Employment Type : Full-Time
Position: Registered Nurses - Cardiology Clinic/Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Location: Keesler Medical Center at Keesler Air Force Base, MS Job Type: Fulltime QUALIFICATIONS Security Clearance: · Must be a US citizen · Must be able to pass a background check and obtain a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI), and a favorable completion of FBI fingerprint History Check. Education and Certifications: · Must possess an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from a college or university accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), or The Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). · Must possess, provide proof of, and maintain certification in BLS and ACLS/ALS. No specific national certifications are required. Licensure: · Registered Nurse-Cardiology Clinic/Catheterization Laboratory will require an active, full, and unrestricted nursing license within the jurisdiction in which the MTF is located. Assignment to a position not involving direct patient care within or outside an MTF does not eliminate the requirement for license or authorizing document. Skills and Abilities: · Possess excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and have working knowledge of computers, specifically the Internet, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, and Windows. · Possess knowledge of a variety of pharmacological agents used in treatment of patients, the desired effects, side effects, complications and usual dosage of their use as well as the accurate administration of the pharmacologic agent, including dosage calculations as required. · Be able to interpret cardiac rhythms and their implications, intervene on emergent changes. · Must be knowledgeable of laboratory test values. · Be able to initiate life saving measures in the absence of a physician. · Demonstrates competence in the administration of blood products IAW MTF guidelines. · Must be able to stand while wearing up to 25 pounds of PPE for up to at least 4 hours. Experience: · Minimum of two years of experience in a Cardiac Cath Lab, Critical Care Unit, Emergency Department, or a combination of these units within the last 36 months. · Must have experience using pharmacological agents in patient treatment and Cardiology testing, the desired effects, and complications of their use as well as the accurate administration of the pharmacological agent, including dosage calculations. · Must have experience with the basic requirements for proper documentation of patient care including medications given, nursing procedures, acknowledgement of teaching, and follow up care. · Experience with a wide range of cardiac and vascular disorders and conditions as appropriate and seen in potentially critically ill patients (e.g., Acute Myocardial events, chest pain, decrease in circulation to various areas of the body, and respiratory distress due to poor perfusion). · Experience with professional care theories, principles, practices, and procedures to perform nursing assignments of critically ill patients. Demonstrates knowledge specific to the Cardiology Clinic/Cath Lab population to include all ages from young adult to geriatrics. English Language Requirement: Personnel shall read, understand, speak, and write English well with demonstrated organization, facilitation, and communication skills. DUTIES: · Assesses patients' conditions for potential or life-threatening crises. Distinguishes between normal and abnormal physical findings (from physical assessment and vital signs assessment). Plans appropriate nursing care. Notifies physician if needed and carries out appropriate interventions as ordered. · Reacts with alertness and skill in any emergency situation including but not limited to, cardiac or respiratory arrest, hemorrhage, and shock. · Provides professional nursing care to patients undergoing procedures within the cardiac cath lab and other diagnostic cardiac testing procedures to include, but not limited to, left and right heart catheterizations, pacemaker implants, percutaneous vascular procedures, intra-aortic balloon insertions, transvenous pacemaker insertions, pericardiocentesis, loop recorder implant/explants, EP procedures, percutaneous interventions, and any other procedures performed within the cath lab. · Prepares and maintains cardiac cath lab for all procedures. · Establishes and utilizes a checklist to monitor the physical plan of the cardiac cath lab and equipment for conformity to all national standards for ensuring safety for the patient and all personnel. · Assembles the type and quantity of material and special equipment needed for daily procedures and possible emergencies. · Circulates for cardiac cath lab procedures. · Obtains patient history, pertinent family history, and documents in patient’s medical record. · Utilizes appropriate nursing personnel to assist in delivery of care when indicated (e.g., paraprofessionals). · Transcribes or verifies transcription of physician orders. · Carries out prescribed physician orders and documents in patient’s medical record. · Communicates pertinent patient data to physician as appropriate. · Assesses patients using the nursing process as a basis for professional practice. · Demonstrates proper preparation of patients for treatments and procedures, to include interventions. · Provides proper care and evaluation of post procedural patients. · Administers prescribed medications to include multiple medication drips and intravenous push drugs (e.g., sedatives, narcotics, vasoactive medications, neuromuscular blockades, antidysrythmics, antihypertensives, thrombolytics, and emergency drugs). Administration consideration based on protocols, policy, and recommendations by medical references. · Assesses and documents patient response to medications administered and intervenes if desired response is not achieved. · Instructs patient/family regarding prescribed medications/therapies and invasive/diagnostic procedures that must be accomplished. · Conducts preoperative and postoperative visits. Discusses cardiac procedures and diagnostic cardiac testing procedures with patients and informs them of what to expect during procedures. Consults with the physician performing the procedure and establishes priorities of care for each patient. Coordinates with other hospital units, which include recovery room, intensive care, and nursing units on patients’ progress and any special equipment or supplies that will be needed for the patient post procedure. · Properly applies cardiac monitor leads and 12 lead EKG machine, analyzes rhythm strips and notifies physician of any abnormal results (e.g., dysrhythmias for patient situation). · Sets up, operates, and monitors specialized medical equipment such as IV infusion pumps, cardiac monitoring devices, EKG units, oxygen analyzers, nebulizers, ventilators, pacemakers, intra-aortic balloon pumps, and other unit specific equipment. · Cares for patients with a variety of hemodynamic monitors to include pressure lines/transducers, Swan Ganz catheters, central venous lines/sheaths, and arterial lines. Obtains hemodynamic parameters and interprets results. Notifies physician of any parameters outside of expected results. · Participates in Discharge Planning as appropriate. · Performs accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity IAW requirements. Prepares all documentation to meet or exceed established standards of the MTF, to include, but not limited to, timeliness, accuracy, content and signature. Only MTF and Air Force- approved abbreviations shall be used for documentation of the patient health record. · Performs the procedure recovery and discharge within established criteria. · Participates and complies with quality and process improvement activities and events, including, but not limited to, post procedure follow ups, morbidity and mortality studies, and research studies to ensure compliance with national standards and guidelines. · Serves and participates in committees, functions, and other meetings as directed. · Provides relevant and timely information to these groups, and assists with decision-making and process improvement. Participates in customer service. · Completes orientation and competency verification programs IAW unit guidelines. · Ensures a safe work environment, employee safe work habits, and patient safety IAW regulatory agencies, infection control policies, and process improvement initiatives. · Maintains national registries, to include the ability to interpret, analyze, edit, and input data into said registries. · Coordinates cardiac referral process between Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), and outside facilities for care. · Performs EKGs and assists echo tech with bubble studies and contrast echoes as needed. · Assists cardiologist with dobutamine stress tests or other procedures within the clinic. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $30.00 per hour Benefits: Medical Specialty: Schedule: Education: Experience: Work Location: This Company Describes Its Culture as: Company's website: Benefit Conditions: