RN II-SDU - Step Down Unit

Job Summary

Responsible for the planning and provision of nursing care to patients in the step down unit. Accurately interprets ECG rhythm and manages care of patients during life threatening emergencies in populations served. Supervises and delegates care responsibilities to ancillary personnel commensurate with their scope of practice.

Job Requirements

• Education and Work Experience:
  • Associate Degree(A.S.) or equivalent: Required
  • Bachelor's Degree in Nursing: Preferred
  • Successful completion of Basic Dysrhythmia Course: Preferred
  • Completion of Critical Care Course: Preferred
  • 6 months of cardiac step-down or telemetry experience in last 2 years: Preferred
• Licenses/Certifications:
  • Current RN license in state of practice: Required
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from approved vendor per AH policy: Required
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification from approved vendor per AH policy: Required
  • NIHSS certification: Required within 6 months of hire
• Facility Specific License/Certifications:
  • AHA-ACLS or ARC-ALS: Required

Essential Functions

• Provides appropriate nursing interventions in stable and emergent patient situations.
• Is competent in all routine nursing skills including: (1) medication administration, (2) intravenous therapy including blood products, (3) care & maintenance of indwelling catheters & drains and, (4) safe use of any medical equipment used in the critical care setting, (5) Understands and follows chain of command per policy.
• Accurately interprets ECG rhythm and manages care of patients during life threatening emergencies in populations served.
• Verifies alarm settings with Monitor Technician according to policy.
• Demonstrates knowledge of lead functions and application, able to make recommendations for best monitoring based on patient presentation.
• Demonstrates knowledge & skills in the care and management of patients post coronary intervention requiring femoral sheath removal with use of Femostop Device.
• Demonstrates knowledge & skills in the care and management of patients post permanent pacemaker placement; post AICD placement, and patients admitted with stable acute coronary syndrome.
• Demonstrates appropriate clinical judgment in managing cardiac step-down /telemetry patients in the integration of clinical data with clinical assessment. Initiates a multidisciplinary, goal oriented care plan for each pt in collaboration with members of the health care team and documents education provided to patients and/or families using teaching methods appropriate to population served.
• Delegates patient care tasks to ancillary personnel based on individual competency and scope of practice. Evaluates effectiveness of care performed.
• Completes legible, accurate and timely documentation of all nursing care provided, including evaluation of patient's response to medications, treatments & procedures.
• Consistently performs necessary unit specific safety & quality control checks (i.e. Shift and 24hr MD order checks, VO/TO Read Back, crash cart checks, urine QC, refrig logs & outdate checks).
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to improve care, services, and unit operation. Tries new approaches to problem solving, is open to change and reaching new goals for the unit.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Organizational Requirements

• Safety and Wellbeing: All associates must receive all required vaccinations as a condition of employment and annually thereafter, where applicable.
• Pharmacy Hours: M-F 6am-2100, Weekends 8am-1800, Off-site pharmacy contract for after-hours.
• Phlebotomy: Available on unit 24:7.
• Transport Team: No.
• Provider Coverage: Intensivist: 6 am-1800pm in-house. 18-06 on call at Sierra Vista and French Hospital (a hospital 1.5 miles away). The contract requires the intensivist to be in-house at either facility during those hours.
• Hospitalist: 24/7 Hospitalist coverage.
• Scrubs: No color requirement.
• IV Teams: no.
• Lift Teams: Yes 6am-midnight daily.