Registered Nurse, Cardiac Stress Lab

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Cardiology Stress Lab Nurse reports to the Manager of Cardiac Rehab/Cardiac Stress and is responsible for representing ECHN to the cardiac patient in both the outpatient and inpatient setting. Provides nursing care by assessing the patient pre-procedure and assisting the Cardiologist in the various diagnostic cardiac testing. Examples are: Trans-Esophageal Echocardiograms (TEE's), exercise stress testing, nuclear stress testing, stress echoes with or without the use of Definity, Dobutamine stress tests and tilt table tests. Administers conscious sedation and other prescribed medication or pharmacological agents during and post cardiac testing. Assists the Cardiac Rehab Department during their exercise sessions, assessing pre-program patients and participates in marketing the ECHN cardiology services.

The Cardiology nurse participates in the operational duties of the department, such as but not limited to: Quality Improvement, Policy and Procedure maintenance, revising and development of billing, gathering of statistical data, developing department educational opportunities and participating in the on-going growth and maintenance of excellent customer services provided to all that ECHN serves.

Additionally, this position assists the manager in maximizing the department's financial resources and provides educational resources for patients. Assesses each patient for understanding of heart healthy life style modifications necessary for maintaining optimum health and assists in the departments planning and implementing of new programs.

The Cardiology Nurse accepts rotating weekend and holiday on-call responsibilities for the Stress Lab.



EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION:

• Must be a licensed State of Connecticut Registered Nurse, be proficient in cardiac monitoring and be certified in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

EXPERIENCE:

• Must have a minimum of two years of critical care RN experience.



COMPETENCIES:

• Will provide on the job training for Conscious Sedation and IV competency

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Disclaimer: Job descriptions are not intended, nor should they be construed to be, exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. They are intended to be accurate reflections of the principal duties and responsibilities of this position. These responsibilities and competencies listed below may change from time to time.
Job-Specific Competency
1. Assesses the patient's condition and care needs by collecting accurate and thorough data on admission and on an ongoing basis through the performance of cultural and psychosocial assessment, including review of the medical record, as per department policy.

2. Accurately identifies actual and potential nursing diagnoses and/or problems by grouping and analyzing assessment date in order to identify specific patient issues or needs.

3. Assesses patient and/or family learning needs, including the ability and readiness to learn by identifying and arranging appropriate resources to assist in the educational process.

4. Accurately completes necessary documentation of all aspects of the nursing process on an ongoing basis, in a timely manner, as per departmental policy and regularly acts as a resource to others regarding documentation issues.

5. Plans nursing actions to ensure individual patient-centered care, integrating family, patient, and/or multidisciplinary staff assessments in order to develop a comprehensive plan of care

6. Begins discharge on admission and updates it throughout the hospitalization keeping the Case Manager well informed of patient needs.

Exemplary: Anticipates complex discharge needs and intervenes appropriately.

7. Appropriately delegates duties and tasks to team members, developing opportunities to promote growth of subordinates and/or peers.

Exemplary: Mentors team members to develop their maximum potential within their scope of practice.

8. Uses therapeutic interventions to implement the patient's plan of care, implements prescribed medical and psychosocial nursing interventions appropriately and applies advanced nursing skills appropriately in a variety of settings.

Exemplary: Participates in the development of standards, procedures, and/or policies.

9. Provides and/or coordinates patient/family education, based on assessed needs, creatively adjusting education to the patient's needs and ensuring adequate needs.

Exemplary: Analyzes trends in the patient's needs, researches literature, contributes to the development of patient education resources.

10. Consistently prepares and administers medications and IV fluids accurately, according to departmental policies while collaborating with the healthcare team to provide appropriate medication for patient's condition. Exemplary: Identifies potential problems in medication administration and makes recommendations for quality improvement measures.

11. Consistently anticipates emergency situations and takes action to prevent or minimize a negative outcome while demonstrating the ability to organize and delegate appropriately in emergency.

Exemplary: Takes appropriate action to improve the emergency response system.

12. Evaluates the plan of care and patient's response to planned intervention and makes appropriate modifications to the plan of care.

13. As an RGH Resource Nurse provides administrative oversight of hospital wide issues that require support, coaching, or directing situations which may involve patients, families, physicians, employees, or departmental issues during assigned hours, always using consistently good judgment.
.