RN Total Joint and Spine Educator - Reidsville, GA

Optim Healthcare•Reidsville, GA

About The Position

The RN Total Joint and Spine Educator coordinates and provides leadership in the ongoing development of the Joint Program. The role works with Quality, Nursing, Surgery, and Physical Therapy to establish processes that support hospital quality initiatives for surgical improvement and leads coordination toward Destination Center of Excellence status for Joint Replacement and Spine Surgery. The educator supports continuity of care by collaborating with patients, families, staff, case management, and physicians on care plans and discharge planning. The position also coordinates community outreach and provides orthopedic team education on best practices and care for joint and spine patients. The role requires a minimum of eight hours of orthopedic training annually.

Requirements

Valid state license as a registered nurse.
Basic Life Support, ACLS, and PALS certifications.
Ability to develop policies and procedures.
Creative ability to develop education tools.
Excellent written and verbal skills.
Ability to teach and evaluate staff clinical performance.
Ability to teach patients and families and evaluate their response and retention of information.
Minimum of eight hours of orthopedic training annually.
Ability to move intermittently throughout the workday.
Ability to write and speak English understandably.
Ability to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
Adequate sight and hearing, or prostheses that enable these senses to function adequately for the job.
Ability to function independently, demonstrate flexibility and personal integrity, and work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
Must meet the facility’s general health requirements, including a medical and physical examination.
Ability to push, pull, move, and/or lift at least 50 pounds to a height of at least 3 feet, and push, pull, move, and/or carry that weight at least 20 feet.
Ability to assist with evacuating patients during emergencies.

Responsibilities

Develop patient and family education tools using discussion, printed and visual materials, and demonstrations.
Assess patients’ and families’ knowledge of surgical procedures and recovery.
Develop tools to address patient and family knowledge deficits.
Provide and develop education and orientation for hospital staff related to joint care.
Work with the committee to develop standardized orders for preoperative testing, postoperative care, and physical therapy modalities.
Facilitate communication among patients, families, staff, and physicians as needed.
Develop tools to help staff improve patient care.
Build close working relationships with surgeons to support program development.
Liaise with surgeons and staff as needed.
Consult regularly with surgeons performing joint procedures to obtain updates and improve care.
Consult with department heads on patient care improvement.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to meet individual patient needs before discharge.
Serve as a resource for all departments and personnel.
Participate in performance improvement activities.
Perform other duties as directed.
Exemplify the hospital’s mission, vision, and values.
Coordinate the ongoing development of the Joint Program and support processes for surgical quality initiatives.
Lead coordination toward Destination Center of Excellence status for Joint Replacement and Spine Surgery.
Collaborate with patients, families, staff, case management, and physicians on plans of care and discharge planning.
Coordinate community outreach activities.
Educate the orthopedic team on best practices and care for joint and spine patients.