Registered Nurse I Cardiopulmonary

Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse

To provide general nursing care and/or supervision of personnel delivering general nursing care to patients in the hospital. The CPR position plans, coordinates, and implements and evaluates all exercise and educational components of cardiac rehabilitation for outpatients.

Educational Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

Licenses and Certifications

• Registered with the Board of Nursing for the State of Texas.
• BCLS certificate.
• ACLS in the first 6 months of being hired.

Qualifications/Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrates competency in the care of patients.
• Uses common sense and special nursing skills to care for the sick or handicapped.
• Understands information from supervisors, charts, reference books, manuals, and labels.
• Must have good computer skills.
• Communicates with people when they are sick, handicapped or nervous and works quickly and efficiently in an emergency.
• Changes from one duty to another frequently, follows reasonable instructions, and records information accurately.
• Sets priorities, makes decisions based on available data and supervises others.
• Remains current in continuing education in both the nursing profession and in the field of specialty.
• General understanding of cardiac and pulmonary medications.

Physical Requirements

• Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
• Standing and walking for extensive periods of time.
• Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds, pushing and pulling of heavy objects.
• Corrected vision and hearing to normal range.
• Working under stressful conditions and working irregular hours.
• Some exposure to communicable diseases or bodily fluids.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Administers direct patient care, monitors vital signs and other signs and symptoms to assure medical stability.
• Provides cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and prevention services to a diagnostically and developmentally diverse population that is commensurate with the client's age, cognitive ability, and developmental needs.
• Works collaboratively with cardiac rehabilitation staff, physicians and other departments to enhance the continuum of care and productive working relationships.
• Develops and implements patient exercise and education care plans and programs according to prescribed treatment and clinical pathways.
• Assesses and evaluates patient's physical, functional, and psychosocial status to assist patients in the design of an exercise, education, and lifestyle modification program to meet activities of daily living (ADL), recreational, and vocational needs.
• Evaluates patients progress and creates or modifies goals and objectives, discharges with appropriate program to maintain and continue optimal lifestyle function and follows up with patient to determine adherence and success.
• Documents patient assessments and progress according to departmental guidelines. Maintains accurate patient attendance and charge records for charging and billing process.
• Assists with set up, storing, inventory, and maintenance of program equipment and supplies.
• Provides and presents formal and informal exercise and risk factor topics to patients and families.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient, employee, or medical center information at all times. Ensures all information, and implementation of processes, which support quality patient care and effective work performance.
• Participates in unit/department performance-improvement activities to ensure the development and implementation of processes, which support quality patient care and effective work performance.
• Participates in all staff meetings and mandatory in-services and training programs to ensure continued understanding of all departmental policies, procedures, and performance-improvement processes.
• Maintains/develops competencies associated with this job description.
• Performs all other tasks/responsibilities as necessary.