Overview

Coordinates total nursing care specific for patients undergoing invasive and non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac procedures; participates in patient and family teaching and provides leadership by working cooperatively with other team members and disciplines in maintaining standards for professional nursing practice in the clinical setting.

Responsibilities

Provides age-specific nursing care to the adult and geriatric patients to include but not limited to:

• assessments of physiologic and psychological changes
• pharmacology management
• identification and management of safety needs

Assesses condition on each assigned patient pre, intra, and post diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac procedures to include but not limited to the normal systems review, physiological factors, and pain assessment/management.

Plans, directs, supervises and evaluates nursing care provided to patients according to problems identified.

Assists in performance improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.

Assist in charging medical supplies, stocking rooms and completing appropriate paperwork per case.

Assist in preparation of patients for all procedures including setting up sterile trays; cross trains to scrub position and assist physician, when needed.

Administers medication, IV therapy, and performs treatments to all assigned patients, according to policy and procedure.

Plans and provides patient and/or significant other education as related to invasive and non-invasive diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures based on physical, behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors, after identifying barriers to learning.

Follows safety practices and ensures safe, clean environment for the patients.

Is observant of symptoms and reactions of patients and takes appropriate action as changes occur.

Documents all patient care assessments, evaluations, activities and/or observations according to policies and procedures.

Assists with or institutes emergency measures for sudden adverse developments in patients such as cardiac arrest.

Attends in-service programs, required training/education and unit/departmental/service meetings.

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

• Registered Nurse with current Alabama Licensure.
• Two (2) years of Critical Care experience preferred. 
• Takes 3-11, 11-7, weekend and holiday call. 
• Must be able to respond within 20 minutes of a call-out.
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

Working Conditions

Work Context

Physical:

• Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking. 
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Is able to push stretcher/wheelchair with average adult patient.  Is able to do frequent stooping and on occasion crouching, crawling or kneeling. 
• Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction. 
• Ability to run in emergency situations. 
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner. 
• Must have ability to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips.
• 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.

Environmental:

• Includes exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard material.
• Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.

Medium Work Load:

• This position requires contact with others including the patients, physicians, coworkers, team members and visitors.
• There may be times when there is interaction with another person that may be angry or aggressive and help to solve the situation may require requesting assistance of a more qualified individual.
• Communication may come in the form of electronic mail, face to face, telephone or letters/memos.
• This individual may be responsible as a team member to answer the department telephone and work in groups or teams.