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:

• Administers medications and completes treatments according to provider orders, hospital policy and within patient population-specific parameters.
• Assists healthcare team members in the understanding of hospital policies and procedures.
• 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.
• Facilitates transition of care plan in collaboration with interdisciplinary team.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Completes admission assessment and periodic reassessments according to patient’s progress and/or unit routines and patient population-specific parameters.
• Coordinates response of the interdisciplinary team to emergency situations.
• Maintains standard precautions.
• Documents findings and communicates all pertinent information to interdisciplinary team members as appropriate.
• 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.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to use necessary patient care equipment.
• Provides education to patients/families/significant others, incorporating patient population-specific criteria and assessment of readiness to learn.
• Provides competent direct care and ensures the provision of a safe and comforting environment resulting in a high level of patient satisfaction.
• Maintains all necessary documentation.

Department-Specific Responsibilities:

Acute Care Unit

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

Cath / EP Lab

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

Emergency Department

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

ICU

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

PCCU and PACU

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

Surgery / Operating Room

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

Day Patient / Short Stay Unit

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

Qualifications/Specifications:

• Education: Graduate of an accredited nursing program required.
• 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)
• 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)