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:

• Completes admission assessment and periodic reassessments according to patient’s progress and/or unit routines and patient population-specific parameters.
• 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 patient population-specific criteria and assessment of readiness to learn.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Maintains standard precautions.
• Administers medications and completes treatments according to provider orders, hospital policy and within patient population-specific parameters.
• Maintains all necessary documentation.
• Facilitates transition of care 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.

Department-Specific Responsibilities:

Acute Care Unit

• Ability to formulate an individualized plan of care and revise plan according to the patient’s response to treatment. Evaluates plan regularly for effectiveness.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to Resource Nurse, CCO and Physician.
• Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring; identifies dysrhythmias and treats appropriately based on orders and ACLS protocol.
• Able to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients per policy.
• Able to monitor hemodynamic status of patient and correctly interpret the results.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the patient’s needs.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care as necessary.

Cath / EP Lab

• Performs patient assessments pre-, peri- and post-procedure.
• Maintains a safe, aseptic environment in the Cath Lab.
• Administers medications as ordered by the physician.
• Maintains competent knowledge of all procedures and adheres to procedure protocol.
• Assists all personnel, patients and physicians as needed.
• Ensures all supplies are available.
• Operates and maintains equipment in good working order.
• Participates in the total maintenance of the department.
• Ensures that patient has an H & P documented by a physician according to appropriate standards prior to procedure.
• Settles patient after procedures and provides accepting RN with concise reports on the patient.

  Emergency Department

• Actively seeks additional education opportunities to increase emergency medicine knowledge base.
• Exhibits flexibility in transitioning from emergency nursing to other nursing or clinical areas during census peaks.
• Maintains adequate par levels for equipment and supplies in the Emergency Department.
• Assesses the immediacy and nature of the illness and/or injury of the patient upon entering the emergency department.
• Demonstrates competency to manage all areas of emergency nursing involving different body systems within age specific criteria.
• Facilitates continuity of emergency treatment to minimize delay.
• Maintains competencies needed to properly care for patients being held in the Emergency Department.
• Demonstrates timely and appropriate completion of screening the medical exam required by EMTALA.

ICU

• Ability to formulate an individualized plan of care and revise plan according to the patient’s response to treatment. Evaluates plan regularly for effectiveness.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to Resource Nurse, CCO and Physician.
• Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring; identifies dysrhythmias and treats appropriately based on orders and ACLS protocol.
• Able to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients per policy.
• Able to monitor hemodynamic status of patient and correctly interpret the results.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the patient’s needs.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care as necessary.

PCCU  and PACU

• Ability to formulate an individualized plan of care and revise plan according to the patient’s response to treatment. Evaluates plan regularly for effectiveness.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to Resource Nurse, Director and Physician.
• Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring; identifies dysrhythmias and treats appropriately based on orders and ACLS protocol.
• Able to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients per policy.
• Able to monitor hemodynamic status of patient and correctly interpret the results.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the patient’s needs.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care as necessary.

Surgery / Operating Room

• Meets the on-call responsibilities as defined in the departmental policies and procedures manual.
• Maintains equipment and supplies.
• Fosters an environment conducive to the dynamic changing pace of today’s technology through continuous review and assessment of perioperative care.
• Assists in teaching families/significant others of patients the information needed for successful perioperative care.
• Prepares operating room and equipment by opening sterile supplies and instrumentation for procedures to be performed.
• Assumes responsibility to maintain sterile technique and apply principles of infection control and medical ethics.
• Functions as a Scrub Assistant when needed; is able to assume primary and secondary scrub duties.
• Assists with specific and safe positioning of patient on OR table.
• Anticipates needs of the surgeon with little or no prompting.
• Counts sponges and related items with circulating nurse before and during surgical procedures.
• Assists operative team with donning sterile gown/gloves and applying sterile drapes to the surgical field.
• Cares for surgical specimens on the sterile field.
• Maintains sterile field in an organized manner so anyone can utilize it at any time during the procedure.
• Assists in transportation of the patient.
• Settles patient after procedures and provides accepting RN with concise reports on the patient.
• Ensures that patient has an H & P documented by a physician according to appropriate standards prior to procedure.
• Ensures that patient has a signed consent present in the chart prior to procedure.

Day Patient / Short Stay Unit

• Ability to formulate an individualized plan of care and revise plan according to the patient’s response to treatment. Evaluates plan regularly for effectiveness.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to Resource Nurse, Director and Physician.
• Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring; identifies dysrhythmias and treats appropriately based on protocol.
• Able to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients per policy.
• Able to monitor hemodynamic status of patient and correctly interpret the results.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the patient’s needs.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care as necessary.

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.
  • PALS or ENPC certification required for all Emergency Department RNs within one year of employment.
  • RCIS required for Cath/EP Lab RNs within two years of eligibility. Limited Specialty License required within six months of acquiring RCIS. (excluding PRN employees)