Registered Nurse -- Cardiac Rehab

Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision and/or the direction of the Cardiac Rehab manager, performs various duties to provide supervision of participant activities. The RN will have knowledge in cardiovascular specialty areas, i.e., Cardiac Rehab, ICU, CCU, or ER.  Their role will integrate the components of clinician, educator, consultant, and researcher.  Follows established policies and procedures of the hospital and the Cardiac Rehabilitation department.
• Assumes the responsibility and the authority for the ongoing operation of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program, in the absence of the director. Supervises exercise session, monitoring participants for inappropriate responses to exercise.
• Charts and documents assessment and daily participant information and progress.  Sends progress notes to physicians as indicated.
• Demonstrates an understanding of cardiovascular and pulmonary anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. Demonstrate competent instruction and counseling techniques using a variety of methods, strategies, materials, and technologies helpful in promoting behavior change.
• Continue patient care using multidisciplinary assessment data and continue the plan of rehab, including moving toward the established reasonable goals.
• Identify common cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions limiting or otherwise influencing the prescription of physical activity, dietary intake, lipid management, smoking cessation, or stress mgmt. Help to develop plan of care that cumulates in a home exercise program
• Responsible for B/P checks pre and post exercise, and watching for abnormal responses on the telemetry device. Assess participant before and during exercise session and make appropriate recommendations to the participant as needed.
• Communicating the results of the comprehensive patient evaluation with the patient and referral physician. Collaboration with the director and physician, which will safely and effectively guide the patient toward optimal restoration and maintenance of functional capacity.
• Help guide the patient toward discharge in the rehabilitation program in terms of commitment to lifestyle changes, exercise responses, and achievement of desired behavioral and outcome goals.
• Demonstrate ability to detect adverse changes in cardiac or pulmonary status, understand the significance of the changes, and alert appropriate members of the health care team.
• Assures that in the absence of the director, that the daily charges are entered and are correct

Qualifications:

• Active Kentucky Registered Nurse Licensure
• BLS and ACLS Certification

As Needed