Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse / RN

Overview

Responsible for the provision of services for cardiac rehabilitation in compliance with standards of practice for Cardiac Rehab. Based on the patient’s individual needs, the RN must guide interventions for restoring functional capacity, reducing coronary heart disease risk factors, and promoting behaviors that lead to maintenance of healthy and social independence. Responsible for assuring appropriated and safe monitoring, and providing immediate emergency intervention including implementation of Advance Cardiac Life Support. Assist and support Pulmonary rehabilitation as needed.

Responsibilities

Demonstrates and establishes an atmosphere of excellent customer service

Conducts an individualized needs assessment that considers the patient’s medical history and current health status as well as bio-psychosocial characteristics and coronary artery disease risk factors for the adult and geriatric patient population

Establish treatment goals through collaborative planning with the patient and other responsible staff to meet the patient’s rehabilitation needs

Implement treatment interventions using strategies to promote patient safety, improve function and prognosis, and promote independent self-management of health behaviors

Perform patient monitoring and assessment including:

• Vital signs (Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation)
• Auscultation as appropriate
• Cardiac Arrhythmia recognition
• Electrical Cardiograph monitoring and simple interpretation
• Physical assessment
• Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE)
• Rate Perceived Dyspnea (RPD)
• Other as needed

Performs patient education including:

• Diet/Weight management
• Exercise
• Mental Health (anxiety, depression)
• Smoking cessation
• Cardiac Health
• Controlled breathing
• Disease specific
• Other as needed

Monitor progress, conduct outcome evaluation, adjust treatment modalities as needed, and provided recommendations to the primary care physician regarding patient progress, status at discharge

Recognize urgent and emergent situations and takes appropriate action such as initiation of ACLS including early defibrillation as warranted

Assist with training and direction of support staff

Assist with policy and procedure development and assures compliance

Participates in the economical utilization of supplies

Assist with performance improvement (PI) activities

Performs special projects and related duties as assigned.

Demonstrate leadership skills

Requires decision making that will affect others

Responsible to achieve outcomes

Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately

Ability to delegate to team members and students

Must be able to receive delegation

Address conflict and stressful situation

Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion

Dealing with unpleasant or verbally/physically aggressive personalities

Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting

Must be able to work in groups

Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work

Must be meet time pressure and timelines

Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions

May require wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.

Advocate for and participant in patient safety

Perform Low Level Disinfection as per manufacturer’s recommendation (IFU)

Performs and accurately records technical procedures safely, effectively, efficiently, and within scope of policy

Accountability related to meeting/exceeding department goals, DCH Values, DCH Mission and Vision

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Must be a RN with current Alabama license and in good standing with the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Associate Degree in Nursing, BSN preferred.

BLS required and must obtain ACLS within 6 months of hire.

Experience in Cardiac Rehabilitation with cardiac emergency/critical care preferred.

Must have knowledge regarding care of cardiac patients, risk factors of coronary artery disease, signs and symptoms of cardiac problems, counseling, and educational programs for cardiac patients and their families.

Must meet behavioral expectations and demonstrate the ability to work with an interdisciplinary team.

Must be able to read, write legibly, speak and comprehend English.

Must become familiar with the AACVPR guidelines

Working Conditions

Work Context:

Physical:

• Physical presence onsite is essential.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Able to stand, walk, kneel, sit, crouch, or stoop with good balance for extended periods.
• Must be able to maneuver over a variety of uneven surfaces.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs., and have the ability to move heavier objects with assistance on occasion.

Environmental:

• Includes exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions.
• Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment, as appropriate.
• Must have tolerance of a variety of environments and situations.

Psychological:

• Includes demonstrating leadership skills, delegating to team members, addressing conflict, communicating with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes/results.
• Subject to stress and fatigue.