Comprehensive Stroke Center RN Navigator, 40 hrs

POSITION SUMMARY:

The registered nurse adheres to the rules and regulations of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and is primarily responsible for professional performance and direct patient care. The role encompasses nursing assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation, and coordination of care for patients and their families across the health care continuum. The registered nurse is accountable for clinical, educational, quality and fiscal patient care outcomes using the model of care designed by the nursing department and in accordance with established agency policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines and standards of practice.

The CSC RN Navigator reports directly to the CSC RN Manager.

Position: Comprehensive Stroke Center RN Navigator

Department: Stroke Service Support

Schedule: full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

In conjunction with/under the supervision of the CSC RN Manager, the CSC RN Navigator will:

* Serve as a leader in stroke education, working with bedside nurses, therapists (PT, OT, SLP), case managers, social workers, and the Neurology team to develop educational materials and to provide stroke education to patients and families.
* Participate in quality assurance initiatives within the Comprehensive Stroke Center.
* Work with the CSC RN Manager on quality improvement projects within the Comprehensive Stroke Center with a focus on patient education initiatives.
* Identify system deficiencies and seek to fill identified gaps.
* Maintain and improve a concurrent database tracking the clinical care of hospitalized patients with acute stroke, monitoring achievement of core performance measures and areas identified for process improvement.
* Maintain and improve a database evaluating clinical performance during Code Strokes with time tracking and including patients eligible for intravenous fibrinolysis and/or endovascular therapy in order to guide process improvement.
* Maintain and improve an adverse event database to identify adverse events and to facilitate clinical review of such events among hospitalized patients with acute stroke to help guide process improvement.
* Maintain high fidelity in data representation of clinical care performance for external reporting agencies, including the Joint Commission, Get With The Guidelines-Stroke, Coverdell/Department of Public Health, Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services, and others, working with data abstractors, the Quality department, administrators, and clinicians to reconcile these data with the concurrent database.
* Audit patient charts (select number per month) periodically to assess adequacy of clinical documentation practices.
* Perform "drill down" investigations when clinical or process measures are not met to identify potential factors influencing these trends.
* Facilitate case updates for allied clinicians including Emergency Medical Services, referring physicians at community hospitals, and clinical care teams at BMC
* Facilitate external reporting of clinical care performance measures to the Joint Commission, Get With The Guidelines-Stroke, Coverdell/Department of Public Health, etc.
* Coordinate and facilitate maintenance of Joint Commission certification of the Comprehensive Stroke Center along with the Stroke APN and Medical Director of the CSC, including preparing presentations on data use and clinical performance metrics.
* Track annual education requirements for CSC clinicians to help facilitate Joint Commission maintenance of certification.
* Assists in the development, writing, approval, dissemination, and implementation of protocols, policies, and clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with stroke and cerebrovascular diseases.
* Develop and implement community health education programs on stroke.
* Facilitate outreach with Emergency Medical services, community hospitals, and other medical providers.

The CSC RN Navigator will:

* Conduct patient follow-up phone calls as policy and certification requirements dictate.
* Develop and maintain relationships among all members of the CSC and Neurology Department, thus producing high performing, patient focused teamwork, and work cooperatively and constructively with all departments and health care team members to establish an environment that supports the process of collaboration, and interface with all departments to ensure efficient and effective working relationships.
* Develop and foster relationships with clinical staff to become a resource for patients.
* Develop familiarity with community resources and share them with participants and staff.
* Participate in community outreach and education initiatives with members of the CSC Team.
* Maintain data, including but not limited to patient logs and CSC Staff education, in Excel, such as complex stroke follow-up phone calls and 90 day Modified Rankin Scale phone call logs.
* Establish and maintain excellent collaborative relationships with referring and consulting providers and staff and affiliated departments.
* Consistently use clear, concise, and effective written and oral communication and comply with departmental policies when sharing and documenting relevant patient care data.
* Be responsible for seeing things through to completion and for informing appropriate staff of outcomes.
* Demonstrate cultural competency with respect to the patient population served, deliver care in a non-judgmental and nondiscriminatory manner that is sensitive to and demonstrates respect for patient diversity.

The CSC RN Navigator will be expected to:

* Maintain accurate annual professional development records.
* Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to positively adapt to changing staffing/clinical/patient census needs, including but not limited to offering assistance to others.
* Complete the following mandatory requirements: annual BLS certification, institutional mandatory education, e.g., safety regulations, infection control standards, etc., and departmental/unit specific competencies.
* Seek guidance when necessary.
* Perform other duties as assigned or as necessary.
* Adhere to all of BMC's RESPECT behavioral standards.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

* Registered nurse with a BSN

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

* RN licensure in the state of Massachusetts required
* BLS certification
* ACLS Preferred
* Stroke Certification preferred

EXPERIENCE:

* Minimum 5 years of experience as an RN in the care of neuroscience patients, preferably patients with stroke and cerebrovascular diseases
* Work with diverse, underserved populations

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

* Clinical expertise and ability to work independently to make appropriate clinical decisions within RN scope of practice.
* Ability to apply critical thinking and clinical and administrative problem-solving skills to solve problems as they arise regarding referrals and other departmental issues.
* High-level computer skills required for use of EPIC.
* Excellent communication and customer service skills
* Ability to coordinate multiple detailed tasks in a professional manner.
* Knowledge of health care systems, computer proficiency, and exceptional organizational skills.
* Ability to multi-task and work under time pressures.
* Ability to communicate well both verbally and in writing with other members of the clinical team.
* Self-directed and independent. Must be a self-starter and possess excellent customer service skills.
* Fluency in English.
* Interpersonal skills needed to interact effectively with clinicians including physicians, nurses, and others in an academic medical center.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans