CV Essentials for Ambulatory Nurses – Advanced-Handout: Nurse Orientation Framework

Handout: Nurse Orientation Framework

Pdf Summary

The document outlines a template for an orientation plan for ambulatory nurses in a cardiovascular clinic. The plan consists of 12 weeks of learning activities and competency checks to ensure that the nurse is adequately trained and prepared to work independently in the clinic. <br /><br />The first week focuses on clinic orientation, including familiarizing the nurse with the clinic layout, appointment schedules, and electronic medical record (EMR) workflows. The nurse also reviews basic cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and how to obtain accurate vital signs. <br /><br />In the following weeks, the nurse continues to shadow and work with preceptors in the clinic, learning patient assessment skills, including obtaining accurate cardiovascular histories and physicals. The nurse also learns about cardiovascular risk calculators, laboratory tests, and medication reconciliation. <br /><br />As the weeks progress, the nurse gains more independence, learning to room patients and manage phone and in-basket messages. They also learn about cardiovascular triage and communication, telephone triage guidelines, effective communication with care team providers, and the use of the teach-back method with patients. <br /><br />The nurse is further trained in cardiovascular diagnostics, including EKGs, stress testing, and imaging modalities such as nuclear, MRI, and CT. They also observe procedures in the device clinic and learn about pharmacologic and device therapies for cardiovascular conditions. <br /><br />In later weeks, the nurse learns about non-pharmacologic therapies, referrals for various cardiovascular services, and specialty clinics for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and valvular heart disease. They also gain experience in the cardiac cath lab and learn about ischemic heart disease and peripheral arterial disease. <br /><br />The orientation concludes with a review of standards of practice for cardiovascular nurses, evidence-based practice, professionalism in nursing, and the importance of quality metrics and performance improvement projects in cardiology. <br /><br />Throughout the orientation, there are periodic evaluations to assess the nurse's progress, identify areas of improvement, and create a development plan.

Keywords

ambulatory nurses

cardiovascular clinic

orientation plan

competency checks

patient assessment

cardiovascular diagnostics

EKGs

cardiac cath lab

evidence-based practice

performance improvement