Registered Nurse Cardiac Step Down Experienced

Experienced RN Cardiac Step Down

Position Responsibilities

• Maintains annual clinical competence in care of patients receiving telemetry monitoring, open heart surgery, and vasoactive medication administration.
• Assess clinical, diagnostic, and laboratory data of the population served.
• Monitors patients hemodynamic response to interdisciplinary plan of care, and intervenes appropriately.
• Performs tracheostomy care according to hospital policy and procedure.
• Provides individualized teaching to patients/family requiring open heart surgery, telemetry monitoring, and cardiovascular invasive procedure.
• Interprets ABG results and intervenes appropriately.
• Assists physician with cardioversion and management of cardiac arrhythmias.
• Assesses and monitors patients receiving PCA or epidural medication for pain management.
• Assesses, monitors, and documents patient response to chest tube management.
• Troubleshoots unit specific equipment.
• Transports patient via cardiac monitor and emergency drugs to and from diagnostic testing areas.

Assessment

• Performs initial vital signs and admission history to include introduction to patient and family. Assessment of chief complaint and notification of physician within 15 minutes of arrival to unit.
• Obtains and documents a complete nursing admission assessment, including physiological and psychological factors to develop an interdisciplinary plan of care within eight hours of admission.
• Performs and documents an accurate systems assessment at the beginning of each shift.
• Responds to diagnostic data and initiates appropriate action or intervention.
• Assesses patient education needs on admission and daily.
• Assesses psychosocial needs specific to patient's age, growth, and development.

Planning

• Initiates an interdisciplinary plan of care within eight hours of admission.
• Establishes priorities for patient care based on patient needs as evidenced by completion of assigned duties within shift.

Implementation

• Verbalizes understanding of patient diagnosis and interdisciplinary plan of care.
• Safely and correctly initiates and documents nursing interventions in emergency situations.
• Performs 24-hour chart check at the beginning of each shift.
• Prepares intravenous solutions using aseptic technique.
• Administers, observes, and documents intravenous therapy according to hospital policy.
• Administers medications within 30 minutes of scheduled time, observes and documents effectiveness, and recognizes/reports adverse reactions immediately.
• Provides individualized instructions each shift to patient/significant other regarding the plan of care.
• Demonstrates safe and correct use of unit specific equipment.
• Ensures that each patient's general hygiene needs are met.
• Performs pre-operative and post operative care and instruction for each assigned surgical patient during shift.
• Adheres to standard precautions including hand hygiene guidelines at all times.
• Documents specific patient valuables on designated form when received and immediately arranges for appropriate storage.
• Performs dressing changes using aseptic technique.
• Collects and labels specimens per policy when ordered by physician.
• Performs bedside glucose monitoring according to policy.
• Administers internal feedings via ng tube, g tube, and/or j tube.
• Reports all abnormal findings immediately to physician.
• Initiates wound and skin protocol upon identification of actual or potential skin breakdown.
• Performs ostomy care to include irrigation, appliance usage, and reinforcement of teaching.
• Inserts intermittent or indwelling urinary catheter using aseptic technique.
• Administers oxygen therapy according to physician order.
• Transfers patients in/out of the unit in an efficient manner, by obtaining a complete and correct set of physician's orders, completes documentation of transfer summary. Appropriate completed referral forms accompany intra-facility transfers, including giving/receiving of report.
• Demonstrates safe and correct use of restraints as per policy.

Evaluation

• Documents/reports patient responses or outcomes resulting from: nursing interventions, treatments/procedures, interpersonal interactions, and patient/family education.
• Evaluates and documents patient's progress towards established goals/objectives every shift.
• Updates/revises patient care problem list and individualized patient care standards based on patient/family responses, progress towards goals, and/or change in medical status every shift.
• Evaluates patient length of stay and related transfer/discharge planning needs based on anticipated problems, internal or community resources, and support systems.

Professional and Staff Development

• Obtains 100% of mandatory hospital and unit specific inservices annually, prior to evaluation date.
• Plans, presents, and documents unit inservice as required by level.
• Documents competency in clinical skills, annually.
• Attends staff meetings as required.
• Uses established lines of communication for resolution of problems and interpersonal conflict.

Leadership

• Presents a minimum of 2 in-services, 2 patient conferences.
• Attends 75% staff meetings.
• Serves as a preceptor/clinical resource.
• Functions as a Charge Nurse and assists in applying financial management principles - e.g. staffing, scheduling, decreasing LOS, Triaging, supply management.
• Chair or Co Chair unit based PI committee meetings.
• Participates in clinical competency compliance of staff.

Qualifications

• License/Registration/Certification

  • Current FL Nursing License, Current Basic Life Support, and Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support required.

• Education

  • None

• Experience

  • Level III: Min 2 years in area of specialty.

Benefits:

• Health benefits
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Healthcare spending accounts
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Pet Insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance program
• Wellness program
• On-site housing for select positions and more!

Degree Requirements:

Certification: