock. The navigator turns program goals into bedside action by identifying high-risk patients early, prompting rule-in or rule-out decisions, reinforcing the power-hour expectation, and delivering just-in-time education that improves care reliability before bundle failures or documentation misses are locked in.

Responsibilities

• Monitor triage activity, sepsis alerts, elevated lactates, infection-plus-abnormal-vital patterns, and other high-risk indicators in real time.
• Prompt timely rule-in or rule-out decisions and escalate when evaluation, treatment, reassessment, or documentation is delayed.
• Support evidence-based sepsis care during the power hour, including reinforcement of lactate collection, blood cultures, fluid administration, antibiotic timing, reassessments, and handoff expectations.
• Provide multi-shift surveillance and coaching across hospitals and units in alignment with program coverage expectations.
• Conduct quick post-miss huddles, update the watch list, and flag deaths or high-risk cases for formal review.
• Deliver live just-in-time education to nurses, providers, and other team members; during downtime, ensure completion of bedside education and reinforcement of standard work.
• Reinforce accurate handoff communication for patients with suspected or confirmed sepsis during transitions of care.
• Collaborate with the coordinator and program leadership to identify repeat barriers, patterns of delay, and opportunities for workflow hardwiring.
• Document interventions and communicate key findings to the coordinator, leaders, and involved care teams in a timely, professional manner.
• Serve as an expert bedside resource for sepsis recognition, escalation, evidence-based treatment expectations, and documentation awareness.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Patient Group Knowledge (Only applies to positions with direct patient contact)

The employee must possess/obtain (by the end of the orientation period) and demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide developmentally appropriate assessment, treatment or care as defined by the department's identified patient ages. Specifically the employee must be able to demonstrate competency in: 1) ability to obtain and interpret information in terms of patient needs; 2) knowledge of growth and development; and 3) understanding of the range of treatment needed by the patients.

Competency Statement

Must demonstrate competency through an initial orientation and ongoing competency validation to independently perform tasks and additional duties as specified in the job description and the unit/department specific competency checklist.

Common Duties and Responsibilities

(Essential duties common to all positions)

1. Maintain and document all applicable required education.

2. Demonstrate positive customer service and co-worker relations.

3. Comply with the company's attendance policy.

4. Participate in the continuous, quality improvement activities of the department and institution.

5. Perform work in a cost effective manner.

6. Perform work in accordance with all departmental pay practices and scheduling policies, including but not limited to, overtime, various shift work, and on-call situations.

7. Perform work in alignment with the overall mission and strategic plan of the organization.

8. Follow organizational and departmental policies and procedures, as applicable.

9. Perform related duties as assigned.

Education

• Associate's Degree (Required) • Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing required; BSN preferred. • Minimum of 3 years of recent acute care nursing experience required; emergency department, critical care, rapid response, hospitalist support, or similar high- acuity experience strongly preferred. • Demonstrated clinical judgment and ability to recognize deterioration, prioritize urgent intervention, and communicate effectively across disciplines. • Working knowledge of evidence-based sepsis treatment expectations, escalation pathways, and documentation requirements preferred. • Ability to educate and coach bedside staff in real time while maintaining collaborative working relationships. • Comfort with data-informed practice, use of electronic health record work queues or surveillance tools, and cross-shift communication.

Credentials

• Registered Nurse (Required)
• Basic Life Support (Required)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (Required)

Work Schedule: Days

Status: Full Time Regular 1.0

Location: Memorial Hospital

Location of Job: US:WV:Charleston

Talent Acquisition Specialist: Lauren R. Lane lauren.lane@vandaliahealth.org