Nursing at the NIH Clinical Center

Patient Care Areas

Oncology and Critical Care

Leadership Biosketches

3NE Hematology, Oncology Transplant
The 3NE unit specializes in the care of patients with hematological and oncologic diseases, including those patients requiring stem cell transplantation. This 26 bed inpatient unit supports the research of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

3NW Immunotherapy, Medical and Surgical Oncology
The 3NW unit is an adult inpatient unit supporting the research of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) along with institutes requiring surgical consults for solid tumor cancers, pre and post operative care, new and unstable tracheostomy management, telemetry care/monitoring and wound and skin care consultation service by certified Wound Care Nurses (WOCN).

3SEDH Oncology Day Hospital
The 3SEDH unit provides care for adult patients with hematologic disorders and malignancies, solid tumor cancers and immunodeficiencies enrolled in a variety of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research studies. The day hospital has 21 treatment chairs, three beds and a patient education library.

3SEN Medical Oncology
The 3SEN unit is a 12 bed adult inpatient unit including a private room for patient/family counseling/education/wellness. The nurses on 3SEN support hematologic malignancy and AIDS-related malignancy research of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

3SWN Procedure Services
The 3SWN unit provides central venous catheter placement, hemodynamic monitoring, conscious sedation, endoscopy and bronchoscopy support services, exercise stress testing and cardiac catheterization services. There are four procedure beds, one-three bay prep/recovery room, a pentamidine room and an endoscopy and bronchoscopy suite. Each bed is equipped with hemodynamic monitoring capabilities and a hemodialysis hook-up.

3SWS ICU Critical Care
The 3SWS and 3SWN units service both adult and pediatric patients enrolled in Phase I, II and III protocols from multiple institutes within the Clinical Center. The nurses on these units provide hemodynamic, respiratory and metabolic monitoring to adult and pediatric patients, and code team support throughout the Clinical Center. The units house 12 private intensive care rooms (3SWS) and six private intermediate care rooms (3SWN), family consultation rooms, three isolation/negative air flow rooms and all rooms are hepa-filtered and hemodialysis ready.

Oncology Clinic research areas include solid organ cancers, immunodeficiencies and melanoma. Services provided in the oncology clinic include: ultrasound bladder scanning, urodynamics flow study, punch skin biopsies, wound and skin care, venous access device care and pain and palliative care.

OP 3 Oncology and Oral Surgery Clinics
The Oncology and Oral Surgery Clinics support the research of three institutes. The clinic has two procedure rooms and 16 exam rooms.

B2 Radiation Oncology
The Radiation Oncology service provides radiation therapy (curative and palliative), image guided intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), prostate biopsy and imaging, sterotactic radiosurgery and high dose brachytherapy services for patients enrolled in research studies related to oncologic, hematologic and endocrine diseases. The unit houses six patient exam rooms, one CT room, two linear accelerator rooms, one TOMO therapy room, one wound care room, one pediatric room, one gynecological room and one head and neck room.

OP12 Medical Oncology Clinic
The Medical Oncology Clinic supports the research of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Research areas include: hematologic disorders and malignancies, solid tumor cancers, immunodeficiency disorders and brain and spinal cord tumors. The clinic has two medical consultation rooms, 15 medical exam rooms and two patient waiting areas.

OP13 Dermatology and Medical Oncology Clinics Research
The OP13 Dermatology and Medical Oncology Clinics Research protocols concerning dermatological diseases and/or disorders and solid tumor cancers are serviced through this clinic. Patients visiting the clinic may receive dermatology consultation services, skin and wound care, venous access device care, and skin biopsies. This clinic has two consultation rooms, ten exam rooms, two patient waiting areas and a photography room.

Blood Services Section
The Blood Services Section performs blood collection and apheresis procedures in three specific work areas: Donor Area, Research Apheresis and Dowling Clinic. The Donor Area collects blood components from volunteer donors to provide transfusion support for Clinical Center patients. Research Apheresis collects blood components for in vitro research use from paid healthy donors for distribution to NIH and FDA investigators. Dowling Clinic serves adult and pediatric patients requiring apheresis collections for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, cellular therapies, therapeutic apheresis and phlebotomy procedures, and collections for in vitro research use.

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Neuroscience, Behavioral Health and Pediatrics

Leadership Biosketches

1NW Pediatrics
The 1NW unit provides inpatient family-centered care for infants through young adults. Services provided on 1NW include: chemotherapy/biotherapy, stem cell transplantation, blood product administration, pain management, palliative care, end of life care, patient and family education and specialized infection screening. There are 22 beds on the unit with sleeping accommodations for one family member per patient.

