Job Summary

We are currently hiring for Casual Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Nurse to join our Primary Health Care team at Peace Arch Hospital located in White Rock, B.C.

Detailed Overview

Provides direct nursing care to patients in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for an assigned location. Conducts nursing assessments, provides nursing supervision during exercise sessions, provides leadership in response to complications, teaches patients and family members; consults and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, maintains patient records and participates in quality improvement and risk management initiatives; collaborates with co-workers, educational resources and other health care professionals/providers to achieve excellence in patient, resident, client and family-centered care.

Responsibilities

1. Conducts nursing assessments and evaluates patient's functional status and risk factors and develops a care plan by reviewing patient information, interviewing the patient to ensure patient's needs/goals are met/addressed and collaborating with the other members of the health care team.
2. Provides nursing supervision during exercise sessions by providing psychosocial support and monitoring patients for abnormalities to ensure patients are exercising to their greatest benefit.
3. Provides direct nursing care by checking vital signs and applying telemetry unit to assess and monitor patient's symptoms and responses to exercise and cardiac medications; Interprets rhythms to detect cardiac arrhythmias, ECG abnormalities and medications potential effect on cardiac activity; Modifies patient's care plan as needed to achieve desirable patient outcomes.
4. Provides leadership in response to complications such as fainting or heart attack during exercise by initiating and/or assisting in emergency care, calling 911 and documenting incident in accordance with established procedures.
5. Teaches patients and family members about illness prevention, health maintenance and health promotion strategies by assessing the learning needs of individuals, providing and explaining information, demonstrating procedures and use of equipment, checking the learners use of procedures, techniques and equipment and evaluating the overall effectiveness of the selected teaching methods and outcomes of learning.
6. Consults and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members and other health care professionals/providers in the identification and resolution of a variety of patient/family issues by participating in patient and family care conferences, staff meetings and contributing information.
7. Maintains patient records by collecting and documenting information including health care information regarding patients and their families, nursing observations, telephone communications, interventions, teaching and care evaluations to ensure patient records are current and complete.
8. Identifies own learning needs/goals, reviews those needs/goals with the Manager or delegate and engages in a variety of activities to meet these needs/goals; promotes the implementation and evaluation of nursing research and quality monitoring activities as directed by participation in committees and by keeping current through attending educational and in-service opportunities.
9. Participates in quality improvement and risk management activities such as identifying and reporting high risk situations, evaluating effect of changes in nursing practice, generating recommendations for alternative approaches to nursing practice, conducting safety audits and identifying needs for corrective action and changes to selected practices, procedures or protocols; maintains a safe environment for patient/family and staff by following established emergency and safe work procedures.
10. Acts as a clinical resource/support person to patient/resident/client/family by explaining the theoretical rationale for nursing decisions and by participating in orientation and continuing education.
11. Provides input to the Manager or delegate regarding policies, procedures, and operational requirements by observing service needs and providing spoken or written suggestions that address patient and family needs and promote effective use of resources.
12. Operates, maintains and cleans related equipment as required; refers repairs to appropriate personnel, as needed.
13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Graduation from an approved school of Nursing. Two (2) years' recent related clinical experience in a cardiac rehabilitation environment, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).

Current CPR Level ‘C’ or equivalent and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to teach and coach patients and families
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with, and work effectively with co-workers, physicians, other health care staff, patient/family and staff of outside agencies
• Demonstrated ability to effectively deal with conflict situations
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize work in collaboration with others
• Demonstrated skill in the use of medical equipment and supplies appropriate to designated clinical area
• Demonstrated skill in techniques appropriate to the treatment of specialized patient population
• Ability to operate related equipment including related software applications
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.