Electrophysiology Nurse Coordinator

Job Role Summary

The Electrophysiology Nurse Coordinator coordinates and facilitates scheduling of cardiac procedures at Eskenazi Health Services including cardiac catheterizations, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICDs), trans-esophageal echos, and cardioversions. This position is also responsible for coordinating and facilitating the scheduling of cardiac procedures at Methodist Hospital including high risk cardiac catheterizations/interventions, ASD/PFO closures, EP studies/ablation, biventricular ICDs, and cardiovascular surgery.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Schedules patients for electrophysiology procedures. Completes pre-procedural screening and assures cases are scheduled in a timely manner. Coordinates care with other clinical services (i.e. anesthesia, hospitalist, and departmental leaders) as needed.
•  Forwards outpatient referrals for prior authorization timely and provides clinical expertise when requested
• Supports patient throughput within the department. Communicates changes to the EP team, charge nurse, and departmental leaders to assure safe patient passage and efficient use of resources.
• Provides patients and/or caregivers with appropriate test prep information and patient materials. Serve as resource for referring providers and patients regarding EP procedures and peri-procedural care. 
• Performs patient teaching for various procedures and post procedural care.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement regarding patient care, use of resources and patient satisfaction and shares these with department leadership.
• Provides telephone triage for patients calling with questions regarding their procedures.
• Handles issues within scope of practice; refer serious issues to physicians for follow up when needed.
• Demonstrates good verbal and written communication skills with all internal and external contacts.
• Provides/coordinates discharge supplies for patients who need them.
• Works with team to ensure history and physical is completed 30 days prior to any outpatient procedure.

Essential Functions Continued

• Perform pacemaker, defibrillator and Implantable loop recorder interrogation in clinic setting under the supervision of the attending electrophysiologist.
• Operates device programmers and remote interrogation equipment.
• Able to identify device related issues and alert attending electrophysiologist as appropriate.
• Participates in departmental quality improvement metrics as directed.
• Serves as EP resource for Eskenazi Health staff, provides back up oncall when needed.
• Maintains current knowledge in field, knowledge of best practice, and evidence-based research

Special effort Required

• Ability to work with frequent interruptions on issues involving physicians and other health care providers. 
• Ability to function effectively under stress, problem solving, decision-making, diverse responsibility.  
• Must be able to discuss sensitive topics with multidisciplinary team using tact and diplomacy.
• Maintains sound judgment and flexibility to support changing patient care requirements
• Tact and diplomacy required in acute patient care situations
• Physical stamina, considerable walking, standing, lifting/moving of patients
• Able to walk or stand 6 to 8 hours at a time
• Able to twist, bend and kneel in order to meet patient care needs
• Able to safely position and/or transfer patients independently
• Able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs independently (patient and/or equipment) overhead
• Must be able to use hands, wrists, arms and both legs simultaneously.  (May not work with devices such as splints, casts that limit ability to perform duties or impede hand washing or other infection control practices.
• Must be able to safely position and transfer patients independently
• Able to move quickly in emergency situations in unit/department and hospital.

Additional Special effort Required

• Able to take call when needed.
• Able to participate in CPR or other resuscitative procedures on appropriate populations.
• Able to arrive at work during severe weather conditions (snow, wind, hail, thunderstorms, extreme heat/cold)
• Strives to provide quality care that upholds the dignity of all
• Must be mentally capable of processing information quickly.  Demands good judgment in complex problem solving situations concerning patient care services or staff issues
• Flexibility in changing priorities, ability to work under stress/patient volume, crisis situations, time limitations.
• Perform duties and effectively respond in stressful environment and situations, mentally and physically
• Care of effort to avoid injury and infection.  Must be able to remain awake and alert at all times

Associated Job Duties

• Demonstrates Eskenazi Health PRIDE principles.
• Communicates and responds to others in a positive, constructive, timely and courteous manner. 
• Functions effectively as team members and responds to change in a constructive manner. 
• Responsible for self-learning and supports learning experience for others. 
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• Collaborates to ensure up to date education related to EP to staff members  

Job Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited professional school of nursing, BSN preferred
• Minimum of three years of EP nursing experience. 
• Current Indiana license as an RN
• Current BLS and ACLS
• Serves as coverage for other coordinators in MIPS department

Responsibilities

• All phases of scheduling and coordinating care for patients undergoing electrophysiology procedures.
• Demonstrates PRIDE principles with all members of the health care team as well as patients families
• Exercises good clinical judgment in decision making and seek information and/or guidance when needed
• Maintains protected health information in accordance with HIPAA privacy guidelines and regulations

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel.
• Able to learn new computer applications as needed.

• Expert knowledge of electrophysiology procedures and associated care. Stays current in Lab Suites

• Effective project management skills, critical thinking and detailed oriented
• A professional, team-oriented, solution-driven approach to problem solving for all types of issues

FLSA Status