Description
The Registered Nurse (RN) in the Interventional Recovery Unit is responsible for prepping, recovering, and providing patient care in a multi-procedural setting, including Cardiac Cath Lab, Electrophysiology, Interventional Radiology, and Neurovascular Procedures. This role includes preparing patients for their procedures, monitoring them throughout their recovery, and ensuring a safe transition to discharge or further care. The RN collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality care, utilizing clinical knowledge to support complex procedural patients in a fast-paced environment.
Essential Duties
Patient Assessment, Monitoring, and Care Planning:
- Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing assessments of patient’s post-procedure, monitoring vital signs, level of consciousness, pain levels, and overall recovery progress.
- Recognize and respond to changes in patient condition, implementing interventions as needed, and escalate care to the appropriate medical providers when necessary.
- Develop and implement individualized care plans based on the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of the patient in collaboration with the healthcare team.
Post-Procedural Care and Treatment Administration:
- Administer prescribed medications, treatments, and procedures, including IV medications, pain management, and sedation reversal as appropriate.
- Provide wound care and ensure all surgical sites are properly monitored for signs of infection or complications.
- Continuously monitor patients’ responses to treatments and adjust care plans as necessary to ensure optimal outcomes.
Patient Education and Support:
- Educate patients and families on post-procedural care, medications, activity restrictions, and follow-up appointments.
- Provide compassionate support and clear instructions to ease patient and family anxiety, promoting a smooth recovery process.
- Offer resources and guidance for managing health and recovery post-discharge.
Collaboration and Coordination of Care:
- Collaborate with physicians, advanced practice providers, and other members of the healthcare team to create and implement patient care plans.
- Assist in coordinating patient transfers to other units or facilitate discharge planning as necessary, ensuring continuity of care.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient progress and treatment adjustments.
- Must be available when needed for on-call shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Documentation and Compliance:
- Accurately document patient assessments, interventions, medication administration, and updates to care plans in the electronic medical record (EMR).
- Ensure compliance with regulatory and hospital documentation standards, maintaining thorough and detailed patient records.
Patient and Employee Experience:
- Engage with patients and families in a manner that promotes comfort, trust, and understanding. Address patient concerns empathetically to create a positive and supportive environment.
- Contribute to a positive work environment by offering constructive feedback, providing assistance to peers, and fostering open communication and teamwork.
Emergency Response and Infection Control:
- Respond quickly and effectively to medical emergencies, performing life-saving procedures and stabilizing patients as required.
- Adhere to infection control protocols to ensure a safe and clean environment for patients and staff, implementing standard precautions and safety measures to prevent infection spread.
Non-essential Duties
- Administrative Duties: Maintain accurate and detailed patient records, including documentation of care plans, interventions, and patient progress.
- Professional Development: Participate in ongoing education and training to stay current with best practices and advancements in nursing care.
- Team Collaboration: Engage in team meetings and contribute to the continuous improvement of care delivery processes.
Requirements
Preferred Experience
- Previous experience on surgical unit and telemetry experience desirable
Required Licensure/Education
- Graduate of an approved school of nursing
- Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Illinois.
- CPR
- *New Graduate RNs starting on or after 1/1/25 must earn Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) within 3 years of start date.
Preferred Education
- ACLS & PALS certification within 6 months of hire
- Membership in ILSPAN and ASPAN professional organizations encouraged
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree preferred*
Employee Health Requirements
Exposure/Sensory Requirements:
Exposure to:
- Chemicals: Disinfectants, refer to MSDS
- Video Display Terminals: Average
- Blood and Body Fluids: Potential for exposure with each surgical procedure. Universal precautions followed on all procedures greatly reducing the risk to the personnel.
- TB or Airborne Pathogens: Extreme potential for exposure with each surgical procedure. Universal precautions followed on all procedures greatly reducing the risk to the personnel.
Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):
- Speech: Required to communicate with patients/families/staff/physicians.
- Vision: Required to read monitors, medication labels, doctor order sheets.
- Smell: Helpful for electrical/fire safety.
- Hearing: Necessary for phone/intercom/doorbell, alarms, fire alarms.
- Touch: Necessary for writing, patient care.
Activity/Lifting Requirements:
Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:
- Sit: 10%
- Twist: 4%
- Stand: 40%
- Crawl: 0%
- Walk: 25%
- Kneel: 1%
- Lift: 10%
- Drive: 0%
- Squat: 1%
- Climb: 1%
- Bend: 30%
- Reach above shoulders: 3%
The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:
- Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 20 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 35 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally
- Up to 75 lbs: Not Required
- Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
- Over 100 lbs: Not Required
Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.):
Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays). Carry charts 25'-150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs. Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.
Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:
- Sit: 30
- Twist: 15
- Stand: 60
- Crawl: 0
- Walk: 10
- Kneel: 0
- Lift: 5
- Drive: 0
- Squat: 2
- Climb: 1
- Bend: 15
- Reach above shoulders: 2
Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):
- Simple grasp up to 10 lbs.
- Normal weight:< 5#
- Pushing &pulling - 50-200 lbs: Occasionally
- Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, omnicell, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IV's.
Leg Strength - Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally- Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.
Environmental Factors &Special Hazards:
- Environmental Factors (Time Spent):
- Inside hours: 8-10
- Outside hours: 0
- Temperature: Normal Range
- Lighting: Average
- Noise levels: Average
- Humidity: Normal Range
- Atmosphere: Fumes
- Special Hazards: Electrical, Chemical - cleaning disinfectants, compressed air tanks, O2
- Protective Clothing Required: OR scrubs supplied, gowns, gloves, masks, shoe covers, goggles, lab coats.