Registered Nurse, Cardiac Access & Assessment - Triage - Royal Columbian Hospital

Location: New Westminster

Detailed Overview

In accordance with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) standards of practice and the Mission and Values of Fraser Health, and working collaboratively with the inter-professional care team in the provision of person-centered care, assists the Cardiac Program Coordinator by facilitating the placement of patients who require cardiac procedures/intervention. Performs pre-admission screening of urgent/emergent patients using a variety of pre-admission methods such as interviews, patient history, problem identification and ensuring diagnostic testing is completed, reviewed and abnormalities reported.

Enters data and updates cardiac databases; supports the administration of the cardiac waitlist management system and contributes to its ongoing evaluation, revision and improvement. Communicates high-risk patient and status information to integrated cardiology team; provides clinical support to patients/families awaiting cardiac procedures/interventions. Responsibilities Performs direct patient case management including:
Pre-admission screening of all referred patients by interviewing patients, reviewing patient histories, conducting nursing assessment, uses clinical decision making to identify potential problems and working with physicians to optimize clinical condition and ensure required diagnostic tests are booked and completed. Full nursing review including review of diagnostic testing and identifies abnormalities; reports these to the Physicians as appropriate. Ensuring that patient/family centered support and educational information is provided to cardiovascular patients in a timely manner using principles of health literacy and involving translation services as needed.

Providing education both in person and virtually. Serves as point of contact and provides on-going telephone support to wait list patients and their families. Nursing assessment and patient teaching both in person and through virtual strategies.
2. Performs indirect patient case management including:
Communicating potential problems with patients to clinical areas, physicians and physician offices as required. Participating in daily patient reviews and triage, ensuring the procedure slates reflect patient demand and acuity, priority principles, and ensuring ready, willing, and able to attend appointment for procedure. May attend and participate in weekly Heart Team rounds and in the discussion of patients. As required/appropriate, provides information and assessment findings regarding high-risk patients, focused on optimum decision making and collaboration between disciplines.

Collegial sharing of expertise with other health care professionals.
3. Performs triage activities, including:
Utilizing established systems to notify cardiac and referring physicians of changes in patients’ conditions. Coordinating with physicians to develop alternative options to facilitate patients having procedures completed within recommended waiting time guidelines. Providing and communicating relevant information to a range of clinical partners to facilitate decision-making and timely access to care. Ensuring tracking of patients awaiting cardiac procedures/interventions by monitoring patient wait times and patient condition, including proactive patient assessment.

4. Performs administrative duties, including:
Data entry of the Fraser Health and Cardiac Services BC database systems. Assisting the coordinator in the timely update, recording and completion of the Fraser Health and Cardiac Service BC database systems. Assisting the Cardiovascular Coordinator to integrate tracking of quality indicators and outcomes; provides input into the development of indicators, standards, practices, and procedures; contributes to quality improvement projects to optimize program effectiveness and efficiency.

5. Performs other related duties as required. Qualifications Education, Training and Experience Graduation from a recognized program in Nursing. Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). Two years’ recent related clinical experience in the designated clinical area, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills and Abilities

Clinical proficiency/expertise in the designated clinical nursing area. Ability to complete initial and ongoing patient assessment (clinical and diagnostic reasoning) and provide nursing care through appropriate/prescribed technical, therapeutic, safety type interventions. Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families/care givers, the public, medical staff and members of the interprofessional care team using verbal, written and electronic communication means. Ability to promote person-centered care that demonstrates empathy for patients and families/care givers, sensitivity to diverse cultures and preferences, and patient advocacy.

Ability to integrate and evaluate data from multiple sources to…