Registered Nurse, Cardiac Rehab, RGH

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Cardiac Rehab Registered Nurse reports directly to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Site Manager.  The Registered Nurse supervises medically prescribed exercise therapy appropriate to client's age, medical and emotional/mental status.  The R.N. provides educational classes, concentrating on client's understanding of the cardiovascular system and heart-healthy life style modifications necessary to maintaining optimum health.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

• The Registered Nurse must be a graduate of an accredited professional nursing education program.
• Must maintain a current Connecticut license
• Have current Basic Cardiac Life Support certification.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification is strongly preferred but not required.

   

EXPERIENCE

• Have a minimum of two (2) years recent acute/emergent care experience

   

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITES:

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, explains the Cardiac Rehab program in detail and performs six (6) minute endurance walk with the patient.

2.      Assesses patient and or family learning needs, including the ability and readiness to learn and identifies and arranges appropriate resources to assist in the educational process.

3.      Conducts education classes for the patient and significant others as per education calendar according to appropriate teaching modules and documents on P.E.P.E.R. form. 

4.      Accurately completes necessary documentation including running daily and multi-session reports according to departmental policy. 

5.      Participates in department QI, data collecting and reporting and Policy and Procedure maintenance.

6.      Begins discharge planning on admission and updates throughout the program.

7.      Assesses patient's response to exercise and modifies exercise prescription accordingly as per MD order and department policy.

8.      Develops the Nursing Plan of Care, formulating short and long term goals with the patient and significant other, documenting the progress of the patient toward the expected outcome on the P.E.P.E.R. form.

9.      Supervises exercise sessions for the Cardiac patient, monitoring patient's cardiovascular responses to exercise through blood pressure, telemetry and RPE scale.

10.  Identifies cardiac rhythms accurately and initiates appropriate interventions.

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

12.  Contributes to meeting fluctuating staffing needs as evidenced by flexibility in assignments and work schedules.  May perform Home/Nursing Home Cardiac Rehab for the homebound cardiac patient.

13.  Represents the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department to the community through community based programs thereby increasing awareness of the prevention and treatment of heart disease.

14.  Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, self study, workshops and professional affiliations.  Conducts in-service for Cardiac Rehab/Stress Lab staff once yearly.