Care Coordinator (RN) - Pulmonary

Care Coordinator (RN) - Pulmonary

Under limited supervision, directs application of clinical expertise to patients with bronchiectasis and/or NTM infection and their families within the Pulmonary Division being managed in the ambulatory care setting and as inpatients in the MUSC Hospital. Coordinates all clinical care to maximize safety, patient and co-worker satisfaction and quality patient outcomes.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in nursing required
• Three or more years of related nursing experience.

Required Licensure and Certification:

• Licensure as a registered nurse by the South Carolina Board of Nursing or a compact state. Some positions require certification as a generalist in a related specialty area by the American Nurses Association (ANA).
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or American Red Cross BLS for Healthcare Providers certification is required

Job Duties:

• Uses expert clinical judgment and decision-making skills to predict potential patient responses and assist in patient management through an episode of illness. Analyses deviations from the expected range of patient/family responses and designs creative strategies to improve patient/family outcomes. Demonstrates accountability to the patient and family by clear articulation of the role and services provided by remaining visible and available through the patient's episode of illness by engaging in problem-solving activities on the patient's behalf and by assuming responsibility for the issues and outcomes related to patient care. Favorably affects the cost quality and outcomes of services provided by engaging in activities such as decreasing frequency of unnecessary tests and procedures, and by negotiating appropriate changes in care and treatment plans. Assesses and redirects activities in response to staff, patient population and clinic needs in collaboration with nursing and physician colleagues. Interfaces with community services and agencies to support the mission of those services and agencies and to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
• Organizes and prioritizes nursing care activities considering the needs of the patient and other care team members. Negotiates short/long term goals with the patient to develop and evaluate the individualized plan of care. Provides leadership to develop, analyze, integrate complex data, and update individualized plans of care. Initiates/facilitates/collaborates with all members of the interdisciplinary team to improve care delivered to the patient, ensuring that appropriate referrals (interdisciplinary and community) are made and completed.
• Utilizes the nursing process to facilitate the individualized plan of care using time and resources efficiently and assumes accountability for plans of effectiveness. Coordinates care with the interdisciplinary team members consistently with roles and responsibilities.
• Designs, implements and evaluates a comprehensive, culturally sensitive patient/family education and treatment plan. Uses professional judgment to appropriately delegate. Facilitates all new referrals by obtaining clinical information, radiology films, etc.
• Consults the appropriate physicians/team member with new patient information and organizes patient visits with the appropriate providers. Serves as primary contact for the patient and family throughout their course of treatment and serves as physician liaison.
• Demonstrates leadership in advancing clinical knowledge of bronchiectasis and/or NTM infection by collaborating in the development of standards of care and practice, utilizing research methodologies, when necessary, along with active participation in team performance improvement strategies. Reviews and analyses current nursing literature and research in bronchiectasis and/or NTM infection as a basis for improving practice. Identifies clinical problems for study, communicates these to the appropriate resources and seeks opportunities to participate in investigative/evaluative activities. Participates in QI activities/clinical research as designated by bronchiectasis and NTM care team. Assists with data collection for evaluation to improve care.
• Patient Registry: oversee/assist with mechanisms to ensure accurate data entry into patient database and supervise ancillary staff involved in date entry, assist in obtaining consents on newly diagnosed, newly transferred or as local IRB/form revisions require when appropriate. Education: coordinate education of newly diagnosed bronchiectasis and/or NTM patients, develop and maintain education materials for patients, family members and the care team members, provide continuing education to inpatient and outpatient staff and serve as a liaison for the care team and patients.
• Will participate as a mentor for the care team and assist with team member professional development, promote disease awareness through community educational activities in collaboration with national and state programs, attend conferences annually when available to maintain knowledge and competence as a program coordinator.
• Coordinate with care team to ensure all patients are treated appropriately and according to available practice guidelines, lead pre-clinic meetings and assist team in determining needs for each clinic visit, e.g. labs, changes in therapy, influenza vaccines, surveillance testing and utilize patient data to recognize clinical trends. Participate in local, regional and national programs and initiatives when available, provide supervision and training to administrative staff supporting the bronchiectasis and NTM center. Provide supervision and training to outpatient clinic staff involved with surveillance procedures as determined by the team. Participate in annual program updates of standard operating procedures and policies.
• Quality Improvement: review center specific data to identify QI projects, participate in QI projects as appropriate to role and project needs, liaison with other healthcare providers regarding QI interventions, encourage involvement of staff and patients/families in QI efforts as appropriate.
• Specific Outpatient Duties: review and triage the Pulmonary BE, CF, NTM Clinical Support Epic in basket for sick calls and patient inquiries and assist in issue resolution, follow up on lab results and/or interpretation as ordered by the Health Care Provider (HCP), initiate home infusion and home health therapies as ordered by HCP including ordering durable medical equipment, access devices, medications, monitoring and follow up, and participate in the outpatient clinics to monitor and assist with patient throughput.
• All other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

Continuous requirements are to perform job functions while standing, walking and sitting. Ability to bend at the waist, kneel, climb stairs, reach in all directions, fully use both hands and legs, possess good finger dexterity, perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders, reach in all directions. Maintain 20/40 vision corrected, see and recognize objects close at hand and at a distance, work in a latex safe environment and work indoors. Frequently lift, lower, push and pull and/or carry objects weighing 50 lbs (+/-) unassisted, exert up to 50 lbs of force, lift from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. Infrequently work in dusty areas and confined/cramped spaces.