Job Type
Full-time
Description
Under the general direction of the Chief Nursing Officer and the Manager Catheterization (Cath) Lab, the Registered Nurse is responsible for professional nursing care and related assistance to perioperative patients. The Registered Nurse provides direction to Radiology Technologists and Cardiovascular Technologists and non-professional nursing personnel in providing direct patient care and in providing supervision of the Cath Lab. The Registered Nurse supports the medical care of patients under the direction of the Medical Staff pursuant to the objectives of Emergency Hospital Systems. Applies knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span to identify patient and family requirements relative to age specific needs. If no cardiac procedures are scheduled, the Cath Lab Nurse may be required to work in the Medical/Surgical area of the facility.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Incumbent will assume responsibility for the efficient management of procededural cases assigned. Comprehensive knowledge of clinical components of care required in the Cath Lab to provide for direct patient care as well as comprehensive knowledge of medical and legal responsibilities to fulfill position responsibilities in the Cath Lab.
• Makes certain all necessary equipment and supplies are available for posted cases. Applies knowledge of principles of surgical asepsis required for the surveillance of the Cath Lab suite environment and provision of direct care services. Organizes activities during surgical day to ensure all required assessments of the patient and the environment are completed and documented fully.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, workshops, and in-service meetings etc.
• Maintains awareness of current hospital and departmental operational standards which impact position responsibilities. Performs effectively in stressful situations to fulfill position responsibilities.
• Performs perioperative assessment of patients immediately prior to procedure. Assumes responsibility as circulator on assigned cases or monitor if another Registered Nurse is in the Cath Lab.
• Responds promptly to changes in workload, adjusting assignments as necessary to achieve optimal productivity and efficiency.
• Communicates effectively with Medical Staff to facilitate coordination of patient care among all disciplines providing patient care services. Cooperates with other personnel to achieve department objectives and maintain good employee relations with collaborative integration of the healthcare team. Acts as patient advocate in obtaining care with questioning of orders or other practices as indicated using appropriate channels of communication.
• Participates in Performance Improvement and is able to articulate departmental Performance Improvement (PI) and Quality Control (QC) activities, one of the top four hospital-wide PI activities and able to state the methodology for PI pursued by the organization.
• Demonstrates the components of the hospital's core values of compassion, integrity and innovation.
• Demonstrates customer service standards by smiling, making eye contact, greeting each patient and visitor, seeing out patient and visitor contact, displaying appropriate body language at all times, taking time to go above and beyond for one patient/visitor each day, honoring diversity, and thanking each customer.
• Follows all safety rules while on the job. Reports all accidents and corrects minor safety hazards. Communicates with peers and management regarding any hazards identified in the workplace.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of radiation safety and actively takes measures to insure that the patient and personnel radiation exposure is kept to a minimum. The nurse will wear appropriate lead aprons at all times while working in the catheterization while cine or fluoroscopy is being performed. They will also be responsible for wearing and maintaining a dosimetry badge in accordance with hospital policy. They will also maintain a safe distance from the xray source whenever feasible to minimize their exposure levels.
• Demonstrates knowledge in arrhythmia detection and management as well as ability to monitor invasive hemodynamic waveforms.
• Responsible for daily checks on the external defibrillator and crash cart to ensure proper location and functioning.
• Responsibilities will include the pre-op assessment and ensuring that the chart is complete with appropriate signed consents, history and physical, and laboratory values.
• Responsible for recovering the patients in the PACU following the procedure. This may include pulling the femorial sheath and obtaining hemostasis with manual pressure. Monitoring hemodynamics and assessment of appropriate pulses and surveillance of access site.
• Must demonstrate competency and knowledge of all medications utilized in the cath lab as well as ability to calculate appropriate drip rates of i.v. infusions utilized during invasive procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned

• RN Licensure in the State of Texas, with a BSN preferred.
• Position requires three (3) years of general Cath Lab experience with experience in multi-specialties preferred. Six (6) months to one year clinical experience in an acute care setting required.
• Current BCLS and ACLS certification (obtain 30 days after hire).
• Maintains professional growth and development though seminars, workshops, and professional affiliation to keep abreast of the latest trends in the field of expertise