Background:

Established in 1963, The Cardiovascular Care Group provides complete care for patients with vascular disease. With New Jersey offices in Essex, Passaic, Union, Morris, Monmouth, and Mercer counties, the Group is able to deliver care in both office-based and hospital settings. The Vein Institute provides comprehensive care to patients with venous disease.

Job Summary:

The incumbent is responsible for delivering high quality nursing care to patients undergoing vascular interventional procedures in the Surgical Suite, as well as maintaining the environment in which the care is delivered.  Our Registered Nurses are equipped to perform duties in pre, intra and post-operative environments.

Responsibilities include:

• Applies the nursing process in provision of patient care: identify patient needs, formulate a plan, provide care & treatment and evaluate the patient’s response in a timely fashion.
• Provide patients and their family members or caretakers with information for pre and post-operative education. Including home recovery and any restrictions on diet or activity.
• Interacts with physicians and other staff in providing care to the patient
• Completes accurate charting and records in electronic medical record system
• Transports and assists patients as needed.
• Handles protected health information in accordance with HIPAA guidelines
• Participates in Quality Improvement Program and initiatives; including but not limed to Radiation Safety
• Performs other department related duties as assigned

Preoperative Responsibilities include:

• Assists in positioning, responding to comfort/safety of patient 
• Takes and monitors patients’ vital signs
• Ensures that operating on correct patient and the correct procedure is being performed
• Provides basic, bedside care

Intraoperative Responsibilities include:

Circulating Duties only

• Maintains a sterile environment
• Sets up and opens sterile supplies in the procedure room 
• Assists in pulling femoral sheaths and permacaths
• Monitors patient during procedures
• (May) scrub in and assist surgeon
• Operates all equipment necessary for patient care (e.g., Oxygen tank, surgical instruments, autoclave, cardiac monitors) 
• Handles patient documentation
• Inventories all items both pre and post-surgery

Moderate sedation only

• Provides moderate sedation under direction of physician; starts IVs
• Administer secondary doses of Moderate Sedation; after the initial dose is given by the Physician and ONLY monitor the patient.
• Monitors patient during procedures
• Inventories all items both pre and post-surgery

Postoperative Responsibilities include:

• Frequently check PACU patients, monitoring their vital signs and other post-surgical factors
• Assess recovering moderate sedation patient utilizing the Aldrete Score to assess the patient for a safe discharge. 
• Review each patient’s medical history, taking note of important information
• Perform post-operative tasks, such as changing bandages and giving patients medications
• Determine if patients are ready to leave the facility or if they need more specialized care 
• Assess if the patient has an accompaniment for discharge to home or is the patient fully independent and assessed to care for self at home. 

Skills and Experience:

• Minimum three to five years nursing experience, preferably in a vascular surgery practice
• Knowledge of sterile/aseptic technique
• Competency in Radiation Safety
• Strong patient focus and customer service skills
• Excellent communication skills

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Current NJ license as a Registered Nurse
• BLS and ACLS certification

Benefits:

• Excellent work/life balance - Day shift, no evenings, weekends or holidays
• Medical (100% paid by the group for Employee Only coverage with the Cigna Bronze plan). 
• Dental – three plans to choose from Delta Dental and Cigna.
• Vision – two plans to choose from Delta VSP.
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Transit and Parking) through Upswing.
• Life Insurance – $25,000 Paid by the group with the option to enroll in additional Voluntary Life Insurance coverage.
• Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability through New York Life with the option to enroll in additional voluntary coverage.
• Ancillary optional benefits – Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity through New York Life. 
• Paid Time Off 
• Holiday Pay 
• Paid Jury Duty – 1 day of full pay. 
• Employee Assistance Programs through RWJBH and Cigna.
• 401k Employer Contributions – upon eligibility, group contributes 3% 
• Working Advantage and Life Mart Employee Discounts.
• Holiday Party, Employee Appreciation Days, Ice Cream Socials, various Fundraisers and Contests (receive prizes!) – Lots of employee engagement.