Registered Nurse Specialist in Poison Information

University of Virginia; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Disability insurance

Retirement savings plan

Certification and education support

Relocation assistance

Job summary

University of Virginia UVA Health is seeking a Registered Nurse Specialist in Poison Information to provide frontline clinical expertise in a fast-paced poison information center. You will assess poison exposures, advise on care, and support clinicians and families across Virginia.

The role emphasizes advanced clinical judgment, collaboration with toxicology physicians and pharmacists, and documentation in a specialized system, with three 12-hour shifts weekly and onsite onboarding.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
• BSN within 5 years of hire.
• 3 years of bedside nursing experience.
• Licensed to practice as RN in Virginia.
• AHA/ARC BLS certification required.

Responsibilities

• Respond to poison exposure and overdose calls from the public, EMS, hospitals, and healthcare professionals.
• Perform clinical assessments and determine severity of toxic exposures.
• Manage multiple active cases with attention to detail.
• Provide evidence-based toxicology recommendations and follow-up guidance.
• Collaborate with toxicology physicians, fellows, and pharmacists on complex cases.
• Document and track cases in a poison information system.
• Support patient safety and public health through timely clinical consultation.

Skills

Clinical nursing

Toxicology knowledge

Clinical assessment

Emergency/ICU experience

Education

BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

RN license in Virginia

BLS certification

Job description

Every call to the Blue Ridge Poison Center has the potential to change the course of a patient's outcome. As a Registered Nurse Specialist in Poison Information, you'll bring advanced clinical expertise to a highly specialized environment where critical thinking, rapid assessment, and evidence-based decision making directly impact patients, families, first responders, and healthcare professionals across Virginia.

Join a growing team of toxicology experts supporting one of the region's most important public health resources. This role offers experienced nurses the opportunity to move beyond traditional bedside care while remaining deeply engaged in complex clinical practice, collaborating with toxicology physicians, fellows, pharmacists, and healthcare teams throughout the Commonwealth.

The Role

As a Registered Nurse Specialist in Poison Information, you will serve as a frontline clinical expert providing real-time guidance for poison exposures, overdoses, toxic ingestions, and environmental exposures. Working within a fast-paced specialty call center, you will assess complex clinical situations, prioritize urgent cases, and deliver evidence-based recommendations that influence care decisions across a broad healthcare network.

An average day may include:

• Responding to poison exposure and overdose calls from the public, caregivers, EMS providers, hospitals, and healthcare professionals.

• Performing clinical assessments and determining the severity of toxic exposures.

• Managing multiple active cases simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.

• Providing evidence-based toxicology recommendations and follow-up guidance.

• Collaborating closely with toxicology fellows, attending physicians, and pharmacists on complex cases.

• Documenting and tracking cases within a specialized poison information system.

• Supporting patient safety and public health through timely, accurate clinical consultation.

This role is ideal for experienced nurses who enjoy high-acuity clinical decision making, thrive in dynamic environments, and are energized by intellectually challenging work. Nurses with Emergency Department or Critical Care experience often find the transition especially rewarding because it allows them to continue leveraging advanced assessment skills while exploring a highly specialized clinical niche.

The schedule consists of three 12-hour shifts per week (36 hours) with rotating day, night, weekend, and holiday coverage. The position is primarily onsite within the Blue Ridge Poison Center during onboarding and training, providing opportunities to build strong relationships with a close-knit interdisciplinary team.

Why UVA Health

At UVA Health, you'll join an academic health system recognized for advancing patient care, clinical excellence, innovation, and professional development. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a growing service that has expanded its reach and impact across Virginia, supporting communities from Northern Virginia through Southwest Virginia.

What makes this opportunity distinctive:

• Practice in a highly specialized toxicology environment rarely available to nurses.

• Make a real-time impact during active poisoning, overdose, and toxic exposure emergencies.

• Continue using advanced clinical judgment without the physical demands of traditional bedside nursing.

• Collaborate daily with toxicology physicians, fellows, pharmacists, EMS agencies, and hospital teams.

• Develop expertise in an uncommon and highly respected nursing specialty.

• Advance professionally through specialty certification opportunities and career progression pathways.

• Join a supportive, team-oriented culture built on collaboration, accountability, and mutual respect.

• Enjoy work-life balance with three 12-hour shifts per week and no routine mandatory overtime.

• Become part of a program experiencing meaningful growth and expanded regional responsibility.

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

The Blue Ridge Poison Center offers a unique environment where nurses support one another, share specialized expertise, and work together to deliver exceptional care and consultation when patients and providers need it most. For seasoned clinicians seeking a fresh challenge while remaining clinically engaged, this role offers a compelling next chapter.

Why People Love Living in Charlottesville

Charlottesville offers an exceptional quality of life that combines the amenities of a vibrant university community with the charm and accessibility of a smaller city. Residents enjoy award-winning restaurants, local wineries, outdoor recreation in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a thriving arts and cultural scene. With excellent schools, family-friendly neighborhoods, and convenient access to both Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Charlottesville provides an outstanding balance of career opportunity and personal well-being. Healthcare professionals are drawn to the area's strong sense of community, beautiful natural surroundings, and the ability to enjoy an active lifestyle while building a meaningful career at UVA Health.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: Graduate of an accredited nursing program. BSN required within 5 years of hire

Experience: 3 years of clinical bedside nursing experience

Licensure: Licensed to Practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia. American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) Health Care Provider BLS certification required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The pay range for this role is $39.90 - $53.00 hourly. Individual compensation will be determined by the selected candidate's qualifications, previous work experience, and/or education.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Paid Time Off, Long-term and Short-term Disability, Retirement Savings

• Health Saving Plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts

• Certification and education support

• Generous Paid Time Off

UVA Health (https://jobs.virginia.edu/why-uva-health) is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center. 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” guide (https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/va/university-of-virginia-medical-center-6344000) rates UVA Health University Medical Center as “High Performing” in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures. We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. UVA Health Children’s (https://jobs.virginia.edu/uva-childrens) is named by 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report (https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/va/university-of-virginia-childrens-hospital-PA6344000) as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation. Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment (https://eocr.virginia.edu/notice-non-discrimination-and-equal-opportunity).