1NWDH Pediatric Day Hospital
The 1NW Day Hospital provides skilled care for pediatrics in need of specialized care, but not needing to be admitted as inpatients. The Day Hospital provides a number of services including: chemotherapy/biotherapy, blood product administration, medication infusion, serial blood sampling, skin biopsies, lumbar punctures, pre- and post-operative outpatient care, age-appropriate patient and family education related to diagnosis, age-appropriate recreation therapies (music, art, relaxation, medical play, animal assisted) and the Look Good Feel Good Program for teens and young adults.

1SW Pediatric Behavioral Health
The six bed 1SW unit provides family-centered care and treatment for childhood onset psychosis, pediatric bipolar disorders and pediatric mood dysregulation. Children and families receive age-appropriate patient teaching, health promotion and physical and emotional support. Various services including recreation therapy, art therapy, social work services, dietary services, spiritual care and a school teacher are provided to patients and their families to ensure a holistic family-centered approach to the hospital stay.

View more information regarding pediatric services.

1SE Alcohol and Addictions
The 1SE unit provides behavioral psychosocial treatment for adult alcohol abuse, drug addictions and other psychiatric co-morbidities. Motivational interviewing sessions, coping skills behavioral therapy, Twelve Step Facilitation groups, Alcohol Anonymous meetings, patient/family education and music, art and recreational therapies are among the services offered in this unit. 1SE has 14 beds and is a locked unit.

7SE Adult Behavioral Health
7SE is an inpatient unit for behavioral management of severely psychotic, manic or depressed research subjects along with other mood and anxiety disorders and schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Patients on this unit are enrolled in research protocols supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). This is a locked unit with 23 beds, two interview rooms, two seclusion rooms, two treatment rooms, patient kitchens and living/dining areas.

7SWN Neurosciences and Sleep Lab
7SWN unit is an adult inpatient unit and sleep study lab for seizure, movement, speech and language disorders; brain, pituitary and spinal tumors; neurodegenerative diseases and multiple sclerosis research subjects. 7SWN has ten inpatient beds and two sleep study rooms. Nurses on this unit provide EEG and video monitoring, lumbar CSF subarachnoid drain monitoring, sleep studies, speech, swallowing and language therapy, pharmacokinetics, ultrasound bladder scanning and bedside blood glucose monitoring.

1SE (H) Alcohol Clinic
This is a comprehensive outpatient clinic that performs structured bio-psychosocial assessment of alcohol and drug use and outpatient treatment. The clinic has 3 exam rooms (2 with beds), 2 neuropsychological interview rooms, 2 cognitive testing rooms, one group therapy room. The research focus is substance abuse and addiction related protocols.

1SE (H) Pediatric Clinic
Pediatric diseases and disorders research for 13 Institutes are serviced through the Pediatric Clinic. The nursing staff provides services to patients ranging from infant through 18 years old. This outpatient clinic has 11 exam rooms, two office/exam rooms, two triage rooms, one isolation/exam room, one procedure room, four interview rooms, one patient education room, one playroom and one testing room.

OP4 Behavioral Health Clinic
The behavioral health clinic supports research conducted by NIMH for pediatric and adult mood and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. The clinic has three rooms with beds, 18 exam/interview multi use rooms, four rooms for computer testing, one room for scan simulator and a pediatric play area.

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Medical Surgical Specialties

Leadership Biosketches

5NES Special Clinical Studies Unit (SCSU)
This 7 bed, inpatient telemetry unit, provides care to normal volunteers and research participants on protocols involving a requirement for isolation, studies employing intensive pharmacokinetics or other types of intensive nursing interactions. The ideal candidate will possess prior experience providing nursing care to acute medical, surgical and cardiac patients, administration and monitoring of chemotherapy/biotherapy treatments and phlebotomy. Specialized skills include cardiac monitoring, controlled substance infusion and management of central venous access devices. ACLS provider certification is required.

5NW General Medicine
The 5NW Unit is an adult inpatient unit that supports six institutes specializing in research for endocrine, metabolic, pulmonary, gastroenterologic, hepatic, lipid, genetic and nephrologic disorders. This unit houses 32 beds, two treatment stations, one negative flow room option, two lead lined radiation treatment rooms and a radiation isolation room with an observation monitor. Nurses on this unit provide the following services: radiation safety education, patient education related to diagnosis, serial and provocative blood testing, retrograde intravenous catheter care, epidural management, seizure management, post virtual colonoscopy procedure care, point of care blood glucose testing, metabolic testing, skin and wound care and I-131 treatment.

5SE Medical/Telemetry/Surgical Services
The 5SE unit provides adult inpatient care for infectious diseases, pulmonary, vascular, rheumatologic and immune disorders, pulmonary hypertension care and cardiac monitoring and consult services. This 27 bed unit supports the research of seven Institutes/Centers (ICs).

