Overview

*** $20,000 Sign on Bonus Available ***

The CVOR Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) position is responsible for the care of a designated group of patients in a structured setting through the appropriate utilization of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Provides care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his/her assigned unit. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development relative to patients served and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to their age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department’s policies, procedures, and standards of care. Performs the harvest of the saphenous vein graft for bypass surgeries under the direction of the surgeon. Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values.

Qualifications

Education:

• BSN preferred 

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

• Licensed as RN in State of Illinois required.
• Current CPR certification per policy required
• Current ACLS certification required.

Experience:

• Previous experience in a CVOR setting preferred

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to consistently exceed above average performance requirements in all three operating room roles: scrubbing, circulating and first assisting.
• In order to perform safely in a direct patient care role, the RN must be able to position and/or transfer an average adult patient and possess gross coordination sufficient to perform other patient care duties as required. Must be able to withstand prolonged periods of standing. Must be able to perform difficult manipulative skills such as IV insertion and IM injections.
• Environmental working conditions include exposure to blood, bodily fluids and tissue, contagious diseases and/or radioactive or other potentially hazardous materials.
• Attends all JCAHO, OSHA, and hospital/nurse manager specified mandatory in-services.
• Validates competencies and obtains credentials as identified in unit specific requirements.

Responsibilities

• Participates in establishing and improving the standards of nursing practice (including but not limited to MMC patient care guidelines, policies and procedures and national specialty standards of nursing care.)

• Exhibits self-direction for identifying professional goals and learning needs. Shares professional knowledge through collaboration and education.
• Develops and implements a plan to meet identified needs. Shares nursing practice knowledge with peers.

• Demonstrates awareness of unit, organizational and public policies that effect health care delivery and nursing practice.
• Demonstrates awareness of and utilizes unit and Nursing Division policies in daily practice.

• Demonstrates professional judgment and accountability; clarifies and promotes differentiated nursing practice.
• Demonstrates accountability for practice which supports Nursing Division Mission/Vision and Core Beliefs. Daily performance reflects nursing scope of practice/licensure. Appropriately delegates components of patient care.
• Aims to provide nursing care that exemplifies best in practice.

• Exhibits creativity, flexibility, and effectiveness.
• Demonstrates creative, flexible and effective problem-solving techniques. Identifies and refers atypical/complex problems to appropriate persons in a timely manner.

• Encourages health and safety in the work environment.
• Demonstrates compliance with the health and safety principles necessary to avoid/prevent injury to self/others.

• Demonstrates accountability for the legal/ethical standards of nursing practice.
• Practices within established legal/ethical guidelines of nursing practice. Supports the patient's/significant other's rights of self-determination.

• Use of the nursing process:
• Cares for designated group of patients as follows:
• Demonstrates knowledge and clinical competence necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient type and individual needs of patients served on the assigned unit.
• Applies knowledge of growth and development relative to patients served.
• Appropriately and consistently documents on the Patient Profile.
• Completes holistic patient assessments and demonstrates in-depth and complete knowledge of assigned patients' stories.
• Utilizes ClinDoc and Surginet electronic documentation to communicate the patient’s story and plan of care in exchange of shift reports to ensure continuity of care.

• Uses appropriate interpersonal skills.
• Consistently acts and communicates in a professional manner that enhances patient/family/employee/ physician satisfaction. Discourages gossip and complaining with and about others. Consistently responds constructively to difficult situations and/or conflicts. Promotes team effectiveness.

• SAFETY: Prevent Harm - I put safety first in everything I do. I take action to ensure the safety of others.
• COURTESY: Serve Others - I treat others with dignity and respect. I project a professional image and positive attitude.
• QUALITY: Improve Outcomes - I continually advance my knowledge, skills and performance. I work with others to achieve superior results.
• EFFICIENCY: Reduce Waste - I use time and resources wisely. I prevent defects and delays.

• Initiates appropriate intraoperative behaviors unique to first assistant; if trained to do so.
• Provides hemostasis to reduce potential for post-operative infection and potential for fluid-volume deficit by clamping and/or ligating vessels, using electrosurgical cautery, applying direct pressure, applying chemical agents that promote coagulation, and other means as directed by surgeon.
• Provide exposure of the operative site through the appropriate use of retractors and other instruments and through suctioning and sponging.
• Uses surgical instrumentation skillfully in ways consistent with their design and purpose as directed by the surgeon.
• Handle all varieties of tissue appropriately to reduce potential for injury or compromised blood supply.
• Sutures skillfully all varieties of tissue with the appropriate suture, materials and suturing techniques.
• Able to interact with perfusion in getting patient ready for bypass and able to assist surgeon with cannulation.
• Must be proficient in a circulator, scrub, and first assistant role.
• Reviews patient positioning; makes recommendations to surgical team based on individual patient needs and surgical requirements.
• Coordinates the surgical team in appropriate draping technique for assigned procedures.
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of surgical anatomy.

• Saphenous vein graft harvest
• Able to describe anatomy and physiology of the vascular system.
• Demonstrates excellent knowledge of sterile technique.
• Demonstrate ability to perform and/or assist in preoperative planning including chart review for pre-existing conditions that may affect harvest, review and interpret pertinent testing such as saphenous vein mapping to aid in decision making.
• Able to recognize potential complications and adaptations to decrease the occurrence of complications
• Able to demonstrate safe, competent technique in endoscopic harvest of saphenous vein under the direction of the surgeon.
• Able to prepare and properly handle vein conduit prior to surgeon preparation for grafting.
• Maintains competence by performing a minimum of 12 cases per calendar year.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.