REGISTERED NURSE, RN - CARDIAC REHAB

**Job Summary******

Responsible for the initial assessment, establishment of a plan of treatment and the progression of care for patients in the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program.****

**Essential Job Functions**

* Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending education workshops, review professional publications, establish personal networks, and participate in professional societies.
* Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards, making or recommending necessary adjustments, and following system/hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act, and other governing agency regulations.
* Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
* Document patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
* Maintain continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs using Nurse Knowledge Exchange techniques.
* Maintain patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
* Identify patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients, and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.
* Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
* Promote patient's independence by establishing patient care goals, teaching patient/family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills, and answering questions.
* Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.
* Resolve patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.
* Maintain a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information, responding to requests, building rapport, and participating in team continuous quality improvement and problem-solving methods.
* Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
* Ensure operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements by following manufacturer's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
* Maintain nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies, verifying receipt of supplies, and using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.

**Specialty Job Functions**

* Conducts initial patient interview for new cardiopulmonary rehabilitation patients upon entry into the rehabilitation program.
* Review the patient's current medical record prior to the interview.
* Interview the patient and family prior to entry into the program.
* Develops an individual plan of care which addresses educational needs and initial exercise plan. Provide an overview of the program including class dates/times and insurance/payment requirements.
* Coordinate the care of the patient during the program.
* Introduces the patient to each piece of equipment and teaches them how to use.
* Monitors hemodynamic responses and any signs and symptoms that occur before, during and after exercise.
* Progresses the patient's overall exercise regime, based upon his/her exercise tolerance, through the program. Ensures progress is documented appropriately.
* Provide patient and family education regarding heart disease, the sign and symptoms, medication and diet.
* Provides referral to other specialties including but not limited to dietary, social services and other forms of rehabilitation.
* Acts as a liaison between the patient and doctor ensuring information is provided regarding the patient's progress and/or any issues problems that have surfaced during the program.
* Facilitates formal exit interviews with the monitored patients.
* Provides instruction for continuing an activity program post program at home.
* Educates the patient on different options available to them post program including non-monitored programs through Excela and other exercise programs at local or community exercise facilities.
* Provide written materials and other applicable educational pieces to the patient and family for home.
* Provide inpatient rehabilitation services for individuals admitted to the hospital with a cardiac diagnosis. Referrals and/or requests for inpatient cardiopulmonary rehabilitation is facilities by the attending physician (PCP, referring physician, cardiovascular surgeon, cardiologist, and hospitalist) through a formal order.
* Educate patient and family regarding heart disease, causes of, signs and symptoms, and home instructions for post discharge from the hospital.
* Coordinates formal activity sessions during the patient's hospital stay to prepare for home discharge. Amount and progression of activity is determined by the patient's medical condition. Progression of activity is determined by the patient's hemodynamic response, signs and symptoms and tolerance level.
* Documentation should be completed appropriately within the patient's medical record.
* Maintains a sufficient level of supplies in the department
* Maintains record of services provided for verification and statistical purposes.
* Cleans and assures proper maintenance of all equipment.
* Performs all clerical function as appropriate and needed.
* Other related duties as assigned.

**Required Qualifications******

* Graduate of an accredited Nursing Program required.
* One (1) year of inpatient nursing experience.
* Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
* Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
* A Nursing refresher course may be required if employee hasn’t worked in an acute care setting for his / her most recent three consecutive years of professional employment.
* Basic working knowledge of computers and office equipment.

**Preferred Qualifications**

* Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing preferred.

**License, Certification & Clearances**

* Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania

* Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program.
* Act 33 with renewal
* Act 34 with renewal
* Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal
* Current ACLS or completion within six (6) months of hire/transfer date into department

**Supervisory Responsibilities**

* This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but may serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.****

**Position Type/Expected Hours of Work**

* Incumbents will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
* Travel may be expected locally between Independence Health locations.****

**Equal Employment Opportunity**

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

**Disclaimer**

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

**Work Environment** :

**Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines**

**Physical Condition** | **Essential** | **Marginal** | **Constantly** | **Frequently** | **Occasionally** | **Rarely** | **Never**
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Extreme Heat | | | | | | | x
Extreme Cold | | | | | | | x
Heights | | | | | | | x
Confined Spaces | | | | | | | x
Extreme Noise(>85dB) | | | | | | | x
Mechanical Hazards | | | | | | | x
Use of Vibrating Tools | | | | | | | x
Operates Vehicle (Company) | | | | | | | x
Operates Heavy Equipment | | | | | | | x
Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices | x | | | | x | |
Rotates All Shifts | x | | x | | | |
8 Hours Shifts | x | | | x | | |
10-12 Hours Shifts | x | | | x | | |
On-Call | x | | | | | x |
Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hrs/wk) | x | | | | x | |
Travel Between Sites | | | | | | | x
Direct Patient Care | x | | | x | | |
Respirator Protective Equipment | x | | | | x | |
Eye Protection | x | | | | x | |
Head Protection (hard hat) | | | | | | | x
Hearing Protection | | | | | | | x
Hand Protection | x | | | x | | |
Feet, Toe Protection | | | | | | | x
Body Protection | x | | | | x | |
Latex Exposure | | x | | x | | |
Solvent Exposure | | | | | | | x
Paint (direct use) Exposure | | | | | | | x
Dust (sanding) Exposure | | | | | | | x
Ethylene Oxide Exposure | | | | | | | x
Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure | | Chemo Units | | Chemo Units | | | X all other
Blood/Body Fluid Exposure | x | | | | x | |
Chemicals (direct use) Exposure | x | | | | x | |
Mist Exposure | | | | | | | x
Wax Stripper (direct use) | | | | | | | x
Non-Ionizing Radiation Exposure | | | | | | | x
Ionizing Radiation Exposure | | | | | | | x
Laser Exposure | | | | | | | x

**Physical Demands**

**Physical Condition** | **Essential** | **Marginal** | **Constantly** | **Frequently** | **Occasionally** | **Rarely** | **Never**
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Bending (Stooping) | x | | | x | | |
Sitting | x | | | | x | |
Walking | x | | | x | | |
Climbing Stairs | | x | | | | x |
Climbing Ladders | | | | | | | x
Standing | x | | | x | | |
Kneeling | | x | | | | x |
Squatting (Crouching) | x | | | | x | |
Twisting/Turning | x | | | | x | |
Keyboard/Computer Operation | x | | | x | | |
Gross Grasp | x | | | | x | |
Fine Finger Manipulation | x | | | x | | |
Hand/Arm Coordination | x | | | | x | |
Pushing/Pulling(lbs. of force) | x | | | 10# | 50# | |
Carry | x | | | | 25# | |
Transfer/Push/Pull Patients | x | | | x | | |
Seeing Near w/Acuity | x | | x | | | |
Feeling (Sensation) | x | | | x | | |
Color Vision | x | | | | x | |
Hearing Clearly | x | | x | | | |
Pulling/Pushing Objects Overhead | x | | | | | x |
Reaching Above Shoulder Level | x | | | | x | |
Reaching Forward | x | | | x | | |
Lifting Floor to Knuckle | x | | | | | 10# |
Lifting Seat Pan to Knuckle | x | | | | 50# | |
Lifting Knuckle to Shoulder | x | | | | | 20# |
Lifting Shoulder to Overhead | x | | | | | 10# |

**When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.**