Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Patient Care

• Performs comprehensive nursing assessments for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation patients.
• Develops individualized exercise plans in collaboration with the Medical Director and interdisciplinary team.
• Monitors patient response during exercise, including telemetry monitoring and vital signs.
• Recognizes changes in patient condition and initiates appropriate nursing interventions.
• Administers medications and treatments within RN scope of practice.
• Provides individualized patient and family education related to cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, exercise, medications, nutrition, smoking cessation, and lifestyle modification.
• Coordinates patient care with physicians and interdisciplinary team members.
• Maintains accurate patient documentation.
• Completes progress reports and discharge summaries for referring providers.
• Provides telephone triage and patient follow-up.
• Responds to emergencies utilizing ACLS protocols.

Clinical Support

• Assists with patient scheduling and coordination of rehabilitation services.
• Collaborates with physicians and ancillary departments to facilitate continuity of care.
• Maintains rehabilitation equipment and reports equipment concerns.
• Assists with maintaining required supplies.
• Participates in patient outcome tracking and data collection.

Quality Improvement

• Participates in departmental QAPI activities.
• Assists with data collection for quality measures and accreditation requirements.
• Supports implementation of evidence-based practice.
• Assists with policy and procedure review as requested.

General Duties

• Serves as a patient advocate.
• Practices within the Iowa Nurse Practice Act and organizational policies.
• Maintains current nursing knowledge and competency.
• Participates in continuing education.
• Maintains required licensure and certifications.
• Complies with all regulatory, safety, infection prevention, and Corporate Compliance requirements.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient and organizational information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• RN with state license required; Current license to practice nursing in the state.
• One year experience in Cardiopulmonary Rehab or other related service area preferred.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, REGISTRATIONS

• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification through the American Heart Association required. New hires may obtain certification during onboarding with organizational support.
• ACLS certification within six months of employment.
• Ability to create a caring, compassionate relationship with the patients and families.
• Ability to collaborate with the healthcare team to use evidence-based practice in providing care.
• Must possess effective time management skills.

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports, business correspondence, and understand procedure manuals

Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, customers, patients, families and the general public.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; talk and hear; and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to walk and sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. May be exposed to infectious diseases and occupational dangers like accidental needle pricks. Must be able to withstand physical and emotional stress.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock, and blood borne pathogens. The employee may be exposed to unpleasant sights, odors, and materials. The employee may be exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of radiation. The employee may occasionally be exposed to high, precarious places and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.