Registered Nurse, Cardiac Stress

Position Summary

The Cardiology Stress Nurse is responsible for representing the Organization to the cardiac patient in both the outpatient and inpatient setting. Provides nursing care by assessing the patient pre-procedure and assisting the Cardiologist or APP in the various diagnostic cardiac testing. Examples are: nuclear stress testing, stress echoes with or without the use of Definity, Dobutamine stress tests and tilt table tests. Administers prescribed medication or pharmacological agents during and post cardiac testing.

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

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

• Must be a licensed State of Connecticut Registered Nurse.
• Must have certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support upon hire or receive certification within the new employee introductory orientation period and maintain clinical competency during employment within this role.
  
  

Experience

• Must have a minimum of two (2) years of critical care RN experience.
• Previous Cardiac Care is preferred.
  
  

COMPETENCIES

• Will provide on the job training for IV competency.
• The incumbent must be proficient in cardiac monitoring.
  
  

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.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Appropriately delegates duties and tasks to team members, developing opportunities to promote growth of peers.
• 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.
• Provides and/or coordinates patient/family education, based on assessed needs, creatively adjusting education to the patient’s needs and ensuring adequate needs.
• 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.
• 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.
• Evaluates the plan of care and patient’s response to planned intervention and makes appropriate modifications to the plan of care.
• Participates in department QI and KPIs, data collection and reporting and Policy and Procedure maintenance with Manager.
• Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, self-study, workshops, and professional affiliations. Conducts in-service for Cardiac Rehab/Stress Lab staff annually.