What are the responsibilities and job description for the RN Heart & Lung Specialist position at St. Charles Health System?
The Registered Nurse (RN) – Heart and Lung Specialists provides quality patient and family centered care as a member of the health team in accordance with St. Charles Health System mission, philosophy, policies, and procedures. The RN applies standards of professional nursing practice and focuses clinical care to enhance the experience for the patients, families, and all others. They use nursing skills to make appropriate patient health assessments. This position functions as primary liaison between patients, staff, and providers. This position supports Cardiology in an outpatient environment.
This position does not directly manage any other caregivers.
Essential Functions And Duties
Provides comprehensive nursing care for patients in an outpatient clinic environment. This role extends beyond episodic triage functions and serves as an actively engaged clinical partner within a multidisciplinary outpatient care team, providing ongoing assessment, intervention, coordination, and monitoring for complex and medically fragile patients as needed.
Conducts in‑clinic and telephone triage, including urgent and emergent walk‑ins; assesses patient stability, clinical risk, and symptom burden; initiates timely interventions using approved standing orders and protocols; and collaborates with providers to escalate care or transition patients to higher levels of care when indicated.
Provides direct clinical care for high‑acuity patients within the clinic setting, including medication administration (including intravenous as needed), outpatient therapies, post‑intervention monitoring, symptom management, and evaluation of clinical response.
Performs peripheral IV insertions using aseptic technique, ensuring patient safety, comfort, and adherence to clinical protocols.
Conducts ongoing IV site and vascular assessments to identify complications, evaluate patency, and document findings accurately.
Coordinates care for high‑risk cardiology patients across the continuum, including collaboration with cardiologists, advanced practice providers, inpatient teams, emergency departments, pharmacy, and community partners to support continuity of care, safe transitions, and reduction of avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
Uses critical thinking and clinical judgment to support protocol‑driven medication management, medication titration, treatment administration, monitoring for therapeutic effectiveness and adverse effects, and timely communication with providers regarding patient status.
Performs comprehensive patient assessments using clinical judgment and available diagnostic data; implements evidence‑based nursing interventions; collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to address physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs; and evaluates ongoing patient response to care.
Develops, implements, documents, and monitors individualized, evidence‑based plans of care in partnership with patients, families, and the multidisciplinary care team; revises plans based on patient goals, clinical progression, and response to treatment.
Provides patient and caregiver education focused on disease management, medication adherence, symptom recognition, and self‑management strategies to support safe care and early intervention between visits.
Performs EKGs, patient education, follow‑up, and basic rhythm interpretation as required to support cardiology and heart failure care pathways.
Assists with scheduling urgent and routine appointments and diagnostic testing; communicates abnormal results; reinforces treatment plans; and ensures timely follow‑up for patients with complex and evolving clinical needs.
Demonstrates independent critical thinking, situational awareness, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced, high‑acuity outpatient clinic environment.
Acts as a clinical resource to internal care teams, acute care departments, and referral partners by supporting best practices, maintaining up‑to‑date clinical knowledge, and contributing to consistent, evidence‑based care delivery.
Participates in multidisciplinary care conferences, quality improvement initiatives, and process improvement efforts aimed at optimizing patient outcomes, care coordination effectiveness, and efficient healthcare resource utilization.
Maintains and applies in‑depth knowledge of nursing principles, practices, standards, and techniques in accordance with St. Charles Health System policies, work instructions, and State of Oregon nursing regulations.
Supports the organization’s mission, vision, and values; demonstrates professionalism, ethical practice, confidentiality, and compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
Supports Lean principles of continuous improvement and contributes to building reliable, patient‑centered workflows that enhance safety, quality, access, and the care experience.
Provides compassionate, timely, and individualized care that promotes trust, dignity, and a healing environment for patients, families, and caregivers.
Documents all patient care accurately and efficiently in the electronic health record in compliance with regulatory and organizational requirements.
May perform additional duties of similar complexity and responsibility as assigned.
Education
Required: As required by licensure.
Preferred: Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Licensure/Certification/Registration
Required: Current Oregon RN license. AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider certification. Valid Oregon driver’s license and ability to meet SCHS driving requirements. Ability to travel to business functions/meeting with clients and providers/attend trainings/meetings and all SCHS worksites.
Preferred: N/A
Experience
Required: Minimum one (1) year nursing experience in a cardiology or pulmonology setting.
Preferred: Experience in case management, nurse navigation, and/or care coordination. Community Health experience.
Personal Protective Equipment
Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.
Physical Requirements
Continually (75% or more): Standing and walking, keyboard operation, use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.
Frequently (50%): Sitting, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 1-25 pounds. The use and operation of a motor vehicle for Home Health and Wound Caregivers.
Occasionally (25%): Bending, stooping/kneeling/crouching, climbing ladder/step-stool (varies by area), reaching overhead, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 25-50 pounds, grasping/squeezing, ability to hear whispered speech level.
Rarely (10%): Climbing stairs.
Never (0%): Climbing ladder/step-stool (varies by area), operation of a motor vehicle.
Exposure to Elemental Factors
Rarely (10%): Wet/slippery area, chemical solution.
Never (0%): Heat, cold, noise, dust, vibration, uneven surface.
Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category
Risk for Exposure to BBP
Schedule Weekly Hours
40
Caregiver Type
Regular
Shift
First Shift (United States of America)
Is Exempt Position?
No
Job Family
NON CONTRACT RN SCMG CLINICS
Scheduled Days Of The Week
Shift Start & End Time:
This position does not directly manage any other caregivers.
Essential Functions And Duties
Provides comprehensive nursing care for patients in an outpatient clinic environment. This role extends beyond episodic triage functions and serves as an actively engaged clinical partner within a multidisciplinary outpatient care team, providing ongoing assessment, intervention, coordination, and monitoring for complex and medically fragile patients as needed.
Conducts in‑clinic and telephone triage, including urgent and emergent walk‑ins; assesses patient stability, clinical risk, and symptom burden; initiates timely interventions using approved standing orders and protocols; and collaborates with providers to escalate care or transition patients to higher levels of care when indicated.
Provides direct clinical care for high‑acuity patients within the clinic setting, including medication administration (including intravenous as needed), outpatient therapies, post‑intervention monitoring, symptom management, and evaluation of clinical response.
Performs peripheral IV insertions using aseptic technique, ensuring patient safety, comfort, and adherence to clinical protocols.
Conducts ongoing IV site and vascular assessments to identify complications, evaluate patency, and document findings accurately.
Coordinates care for high‑risk cardiology patients across the continuum, including collaboration with cardiologists, advanced practice providers, inpatient teams, emergency departments, pharmacy, and community partners to support continuity of care, safe transitions, and reduction of avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
Uses critical thinking and clinical judgment to support protocol‑driven medication management, medication titration, treatment administration, monitoring for therapeutic effectiveness and adverse effects, and timely communication with providers regarding patient status.
Performs comprehensive patient assessments using clinical judgment and available diagnostic data; implements evidence‑based nursing interventions; collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to address physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs; and evaluates ongoing patient response to care.
Develops, implements, documents, and monitors individualized, evidence‑based plans of care in partnership with patients, families, and the multidisciplinary care team; revises plans based on patient goals, clinical progression, and response to treatment.
Provides patient and caregiver education focused on disease management, medication adherence, symptom recognition, and self‑management strategies to support safe care and early intervention between visits.
Performs EKGs, patient education, follow‑up, and basic rhythm interpretation as required to support cardiology and heart failure care pathways.
Assists with scheduling urgent and routine appointments and diagnostic testing; communicates abnormal results; reinforces treatment plans; and ensures timely follow‑up for patients with complex and evolving clinical needs.
Demonstrates independent critical thinking, situational awareness, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced, high‑acuity outpatient clinic environment.
Acts as a clinical resource to internal care teams, acute care departments, and referral partners by supporting best practices, maintaining up‑to‑date clinical knowledge, and contributing to consistent, evidence‑based care delivery.
Participates in multidisciplinary care conferences, quality improvement initiatives, and process improvement efforts aimed at optimizing patient outcomes, care coordination effectiveness, and efficient healthcare resource utilization.
Maintains and applies in‑depth knowledge of nursing principles, practices, standards, and techniques in accordance with St. Charles Health System policies, work instructions, and State of Oregon nursing regulations.
Supports the organization’s mission, vision, and values; demonstrates professionalism, ethical practice, confidentiality, and compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
Supports Lean principles of continuous improvement and contributes to building reliable, patient‑centered workflows that enhance safety, quality, access, and the care experience.
Provides compassionate, timely, and individualized care that promotes trust, dignity, and a healing environment for patients, families, and caregivers.
Documents all patient care accurately and efficiently in the electronic health record in compliance with regulatory and organizational requirements.
May perform additional duties of similar complexity and responsibility as assigned.
Education
Required: As required by licensure.
Preferred: Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Licensure/Certification/Registration
Required: Current Oregon RN license. AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider certification. Valid Oregon driver’s license and ability to meet SCHS driving requirements. Ability to travel to business functions/meeting with clients and providers/attend trainings/meetings and all SCHS worksites.
Preferred: N/A
Experience
Required: Minimum one (1) year nursing experience in a cardiology or pulmonology setting.
Preferred: Experience in case management, nurse navigation, and/or care coordination. Community Health experience.
Personal Protective Equipment
Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.
Physical Requirements
Continually (75% or more): Standing and walking, keyboard operation, use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.
Frequently (50%): Sitting, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 1-25 pounds. The use and operation of a motor vehicle for Home Health and Wound Caregivers.
Occasionally (25%): Bending, stooping/kneeling/crouching, climbing ladder/step-stool (varies by area), reaching overhead, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 25-50 pounds, grasping/squeezing, ability to hear whispered speech level.
Rarely (10%): Climbing stairs.
Never (0%): Climbing ladder/step-stool (varies by area), operation of a motor vehicle.
Exposure to Elemental Factors
Rarely (10%): Wet/slippery area, chemical solution.
Never (0%): Heat, cold, noise, dust, vibration, uneven surface.
Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category
Risk for Exposure to BBP
Schedule Weekly Hours
40
Caregiver Type
Regular
Shift
First Shift (United States of America)
Is Exempt Position?
No
Job Family
NON CONTRACT RN SCMG CLINICS
Scheduled Days Of The Week
Shift Start & End Time: