Heart Failure Nurse Navigator Inpatient

Facility: Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center

Job Summary:

The Heart Failure Nurse Navigator Inpatient is a registered professional nurse with advanced clinical expertise who functions under the direction of the primary Heart Failure Destination Unit Nurse Manager. Role responsibilities include the development, implementation and maintenance of the heart failure program including assessment and treatment of heart failure patients, development of clinical practice guidelines to optimize patient outcomes, collection and analysis of heart failure data, monitoring compliance with heart failure guidelines and program initiatives, performance improvement, staff education, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The RN Heart Failure Navigator serves as a clinical role model, educator, and liaison for the heart failure team, hospital staff and community and collaborates with the medical director and nursing leadership to facilitate and promote improved patient outcomes.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Patient Care

- Navigation of HF patient during hospitalization from admission to discharge.
- Coordinates with outpatient teams to assist in successful transition along the continuum of care.
- Implements and coordinates heart failure treatment with team members.
- Provide HF specific education to patient, family members and or care providers.
- Demonstrates advanced knowledge and practice in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of human responses to actual and/or potential health problems via role modeling and consultation.
- Consults with healthcare providers, ancillary services, patients and significant other to assess and identify individual patient care needs
- Promotes delivery of safe patient care and optimal outcomes. Clinical Expert/ Resource

- Serves as clinical expert and resource to hospital staff/personnel and other health care professionals within the organization and community.
- Monitors and analyzes HF data used to collaborate with HF Team to identify and participate in performance improvement projects.
- Monitors adherence to clinical guidelines, tracks variances from guidelines/care paths, and reports outcome data to cardiac leaders.
- Ensures compliance with Joint Commission and regulatory standards to maintain certification; ensures completion of all intracycle reports submitted to Joint Commission within required timeframe.
- Meets regularly with System HF Program Manager to assure alignment and cohesion of program. Professional Growth and Development

- Identifies learning opportunities and facilitates ongoing education and development for team members who provide care for the heart failure population.
- Incorporates appropriate teaching and learning principles into design and delivery of educational programs and materials.
- Represents team at local, State, and national meetings through educational offerings and involvement in professional organizations as required.
- Provides support and consultation for disease specific community and staff education.
- Demonstrates motivation for learning through independent reading, professional networking and communicates professional expertise through publications and presentations at the local, regional, and national level. Professional Practice

- Fosters cooperative spirit among team members.
- Utilizes appropriate intervention behaviors and communication styles in order to be an effective liaison and resource.
- Maintains climate of open communication by listening, providing regular feedback, and involving employees in process implementation.
- Utilizes effective verbal and written communication skills and maintains appropriate interpersonal relationships.
- Serves as professional role model within professional nursing.
- Serves as mentor in the development of peers and staff.
- Promotes positive learning environment for staff and students.
- Promotes professional nursing practice through shared governance, evidence-based practice and ethical accountability.
- Maintains confidentiality.

Required Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree Nursing Required and
Graduated from an accredited school of nursing Required and
Master's Degree in Nursing Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):

Reg Nurse (Single State) 1.00 Required
RN - Multi-state Compact 1.00 Required
Basic Life Support 2.00 Required
BLS - Instructor 2.00 Required
BLS - Provisional 2.00 Required

Required Minimum Experience:

Minimum 2 years recent cardiology clinical experience with demonstrated teaching experience in the clinical and community setting Required

Required Minimum Skills:

Strong clinical background in an acute care setting.
Strong customer focus.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in use of electronic medical records.
Ability to organize and lead meetings as well as present in groups.
Ability to work independently, delegate, and multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
Strong problem solving and decision-making skills.