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CRITICAL CARE RN Clinical Excellence Program
Learning and clinical experiences in the critical care program are designed to support registered nurses as they move into Critical Care professional practice. The program emphasizes critical thinking and evidence-based nursing practice.
PHILOSOPHY
At Chilton Memorial we believe:
  • ...the registered nurse, new graduate or experienced, moving into Critical Care nursing needs to make a transition to a new work environment. The Clinical Excellence program effectively eases this transition.
  • ...the self-motivated RN will seek the program as a means of self-development.
  • ...the additional education and support will assist in the development of a confident practitioner to enhance critical skills and improve job satisfaction.
GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
Chilton Memorial's Critical Care RN Clinical Excellence program is designed and implemented by the Critical Care Clinical Educator and Clinical Nurse Specialists who are board members of the Northern New Jersey Chapter, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Chilton's expert nurse preceptors and experienced staff nurses who have completed a preceptor development course function as teachers, advocates and role models in guiding, directing and supervising the new registered nurse. Nurse Managers and RN II's provide additional clinical support.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
  • Provide mentorship
  • Enhance evidence-based practice and clinical research utilization skills
  • Develop the role of the RN in the Critical Care area
  • Develop Critical Care skills:
    • Assessment
    • Technical skills
  • Utilize critical thinking skills with the support of a clinical preceptor
  • Practice organizational and delegation skills
  • Participate in a Shared Governance environment
EXPECTATIONS OF PARTICIPANTS
  • Cooperation and collaboration with assigned clinical preceptor
  • Participation in classroom education programs
  • Successful completion of basic competencies, such as:
    • Bedside Blood Glucose Monitoring
    • Phlebotomy
    • 12 Lead EKG
    • Intravenous Therapy
    • Medication administration
  • Blood Administration
  • Successful completion of Critical Care Competency Skills Checklist
  • Participation in evaluation sessions (written and verbal) throughout orientation
SHARED GOVERNANCE ENVIRONMENT
  • Nurse Practice Council
    • Standards of Patient Care and Practice (Policy and Procedure)
    • Critical Care Policy and Procedure Subcommittee
  • Nursing Research Council
  • Nursing Grand Rounds
CRITICAL CARE CURRICULUM
Individual Professional Development Plan
  • Day-to-day Plan for individualized orientation
  • Support of clinical preceptors
  • Experienced, competent nurses who have completed a Preceptor Development Course
  • Observational experiences in areas such as Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Angiography Suite, ICU, etc.
Basic Arrhythmia Course
  • 28 hour course, NJSNA Contact hours provided
  • Interpretation and Interventions
  • Normal Sinus Rhythm
  • Sinus Rhythms
  • Atrial Rhythms
  • Junctional Rhythms
  • Ventricular Rhythms
  • AV Blocks
  • Pacemaker Rhythms
Pharmacology Course for Critical Care
  • 4 hour course, NJSNA Contact Hours provided
  • Medications administration, with a focus on cardiac medication and medication calculation
Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers
  • American Heart Association, 8 hour course
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • American Heart Association, 16 hour course
Critical Care Course
  • 10 day course, participate with Bergen Passaic Nursing Educators
  • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses - Contact Hours provided
  • Introduction, Fluids and Electrolytes, Psychiatric Disorders, Toxicology
  • Cardiovascular
  • Hemodynamic Monitoring
  • Pacemakers, Pain Management
  • Pulmonary
  • Neurology
  • Renal, Ethics, Oncologic Emergencies
  • Endocrine, Gastroenterology
  • Shock, Trauma, Pediatric Emergencies
  • Organ Donation, Burns, Rapid Assessment, Skills Workshop, Case Studies
Hemodynamic Monitoring Course
  • 7 hour course, NJSNA Contact Hours provided
Critical Care Seminars
  • 8 hour seminars, participate with Bergen Passaic Nursing Educators
  • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Contact Hours provided
  • Pulmonary Seminar
  • Cardiac Seminar
  • Hemodynamic Monitoring Seminar
Chilton Memorial is poised for growth, we want you to grow with us. To discover opportunities for YOU as a Critical Care Nurse at Chilton Memorial: contact Human Resources at 973-831-5050 or recruiter@chiltonmemorial.org