JOB SUMMARY:
The exercise specialist is responsible for conducting a variety of exercise tests on both our apparently healthy and clinical populations and establishing exercise interventions and programs resulting from these data. They are also involved in the delivery of movement and educational programs for our clientele, counseling for lifestyle changes and assisting members and patients as they attempt to adopt and maintain their exercise programs.

Unit Summary:

The environment on the Progressive Care unit is supported by a nursing model of care that is centered around the patient and family. This nursing unit is designed to offer safe, efficient, and collaborative practice. The unit cares for adult patients ranging in age 18 years and older who are being treated for a variety of cardiac conditions including recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery, valve repair and replacement surgery, heart failure, heart transplant, myocardial infarction, heart arrhythmias, and cardiac post-procedural care.

Our patients are unique as they may be supported with ventilators and pulmonary artery catheters, requiring advanced nursing knowledge. One of the perks of working on the unit is the expert nursing knowledge that exists on both day and night shifts, the commitment to each other and the display of teamwork are unmatched.

Shift

• Full-time (40 hours/week)
• Days

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. It is a place where your diversity -- of culture, thinking, learning and leading -- is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

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• Education & Professional Development: http://www.vumcnursingcareers.com/professional-development.html
• Life In Nashville: http://www.vumcnursingcareers.com/nashville.html
• VUMC Nursing: http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/vumc.php?site=vanderbilt-nursing

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Interacts effectively with clients/members/patients in the appropriate area of operation:
• Greets each individual client/member/patient promptly and by name whenever possible.
• Answers question related to exercise/clinical programming and prescription as needed.
• Monitors client/member/patient progression through their exercise program or intervention.
• Complete a minimum of one year of experience interacting with clients/members/patients
• Demonstrates the ability to select, administer, and interpret the result of standard fitness/clinical related testing/evaluation procedures:
• Selects and conducts appropriate fitness/clinical tests according to industry guidelines and department quality assurance standards.
• Records results of fitness/clinical testing according to professional and department standards.
• Appropriately interprets fitness/clinical test results, and utilizes data in formulating an exercise prescription.
• Demonstrate the skills and knowledge to test high-risk/special population (i.e. cancer, geriatric, cardiac, pulmonary), according the professional and department standards
• Complete a minimum of one year of experience in selecting, administering, and interpreting data.
• Conducts exercise prescriptions and consultations competently and according to industry guidelines and department standards:
• Demonstrates the ability to facilitate appropriate goal setting for the client/member/patient.
• Prescribes exercises specific to the individual needs of the client/member/patient taking into account the individuals specific goals and any physical/physiological limitation that could impact their ability to exercise.
• Records and enters data in the appropriate data management system to formulate the exercise prescription as appropriate.
• Gives client/member/patient adequate feedback related to the exercise test according to department standards.
• Monitors client/member/patient participation and adherence to their exercise prescription and program and modifies the exercise program appropriately according to industry and department standards.
• Demonstrate the skills and knowledge to prescribe exercise to high-risk/special population (i.e. cancer, geriatric, cardiac, pulmonary), according the professional and department standards.
• Complete a minimum of one year of experience formulating exercise prescriptions.
• Provides education/consultation to patient, family and community:
• Communicates functional impact of assessment findings, treatment, interventions, diagnosis and disease process.
• Adapts communication to need/level of understanding of the audience and share appropriate information/literature.
• Participates in providing community education as appropriate.
• Complete a minimum of one year of experience providing appropriate education.
• Completes timely and accurate documentation:
• Meets department/VUMC standards.
• Conveys pertinent medical information concisely using professional terminology and format.
• Provides pertinent documentation as required by department.
• Consistently maintains and monitors exercise equipment, floor, lab and related areas:
• Completes documentation of exercise floor and/or equipment maintenance according to department standards.
• Reports and documents health and environmental conditions which might compromise client/member/patient safety according to department policy.
• Is proactive in facility maintenance, and helping to maintain equipment safety and integrity.
• Conducts group exercise classes according to facility standards and guidelines:
• Instructs group exercise classes and follows general framework and focus for each specific class.
• Displays ability to modify activities/exercises as needed based on individual needs/limitation of class participants.
• Provides input regarding new classes and/or opportunities to improve current classes.
• Ensures appropriate safety precautions are in place, according to the needs of the participants
• Demonstrates the skills to design, market and lead small group exercise programs for high-risk/special populations including those with health conditions or specific training needs (i.e. athletes, children)
• Functions as an integral member of the Health Care Team:
• Respects roles and professional boundaries of others.
• Understands and complies with VUMC policies and procedures.
• Continues to progress the skills of self and team by attending continuing education programs.
• Provides timely, effective communication with all relevant members of the healthcare team according to HIPAA and VUMC policy.
• Actively participates in quality assurance/improvement practices for the department and medical center:
• Communicates and follows-up on opportunities to improve quality of the client/member/patient experience and outcomes, facility safety, and efficiency (including financial) of the department as observed.
• Actively participates in specialty programming
• Initiates or assists in design or revision of specialty program to better serve as a specific segment of customers
• Coordinates specialty program or assist in delivery of program
• Track and report program specific outcomes
• Complete billing and documentation related to specialty program following department standards

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance.
• Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area.
• Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

CORE CAPABILITIES:

SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES (P2):

• - Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance and gain knowledge in new areas.
• - Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.
• - Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences.

DELIVERING EXCELLENT SERVICES (P2):

• - Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.
• - Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.
• - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness.

ENSURING HIGH QUALITY (P2):

• - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.
• - Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them.
• - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring.

MANAGING RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY (P2):

• - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.
• - Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.
• - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities.

FOSTERING INNOVATION (P2):

• - Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.
• - Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.
• - Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.