Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Specialist PRN

Job Description

The Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab Specialist plays a vital role in helping patients return to their baseline health or achieve improved functional capacity following a cardiac or pulmonary event. This position focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating individualized exercise and lifestyle management programs that promote recovery, reduce risk factors, and enhance overall quality of life.

Responsibilities include comprehensive patient assessment such as medical history review, vital sign monitoring, ECG interpretation, and functional capacity testing. The specialist works as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide education on medication compliance, stress management, symptom recognition, healthy lifestyle practices, and to develop and update treatment plans. Duties also encompass ensuring accurate documentation, supporting inpatient mobility, mentoring new staff, and contributing to patient safety and quality‐improvement initiatives.

• Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the design, evaluation, and standards of exercise programs for Cardiac and/or Pulmonary Rehab patients.
• Obtains medical history through patient interview and review of the medical record; reviews medications, assesses symptoms, and records vital signs including heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, and ECGs during rest and exercise.
• Assigns and instructs appropriate exercise levels (METs) and/or modalities relative to patients' age, health status, limitations, and physician prescription. Demonstrates working knowledge of testing procedures such as the Six‑minute walk test, bike test, and arm ergometer test.
• Provides expertise to staff, patients, and families, including day‑to‑day planning and conduction of disease‑specific exercise, education, and lifestyle interventions such as nutrition, blood pressure management, medication compliance, stress management, symptom recognition, smoking cessation, lipid management, and risk‑factor modification.
• Educates patients/participants on monitoring vital signs in class and at home, prescription and OTC medications, coronary artery disease risk factors, exercise modifications for temperature extremes, stress‑reduction techniques, and recognition of angina and heart‑attack symptoms.
• Provides inpatient mobility, activities of daily living, and education following a plan of care delegated by therapists or floor RN; monitors vital signs and physiological responses to activity.
• Obtains and records vital signs (BP, HR, O2 sat); notes changes in the participants' physical, mental, and emotional status; and responds appropriately by addressing immediate needs and involving other staff or physicians as necessary.
• Completes individualized treatment plans, daily progress notes, discharge documentation, and accurately records productivity information knowing insurance requirements.
• Participates in quality and patient safety initiatives, identifying opportunities for improvement and addressing potential safety hazards.
• Assists in training new caregivers and students as needed.

• Clinical assessment and monitoring
• EKG interpretation
• Symptom recognition
• Functional capacity testing
• Exercise programming
• Patient education and coaching
• Communication
• Patient care
• Documentation
• Care coordination
• Technical proficiency with rehab equipment, telemetry systems, and clinical tools

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science, Kinesiology)
• Current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS‑HCP)
• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or PALS for pediatrics certification as required by the facility
• Completion of a formal EKG interpretation and arrhythmia detection course within 6 months of hire
• One (1) year of cardiac and/or pulmonary rehab experience preferred

• Ongoing need to see and read information, labels, and patient needs; operate monitors and identify equipment and supplies.
• Frequent verbal communication with patients, providers, and visitors, especially during emergency situations.
• Manual dexterity to manipulate equipment, computers, and medication preparation tools accurately; frequent typing for…