Position Summary

This professional staff person is responsible for performing assessments, developing a plan of care and implementing and evaluating the care. The RN-Critical administers medications and treatments as ordered by physicians and in keeping with the current clinical nursing practice. Also responsible for directing, monitoring and evaluating the care delegated to non-licensed personnel. The RN-Critical leads the interdisciplinary care team for patients with primarily cardiovascular disease. In addition, the RN-Critical performs a range of technical services in a cross-functional mode to comprehensively serve patient needs. Assumes (under the direction of the Laboratory) responsibility for patient specimen testing, quality control, quality improvement and equipment maintenance.

Primary Duties:

• .Documents findings and communicates all pertinent information to interdisciplinary team members as appropriate.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members in the development, evaluation and revision of the plan of care as appropriate to meet the patient’s needs and goals.
• Provides competent direct care and ensures the provision of a safe and comforting environment resulting in a high level of patient satisfaction.
• Assists healthcare team members in the understanding of hospital policies and procedures.
• Provides education to patients/families/significant others, incorporating population-specific criteria and assessment of readiness to learn.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Maintains standard precautions.
• Administers medications and completes treatments according to hospital policy and within population-specific parameters.
• Maintains all necessary documentation.
• Facilitates discharge plan in collaboration with interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to use necessary patient care equipment.
• Coordinates response of the interdisciplinary team to emergency situations.
• Performs Point-of-Care procedures in a timely manner according to established policy and procedure. Documents required information and complies with all Point-of-Care quality control standards.

Qualifications/Specifications:

• Education: Graduate of an accredited nursing program required.
• Licensure/Certification: Registered Nurse with current state licensure or licensure from a state within the Nursing Compact required. BLS certification required within 30 days of employment and prior to providing direct patient care.  Successful completion of ACLS certification is required for any Registered Nurse by completion of clinical orientation.  PALS certification required within 90 days of employment.  Certifications will be renewed by recommended renewal date on the certification documentation.

Do you want to be appreciated daily? Our nurses are celebrated for being the heroes on the front line, an ever-ready advocate for patients. At Arkansas Heart Hospital, our nurses lead a patient-focused care model, setting us apart from any other healthcare provider, where we bring care back to the bedside ensuring the best outcomes for our patients.  We are seeking a committed RN for our Progressive Critical Care Unit to join our team.

In the Progressive Critical Care Unit, our nurses play an integral role. Just as each of our patient’s characteristics are varied, we desire our nurses to be just as diverse.  Utilizing each nurse at the top of their scope and experience levels, we have a variety of patient populations for you to choose from!

Consider working as a primary nurse caring for up to 4 patients that are pre and post cardiothoracic surgery patients alongside another nurse with support by unlicensed team member.

Or choose to work on a care team as the nurse leader with an LPN and unlicensed team member caring for up to 7 cardiac / medical lower-acuity patients.

Or choose to work where you are need most, leveraging your skill and expertise with a mixed patient acuity assignment of up to 4 patients, including cardiac / medical / surgical patients.  This, also alongside another nurse and with support of an unlicensed team member.

Our patient focused care model makes it possible for nurses to choose the path that fits them best all while delivering the highest level of quality nursing care. Apply today for our RN Progressive Critical Care Unit opportunity.

What you will do in this role:

• Assess patient condition, identifying and reporting any changes in patient status.
• Perform procedures or other functions as ordered by the provider.
• Document the administration of care in the patient medical record in a timely and thorough manner.
• Perform the administration of prescribed medications and monitors effectiveness
• Maintain a knowledge of medications, procedures, surgeries and equipment used in the care of cardiac / medical / surgical patients.

Arkansas Heart Hospital is the premiere cardiac hospital in the state of Arkansas. Our main campus is located in the heart of Little Rock, with clinics nearby in Little Rock and North Little Rock. We serve central Arkansas with cardiac care and a full range of cardiac services, ranging from surgical procedures to cardiology to electrophysiology at our Heart Rhythm Institute.

“World’s Best Hospitals”- 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 – Newsweek
5-star hospital – CMS

Responsibilities

• Assessment, Nursing Diagnosis, Outcome Identification, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Responding to life-saving situations, including providing advanced life cardiac support
• Assisting providers with procedures, including moderate sedation
• Administering wound care, medications, including intravenous fluids and titration of vasoactive continuous infusions
• Management of critical care patient equipment, including ventilators, BIPAP, cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring, etc.
• Care and Management of pre/post procedure/surgical patients, including cardiothoracic, vascular, general surgical and medical
• Providing education and support to patients/caregivers
• Supervision/delegation of duties to unlicensed assist personnel
• Patient specimen testing and quality control under direction of the Laboratory
• Documents findings and communicates effectively
• Maintains patient confidentiality, standard precautions

Requirements

• Education: Graduate of an accredited nursing program; BSN preferred but not required
• Licensure/Certification:  Registered Nurse with current state licensure or licensure from a state within the Nursing Compact
• Experience:  one year cardiac or critical care nursing (exception – New Graduate RN Residency Program)
• BLS within 30 days of hire and prior to completion of clinical orientation
• ACLS prior to completion of clinical orientation
• Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) preferred
• Nurse Characteristics varying from advanced beginner to expert with the goal of promoting patient’s optimal outcome:
  • Clinical Judgment – clinical reasoning
  • Advocacy – ability to work on another’s behalf
  • Caring Practices – compassionate, engaging
  • Collaboration – works well with others
  • Systems Thinking – global perspective for patient needs
  • Response to diversity – sensitivity, appreciation
  • Clinical inquiry – innovation through learning and evaluation of practice
  • Facilitation of learning – for patient and caregivers, including validation of learning

Qualifications/Specifications

• Education: Graduate of an accredited nursing program required.
• Licensure/Certification: Registered Nurse with current state licensure or licensure from a state within the Nursing Compact required. BLS certification required within 30 days of employment and prior to providing direct patient care.  Successful completion of ACLS certification is required for any Registered Nurse by completion of clinical orientation. Certifications will be renewed by recommended renewal date on the certification documentation.