Stroke Coordinator - Registered Nurse - Full Time Days

Job Category:

Nursing - Registered Nurse
Work Shift/Schedule:

8 Hr Morning - Afternoon

Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities.


About the Role:

Job Summary

Responsible for coordinating and implementing services and activities related to the Stroke program at the assigned campus. The Stroke Coordinator leads and participates in program development as it relates to the Primary Stroke Center and serves as the Subject Matter Expert for Stroke care at the campus. Works with other System Stroke Coordinators to develop and/or select stroke education materials for patient education. Serves in lead role of providing clinical performance improvement support for NGMC Braselton/NGMC Barrow.


Assists with professional nursing shared governance and other projects as assigned. Assists in the advancement of the professional practice environment by communicating the NGMC nursing strategic direction and focusing on activities that support the nursing strategic direction. Is a professional member of VOICE providing feedback on issues being addressed at meetings.

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications: Licensed to practice as RN in Georgia. Stroke Certification (SCRN) within two (2) years of obtaining position.
• Educational Requirements: A degree in nursing (either BSN or MSN).
• Minimum Experience: A minimum of two (2) years in Neurologic/Stroke care in an acute care setting. A minimum of two (2) years in Performance Improvement.
• Other: Professional organization membership within one month of hire into the role.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications:
• Preferred Educational Requirements: Preferred: A Masters Degree (Nursing or other if Possessing a BSN) within five (5) years.
• Preferred Experience:
• Other:

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Keeps team updated in national guidelines to include the American Stroke Association, Brain Attack Coalition, and accrediting body standards
• Serves as Subject Matter Expert for strategic projects that span at the assigned campus
• Manages stroke program to maintain certification
• Must have evidence of advanced clinical knowledge, leadership abilities, teaching and communication skills. Previous knowledge of community resources, data collection and analysis. Skills include: Proficiency in computer use, oral and written communication, ability to collaborate effectively as a team leader in a busy and growing stroke program
• Attends Clinical Stroke Team and Stroke Steering Committee meetings across the Health System

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Tracks concurrent stroke cases to ensure clinical data integrity and for compliance with quality measures, communicating with front line staff regarding missing documentation or care needed to meet measures within necessary timeframe.
• Completes special projects/reports requested by the Medical Director, and/or Director of Inpatient Medicine in a timely manner.
• Performs retrospective review of data to monitor and evaluate the quality of patient care to formulate evidence based, performance recommendations to identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes.
• Effectively prioritizes and executes tasks to produce high quality work with minimal supervision.
• Monitors quality standards and takes a primary role in development and implementation of outcomes evaluation as guided by DNV-GL Stroke accreditation standards. Maintains Stroke Program as survey ready and in accordance with the requirements of the DNV-GL Healthcare Certification Program. Active leadership and participation in regulatory survey.
• Provides stroke case follow-up to involved staff members, EMS providers, and referring hospitals for cases involving stroke alerts, alteplase, transfer for advanced care, and at discretion of Stroke Program.
• Notifies Stroke Program Leadership to ensure understanding of updated regulatory and credentialing standards as needed.
• Assumes the active role of stroke awareness advocate for the patient/family unit.
• Analyzes, evaluates, and problem-solves individually and in team environments.
• Attends monthly and periodic team meetings for the operational functions of all stroke related services for the assigned campus, as needed.
• Collaborates with attending physician and interdisciplinary team in preparing, evaluating and redesigning the plan of care by attending IDT Huddles.
• Provides liaison function between the medical center and stroke outreach services to the community.
• Participates in team meetings to ensure that all needs are surveyed and appropriately planned.
• Responds to Stroke Alerts in both the ED and Inpatient areas and communicates with physicians with regards to treatment needs at the assigned campus.
• Highly effective interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to maintain professional relationships to facilitate and assure the success of the Stroke Program.
• Positive attitude towards change and the ability to inspire and mentor others.
• Advocates for and utilizes appropriate community resources for the patients' benefit.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain professional relationships in order to facilitate and assure the success of the Stroke Program.
• Advanced computer skills.
• Provides liaison function between hospital quality improvement, Patient Safety, discharge planning, and social service departments.
• Serves as resource to committees/individuals responsible for collection and analysis of information/data related to required review functions. Collaborates with PI department's technical support in the provision of PI, Regulatory, or Patient Safety data.
• Communicates PI, Regulatory, or Patient Safety information to ensure patient safety and regulatory requirements are known and met.
• Facilitates interdivisional/departmental problem solving/improvement activities.
• Escalates PI, Regulatory, or Patient Safety issues. Investigates and acts appropriately to resolve issue.
• Maintains general knowledge of the regulatory standards for the agencies the PI Department interacts with. Participates in the accreditation survey process and facilitates follow up activities as assigned.
• Facilitates RCA's and FMEA's as assigned.
• Completes special projects as assigned by leadership.
• Attends Tiered Huddles and interacts with physicians, administration, managers, and staff as a consultant/resource to achieve desired Quality, Regulatory, and Patient Safety outcomes for stroke patients.
• Coordinates PI, Regulatory, and Patient Safety activities for the Stroke Program as assigned using data to improve quality of care.
• Provides community stroke education through lectures, interviews, and presentations to audiences.
• Performs NIHSS.
• Participates in planning and implementing of Quality, Regulatory, or PI education for staff.
• Participates in inpatient stroke rounds. Attend IDT huddles on designated primary stroke unit. Attend in patient stroke alerts when available.
• Serves as a point of contact for stroke treatment throughout the assigned hospital. Collaborates with members of the patient's clinical care team in assuring stroke core measures are met at the assigned hospital.
• Assures the Stroke care team members are up to date on clinical pathways/management for stroke patients. Coordinates and teaches Advanced Stroke Life Support (ASLS) Course. Assist with department writing of procedures, standard work, and PI plans as requested.
• Collects and utilizes data to identify opportunities for patient care improvement. Participates in NGMC Variance Evaluation Committee (VEC) and leads and participates in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) events.
• Attends and actively participates in Nursing Quality Team meetings and other patient care related committees and task forces. Monitors quality standards, variance events, and patient care trends and collaborates with clinical staff to identify opportunities and implement improvements.
• Assists leaders, physicians, and staff with accrediting body requirements and coordinates accreditation activities for NGMC Braselton or NGMC Barrow with System PI & Accreditation department and team.
• Ensures that education materials are reviewed annually for health literacy and cultural competence. Assist nurses and health care staff in providing stroke education to patients when needed.
• Leads process improvement and quality improvement activities at assigned hospital in collaboration with care team members, focused on improvement of clinical outcomes.
• Successfully completes mentoring class. Assists with mentoring of Registered Nurses when other mentor resources have been assigned. May mentor more as desired.

Physical Demands

• Weight Lifted: Up to 20 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time
• Weight Carried: Up to 20 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time
• Vision: Moderate, Frequently 31-65% of time
• Kneeling/Stooping/Bending: Occasionally 0-30%
• Standing/Walking: Occasionally 0-30%
• Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally 0-30%
• Intensity of Work: Occasionally 0-30%
• Job Requires: Reading, Writing, Reasoning, Talking, Keyboarding

Working at NGHS means being part of something special: a team invested in you as a person, an employee, and in helping you reach your goals.

NGHS: Opportunities start here.

Northeast Georgia Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not tolerate discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification or status.