Cardiac Rehab Nurse - Per Diem

GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse is responsible and accountable for the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care of the patients in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. The nurse demonstrates initiative, knowledge, and clinical skills to provide comprehensive treatment strategies with the goal of achieving positive outcomes for individual participants. The nurse will also assure the practice of the Patient and Family Centered Care Model in an environment that exemplifies best practice.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs initial and ongoing patient assessments. In collaboration with the Medical Director develops, implements, and periodically evaluates Individualized Treatment Plans.

• Communicates effectively with patients, families, members of the Cardiac Rehabilitation team, and referring physicians.

• Demonstrates the interpersonal and observational skills needed to identify appropriate psychosocial adaptation to illness and/or the presence of depression, anger, or excessive anxiety.

• Assesses patients' modifiable risk factors and demonstrates the ability to offer support and strategies to assist patients in successful therapeutic lifestyle changes.

• Utilizes theories of health change behavior in helping patients identify learning and lifestyle modification goals.

• Supervises exercise sessions monitoring participants for responses to exercise. Adjusts individual exercise prescriptions based on the patient's response. Instructs patients in all the components of the exercise session as well as self monitoring techniques.

• Develops and presents educational programs/materials for the patient/family on the structure and function of the heart; cardiac procedures, tests, surgeries; medications; risk factors; and nutrition.

• Manages urgent/emergent clinical issues reporting any significant change in condition to the referring physician and appropriately seeking the advice of the supervising physician.

• Maintains individual patient's medical records recording patients' progress at each session.

• Communicates with the patient's referring physician through progress reports at the time of office visits and through a discharge summary at the conclusion of the program.

• Participates in the collection, analysis, and reporting of individual patient outcomes and program outcomes.

• Keeps current in the field of Cardiac Rehabilitation through journals, in-services, and conferences.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

• Adheres to all C.A.R.E. standards

• The Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse must show evidence of critical thinking necessary to care for a group of cardiac patients undergoing a program of exercise and secondary prevention. Must be able to function under stress maintaining good interpersonal and communication skills. Must demonstrate effective skills in applying hospital standards in the area of service, team work, communication, respect for others, and time/priority management.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing required

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or REGISTRATIONS

• Massachusetts Registered Nurse Licensure

• Certification in Basic Life Support

• Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support

EXPERIENCE:

• Cardiac Intensive Care, other intensive care, or cardiac rehabilitation experience desired. Experience with cardiac/telemetry monitoring and rhythm recognition required.