Staff Nurse- Electrophysiology Lab

Scope of Position

We, the Ross Heart Hospital Team, are committed to creating an extraordinary experience for our patients and visitors through the delivery of personalized services that consistently exceeds expectations. We believe that through our teamwork, mutual respect, communication and coordination, every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive difference for our patients and visitors. As a member of this team, the Staff Nurse provides patient care and supportive services directed towards achievement of positive patient care outcomes, maximizing the patients involvement in the plan of care, improving service levels, reducing the length of hospitalization, and decreasing costs. Patients and their families will experience the benefits of patient focused care through the integrated skills of all care team members. The Electrophysiology labs provide service for patients undergoing electrophysiology and device implant related procedures. The department supports all functions related to invasive cardiology procedures including but not limited to: patient care, information management, equipment operation and maintenance. The labs are staffed for operation during daytime hours and for extended hours as needed including 24-hour emergencies.

Position Summary

The Staff Nurse is responsible for managing and providing care to the patient and family, and for directing and supervising nursing care provided by other members of the patient care team. The Staff Nurse is responsible for assessing, prescribing, implementing, coordinating, delegating and evaluating the nursing care of the patients. The Staff Nurse prioritizes patient care needs and provides leadership to, and development of the patient care team. This position is responsible for assisting cardiologists in the pre, post, and intra-procedure care, providing teaching/follow-up to patients and their families, and the management of information for patients undergoing cardiology invasive procedures, especially electrophysiology, and device implant procedures

Duties and Responsibilities

65% of time - APPLIES NURSING PROCESS TO ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY PROCEDURES

- Maintains current and new protocols.

- Uses nursing process to gather data, assess patient/family needs; implements nursing intervention for patients within the cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology labs.

- Administers and charts medications following proper protocol, including chemo competencies as directed.

• Performs venipuncture and prepares IV vascular access lines and arterial flush lines
• Removes arterial and venous catheters, holds pressure on arteriotomy site
• Dresses and flushes catheters and tubes.

- Monitors patient condition pre, post and during procedures.

- Recognizes and appropriately responds to cardiac arrhythmias and other life threatening conditions.

• Reacts quickly and logically in emergency situations; initiates CPR as required.

- Communicates patient condition and pertinent patient care information to patient care staff and/or medical staff.

- Provides information to patients/families regarding invasive cardiology procedures.

• Accesses patient information and lab values in Electronic Medical Record.

• Maintains professional relationships with co-workers and other hospital employees.
• Must be able to effectively and efficiently work as a team member.
• Periodically evaluates own service delivery.
• Organizes resources to maximize productivity.
• Uses time effectively.
• Assists with on call duties
• Maintains infection control, universal precautions and radiation safety.
• Prepares sterile trays, etc. for invasive procedures.
• Maintains emergency equipment (oxygen, suction, cardiac monitors and defibrillators, emergency drugs) within the cardiac electrophysiology lab.

20% of time PROVIDES CARDIOVASCULAR/INTERVENTIONAL ASSISTANCE

• Monitor intracardiac electrograms, cardiac output and EKG readings displayed on monitor/recorder, interpret results, and report and variances from normal to the physician.
• Assist with temporary pacemaker insertion and care management of.
• Operate ablation generator during procedure

• Assists with fluoro system by panning and silencing fluoro timer.
• Operate Hemochron for ACT measurement
• Perform data calculations of studies as directed by physicians, participate in computer data entry, maintain databases, and generate reports of studies done.
• Record all pertinent facts of each procedure done in laboratories. Assist in the storage and retrieval of patient data.
• Assist with ultrasound studies.
• Assist physicians with arterial and venous sheath care and removal.

10% of time - PREPARE AND TEACH PATIENTS PRE-EP PROCEDURE INFORMATION INCLUDING THE COLLECTION OF DATA AND/OR REVIEW OF THE PATIENTS HISTORY AND PHYSICAL TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE EP PROCEDURE AND NECESSARY PRE AND POST PROCEDURE CARE

5% of time - EDUCATIONAL/PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

- Assists in the development and evaluation of QA monitors to assess and ensure the delivery of quality patient care.

- Participates in departmental meetings and in services.

- Assists in the orientation of new employees.

- Assists in conducting formal amp; informal teaching programs.