Cardiac Surgical Systems Coordinator (RN)

MedStar

About The Position

General Summary of Position Responsible for the coordination of patient care across the continuum under the auspices of the physician's prescribed plan of care, subspecialty guidelines and within the scope of nursing practice. Oversees, directs and executes education for the pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative process to patients and their families. Functions as the patients advocate by guiding and supporting patients and families through their complex surgeries, treatment and recovery. Ensures efficient patient flow by functioning as the liaison between the surgeons, the main operating room, nursing units, MedStar, outside facilities, insurance companies, and the patient and their families. Develops educational materials and programs in collaboration with the Medical Director for the Cardiac Surgery population. Collaborates with the health care team members to positively impact patient outcomes and the patient experience. Is an active participant in quality improvement activities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Nursing required
3-4 years progressively more responsible job related experience required
RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure
License as a registered nurse in the District of Columbia required
PROBLEM SOLVING: Job requires a relatively high level of problem solving to find solutions to difficult human technical clinical or administrative problems.
INTERNAL CONTACTS: Internal contacts necessary to effectively advice consult or counsel others to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas or actions.
INDEPENDENT JUDGEMENT: Work assignments are generally received in the forms of results expected due dates and general approach to be taken.

Nice To Haves

The ideal candidate should possess 3-4 years of clinical experience in cardiac surgery, with knowledge of procedures, protocols, and patient care requirements.
Experience working with multidisciplinary teams, managing cardiac surgical patients, supporting high-acuity cases, and participating in quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies, procedures, quality standards, and safety standards.
Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.
Works collaborative with an interdisciplinary team including the Medical Director/Surgeon throughout the continuum of surgical care to develop and manage the plan of care for the patient, including triaging patients' calls, assessing the need to be seen and how soon, answering general questions, and assisting the patient/family with scheduling ancillary testing and other services.
Presents the necessary history, results from diagnostic studies to the Medical Director/Surgeon in order to facilitate the development and management of the plan of care for the patient.
Provides initial, continuing and discharge education related to the specific disease process, associate treatment modality, diagnostic testing, and follow up care.
Coordinates with an interdisciplinary team the assessment, development and evaluating of pre-op and post-op educational data to ensure patients and their families are provided quality updated education and educational materials.
Provides comprehensive individual and group education to patients and their families throughout the continuum of care.
Manages the Cardiac Surgery schedule, including on call coverage, acting as the liaison between the surgeons and surgical posting, and updates families and patients of any surgical schedule changes.
Coordinates patients transferring from outside facilities, monitors triage of in-house patients and supports clinical staff to ensure surgical consents, clinical pathways and outcomes are met.
Develops in collaboration with the Surgeon/Medical Director and an interdisciplinary team surgical consent documents.
Manages Cardiac Surgical Grand Round meetings, ensuring compliance with CEU regulations.
Coordinates with the audiovisual team and the surgeons office for web base conference set ups and ensures the AV needs of guest speakers are met.
Evaluates the success of pre and post-op care in terms of patient progress and patient experience feedback via the 30 day post-op phone call.
Communicates any issues identified during the call to the surgical team.
Acts as a liaison between insurance companies, pharmacies, durable medical good companies ensuring patients and families receive the prescribed care.
Actively participates in ongoing quality improvement projects.
Utilizes approaches and strategies that support quality patient care and optimizes outcomes in an interdisciplinary care environment and consistent with patient and family wishes.
Demonstrates competencies, including knowledge and behaviors to meet specific patient care requirement, nursing practice standards, and other regulatory or required knowledge/or skills.
Maintains current knowledge of clinical improvement strategies and outcome management through self-study, literature review, educational conferences and other forums.
Supports a Patient First Culture that fosters a high level of patient experience/satisfaction as demonstrated by outcome data.