RN - Cardiac Rehab Exercise Specialist

Jefferson Community Health Center•Fairbury, NE

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Jefferson Community Health & Life is looking for an RN to work in Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab part-time. This role involves 8 hours per week (1 day per week) and PRN as needed. The RN – Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist provides specialized nursing care to patients in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs. Responsibilities include patient assessment, exercise and cardiac monitoring, individualized education, clinical interventions, and evaluating patient response and progress. The specialist may also assist with Cardiac Stress Testing and Nuclear Stress Testing services and supports the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) Partners program. This role requires clinical competence, effective communication, teamwork, and alignment with the organization's mission and goals.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited registered nursing program.
Current, Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Nebraska.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification required.
Basic computer proficiency and the ability to learn and effectively navigate the Cerner electronic health record (EHR) and Cardiac Rehabilitation software programs utilized by JCH&L.

Nice To Haves

One to two years of nursing experience in cardiac rehabilitation, cardiovascular care, critical care, emergency care, or a related clinical setting preferred.
Experience with cardiac rhythm interpretation, exercise monitoring, cardiac stress testing, and/or nuclear stress testing preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides nursing care to patients participating in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in accordance with provider orders, individualized treatment plans, established protocols, and organizational policies and procedures.
Utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized patient care and progress toward established goals.
Performs patient assessments and monitors patients before, during, and after exercise, including vital signs, cardiac rhythm as indicated, oxygen saturation as applicable, symptoms, exercise tolerance, and response to treatment.
Provides and/or assists with prescribed exercise appropriate to the patient's condition, provider orders, and individualized treatment plan.
Recognizes changes in patient condition, abnormal cardiac rhythms, symptoms, or other clinical findings and initiates appropriate nursing and emergency interventions.
Provides individualized patient and family education based on assessed needs, including heart-healthy lifestyle practices, risk-factor modification, exercise, medications, disease management, and other applicable topics.
Provides education and support to Pulmonary Rehabilitation patients related to respiratory disease management, exercise, breathing techniques, medications, energy conservation, smoking cessation when applicable, activities of daily living, and quality of life.
Participates in psychosocial assessment and identification of factors that may affect the patient's participation, progress, and outcomes.
Assists with initial, periodic, and program-completion assessments and collection of applicable patient outcome measures.
Evaluates and documents patient progress toward individualized goals and communicates findings to the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator, provider, and other members of the healthcare team as appropriate.
Administers medications, treatments, and procedures according to provider orders, nursing standards, and organizational policies and procedures.
Demonstrates clinical competency and maintains proficiency in equipment utilized in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Assists the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator with day-to-day department and program activities.
Assists with patient referrals, enrollment, scheduling, and coordination of services as assigned.
Assists with obtaining required clinical information, provider orders, and other documentation necessary for patient participation.
Assists with new patient pre-authorizations and other payer-related processes as assigned.
Assists with development, implementation, and maintenance of individualized treatment plans and obtains required information and documentation as appropriate.
Participates in review and development of department policies, procedures, protocols, patient education materials, and other program resources.
Communicates program, patient care, equipment, safety, or operational concerns to the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator.
Assists with and provides nursing services for Cardiac Stress Testing and Nuclear Stress Testing in accordance with provider orders, established protocols, scope of practice, and organizational policies and procedures.
Assists with patient preparation, scheduling, and coordination of testing as assigned.
Reviews applicable patient history, provider orders, medications, and clinical information necessary for safe performance of testing.
Performs appropriate nursing assessment and monitoring before, during, and following stress testing.
Monitors vital signs, cardiac rhythm, symptoms, and patient response during testing as applicable.
Recognizes abnormal findings, symptoms, or changes in patient condition and promptly communicates with the appropriate provider and initiates emergency interventions when indicated.
Administers medications associated with testing when ordered and permitted by established protocols and scope of practice.
Provides patient education and instructions related to preparation, testing, and post-test care.
Completes required nursing and testing documentation accurately and timely.
Maintains competency in equipment and emergency procedures associated with cardiac stress testing.
Provides Care Transition services for acute care patients following discharge in accordance with established organizational processes.
Reviews applicable discharge information and provides follow-up education and support to promote a safe transition from the hospital to home or the next level of care.
Contacts patients following discharge as required and assesses understanding of discharge instructions, medications, follow-up appointments, and recommended care.
Reinforces patient and family education related to the discharge plan and identifies questions, concerns, or barriers that may affect the patient's recovery or ability to follow the plan of care.
Identifies changes in condition, medication concerns, unmet needs, or other issues requiring additional follow-up and communicates or refers concerns to the appropriate provider or healthcare team member.
Reinforces the importance of timely follow-up with the patient's primary care provider, specialist, or other healthcare provider as applicable.
Assists patients in identifying appropriate resources or contacts when additional support or services are needed.
Documents Care Transition contacts, patient education, identified concerns, interventions, referrals, and follow-up in accordance with organizational requirements.
Communicates significant concerns identified during Care Transition follow-up to the appropriate provider or department in a timely manner.
Assists with and supports activities associated with the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) Partners program as assigned.
Assists employees with RQI training and skills activities.
Supports processes related to employee completion and maintenance of required CPR, BLS, ACLS, and PALS education and certification.
Serves as a resource to employees regarding RQI activities within the scope of assigned responsibilities.
Communicates identified RQI participation, equipment, or operational concerns to the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator.
Maintains complete, accurate, and timely documentation of patient assessments, interventions, education, response to treatment, progress, outcomes, and follow-up.
Communicates significant changes in patient condition promptly to the appropriate provider and other members of the healthcare team.
Serves as an effective liaison among patients, families, physicians and other providers, referral sources, and members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Maintains patient confidentiality and protects health information in accordance with organizational policies and applicable requirements.
Assists with educational programs for patients, staff, and the community that promote cardiovascular and pulmonary health and healthy lifestyles.
Promotes patient safety and follows established practices for patient identification, medication safety, infection prevention, fall prevention, emergency response, and other applicable safety requirements.
Demonstrates proficient technical and clinical skills and maintains operational knowledge of equipment used in the department.
Uses appropriate body mechanics, transfer and lifting techniques, and equipment to promote patient and employee safety.
Identifies and reports actual or potential patient safety, quality, compliance, equipment, or operational concerns and participates in appropriate follow-up and improvement activities.
Participates in collection and review of program quality and patient outcome data as assigned.
Participates in performance improvement and quality initiatives supporting department and organizational operations.
Follows applicable CMS, payer, Critical Access Hospital, regulatory, professional, and organizational requirements.
Maintains required RN licensure, certifications, competencies, and continuing education.
Maintains current knowledge related to Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, cardiovascular care, cardiac rhythm interpretation, stress testing, and applicable standards of practice.
Demonstrates basic computer proficiency and the ability to learn and effectively navigate the Cerner electronic health record (EHR) and Cardiac Rehabilitation software programs utilized by JCH&L.
Participates in department meetings, organizational education, committees, performance improvement activities, and other initiatives as requested.
Participates in professional development through continuing education, current literature, workshops, in-service education, and other appropriate learning opportunities.
Shares knowledge and expertise through staff education, training, and orientation of new staff as appropriate.
Demonstrates professionalism, accountability, teamwork, effective communication, and positive role-model behavior.
Complies with the JCH&L Compliance Program, Service Excellence Standards, safety and infection prevention requirements, department and organization-wide policies and procedures, Critical Access Hospital requirements, and applicable federal and State of Nebraska requirements.