5SWDH Medical Surgical Day Hospital
The 5SWSN day hospital provides support services for reproductive, endocrinology, renal disease, alcoholism, infectious diseases, endocrine, metabolic, autoimmune, hematological, ophthalmological, neurological and mood and anxiety disorders. The day hospital has 11 beds and three treatment chairs.

5SWN Metabolic Program
The 5SWN unit serves as an exercise testing laboratory with an experimental dining area, metabolic kitchen and treatment room for endocrine and metabolic studies related to obesity. Nurses on this unit conduct timed provocative testing, tissue biopsies, bedside blood glucose monitoring, point of care testing, serial blood testing, metabolic testing (BMR, body measurements) and offer specialized nutritional support. The 5SWN houses nine beds and one patient exam room.

7SWS Metabolic Suites
The 7SWS unit is comprised of three self-contained suites consisting of a nursing station, a body composition room with a "bod pod" and DEXA equipment. The metabolic suite is an energy expenditure room that measures how much oxygen you breathe in and how much carbon dioxide you breathe out. Each suite is equipped with a treadmill, bed, desk, telephone and computer with access to television and internet. These innovative suites are for endocrine and metabolic studies related to obesity. Highly skilled nurses on this unit conduct DEXA scanning, telemetry, tissue biopsies, timed provocative testing, bedside blood glucose monitoring and metabolic testing (BMR, body measurements).

Oral Surgery Clinic services include: oral evaluations, tooth extractions, oral biopsies, iliac crest bone marrow biopsies, conscious sedation and pain management.

OP1 Dental Clinic
The outpatient Dental Clinic offers pediatric and adult dental consultation services, treatment for dental defects and extractions, sialograms, lip biopsies, digital panographic x-rays, digital cephalometric x-ray and skin biopsies. Primary areas of research include: 2D and 3D imaging, proteomics, salivary gland dysfunction and SjÅ‘gren’s syndrome, oral phenotyping of genetic diseases and gene transfer and genetic periodontal diseases. The clinic includes one dental surgical procedure room, three dental exam rooms, two x-ray rooms, one cone beam CT scanner room, one stereo photogrammetry machine and one medical exam room.

OP5 Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Neurology Clinics
The combined clinic facility includes four procedure rooms, nine exam rooms, one vestibular testing lab, three audiology testing booths and specialized chairs, exam tables and a wheelchair scale for the neurology patient population.

5NES Vaccine Evaluation Center
The Vaccine Evaluation Center provides protocol screening and follow-up related to the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) research on the development of HIV and bio-defense vaccines using healthy volunteers.

OP7 Cardiology, Hematology and Oncology Clinic
The Cardiology, Hematology and Oncology Clinic provides support for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) research protocols for adult patients with hematological diseases, immunodeficiency disorders, solid organ malignancies and cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The clinic has 16 exam rooms and one negative flow room.

OP8 Infectious Diseases Clinic
The infectious diseases clinic supports the research of NIAID for infectious diseases and acute and chronic conditions of the immune system in a clinic with 18 exam rooms and one treatment room. Services include: assessment, case management, chemotherapy/biotherapy administration, intravenous therapy, end-of-life care and telephone triage.

OP9 Medical Surgical Specialties Clinic
The Medical Surgical Specialties Clinic provides research support for nine institutes for pediatrics and adults with endocrine, metabolic, hepatic, gastroenterologic, orthopedic, rheumatologic, nephrologic, autoimmune and genetic disorders, cystic fibrosis and breast cancer. The clinic has 19 exam rooms and one diagnostic treatment/negative flow room and a pediatric play area.

OP10 Ophthalmology Clinic
The Ophthalmology Clinic supports research of the National Eye Institute (NEI). The clinic offers consultation service, vision screening and testing, Visudyne-photodynamic therapy, administration of IV fluorescein (FA) and indocyanine green (ICG) for ocular angiogram, intravetreal injections, conjunctiva lachrymal gland biopsy, ocular and intra-ocular injections, retinal laser treatments, photography and pediatric visual screening.

OP11 Allergies and Infectious Disease and Genetic Eye Disease Clinic
This clinic supports research on acute and chronic conditions of the immune system, infectious disease, allergy disorders and genetic eye disease. Services include: pulmonary function testing, nasal washing, allergy testing, skin biopsies, pediatric visual screening and ERG testing (eye test used to detect abnormal function of the retina). The clinic has six exam rooms, one negative flow isolation room, two electroretinography (ERG) rooms, one pediatric eye exam room and a pediatric play area.

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This page last updated on 04/08/2022

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