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Epilepsy Care Coordinator (RN) - Comprehensive Epilepsy Program - Days

Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems
United States, Virginia, Richmond
May 07, 2025
VCU Health holds a Level I Trauma Center designation and Joint Commission accreditation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center of Excellence. Our Neuroscience ICU Unit is state-of-the-art and the largest in the state of Virginia, equipped with 28 beds dedicated to providing outstanding neurocritical care service for a variety of diseases involving the nervous system. The NSICU is an essential component of VCU's comprehensive stroke center and is the first and only comprehensive stroke center in Virginia. The NSICU has received the Beacon Award for critical care excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses in 2010 and forward. The Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) at VCU Health holds a Level 4 accreditation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC). Our EMG laboratory is also accredited by the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), one of only a few in the state of Virginia. The EMU affords the gold standard of evaluation for seizures that are not controlled. Patients admitted to the EMU seek evaluation, diagnosis and comprehensive treatment for a range of epileptic disorders and seizure types. The Epilepsy Nurse Coordinator, RN functions as a part of a multidisciplinary team, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, advanced practice providers, nurse navigators, neurophysiology technologists, and other stakeholders. This position ensures that each patient's progress from ambulatory care through the presurgical pipeline, epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU), and post-surgical care is quality-driven while being efficient, cost-effective, and safe. This position will also be patient-focused and outcome-oriented. This position will function to coordinate the complex care needs of individual patients, their families, and their communities. Epilepsy nurse coordinators possess a greater depth and breadth of knowledge, a greater degree of data synthesis, and a greater complexity of skills and interventions. Essential Job Statements Program Management Track and report quality metrics to meet CMS guidelines and support continuous improvement. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and documentation requirements. Coordinates the care process before epilepsy surgery and assists the neurology and neurosurgical team in preparations for care milestones before, after, and in preparation for Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and surgical admissions and procedures. Support the Epilepsy Program Manager in preparing and submitting the data required for NAEC Annual Reports, which are necessary to maintain program accreditation and the epilepsy database. Contribute to data collection, analysis, and reporting for program performance evaluation. Develops and recommends new or revised program goals and objectives as needed. Coordinates the program's activities with the interrelated activities of other programs and staff to ensure optimum efficiency and compliance with appropriate policies, procedures, protocols, and practices. Evaluates program effectiveness to develop improved methods; devises evaluation methodology and implements; analyzes results and recommends and/or takes appropriate action. Anticipates program needs to provide quality and efficient care for patients. Education Coordinates multidisciplinary surgical epilepsy conferences and planning meetings involving the multidisciplinary team. Serves as a resource for referrals, improving patient navigation within the program. Designs educational programs to educate health system staff and patients on program content and treatment. Develops educational programs for referral indicators and enhances referrals. Organizes educational opportunities for medical, nursing, and ancillary staff. Anticipates staff, patient, and family learning needs. Maintains professional growth and development in the program field through an ongoing process of formal and informal education and training. QI & Data Collection Collects quality improvement data, reviews with management, and implements identified changes in practice for improved outcomes based on the approved evidence and literature. Shares outcomes with the organizational Performance Improvement Team as directed. Adapts systems and situations to promote high-level, cost-efficient care for patients. Collects data for program evaluation and the database. Prepares periodic reports on program activities, progress, status, or other special reports for management. Clinical Activities Demonstrates expertise in the nursing process by drawing on depth and scope of knowledge. Demonstrates clinical knowledge and understanding of the fundamental strategies and techniques for coordinating specific programs. Collaborates and partners with physicians, referring organizations, health care team members, colleagues, administrative leaders, and others. Reinforces mutual respect among caregivers and staff, patients, and families. Understands health system-wide objectives and priorities and incorporates them into program goals. Ensures compliance with patient care standards. Reviews incidents and complaints and takes appropriate action. Deals effectively with process issues, interdepartmental or ancillary problems. Coordinates continuity of care for patients. Monitors the flow of patients throughout their stay for consistency of care. Miscellaneous Responsibilities Performs other duties as assigned and/or participates in special projects to support the mission of VCUHS and the department. Assists team members. Accepts alternate assignments as required. Schedules, including requirements of shift rotations and hours of work, may be adjusted as necessary to meet program requirements and/or needs. Patient Population Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit. Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures. Adults (18-64 years). Geriatrics (65 years and older) Employment Qualifications Required Education: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from an accredited School of Nursing, or a Bachelor's degree in a biological, health or social sciences field from an accredited school. Preferred Education: Master's Degree in Nursing or a healthcare related field from an accredited program. Licensure/Certification Required: Licensed Registered Nurse in the State of Virginia or eligible. Licensure/Certification Preferred: Minimum Qualifications Years and Type of Required Experience Minimum of three (3) years of nursing experience in an acute care setting Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: Cultural Responsiveness Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: Academic healthcare experience One (1) year of relevant Care Coordination experience Experience in the care of patients with neurological disorders including epilepsy. Working Conditions Physical Requirements Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Bending Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Maneuver weight of patients, Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder, Reach above shoulder, Acuity - far, Acuity - near Hazards: Use of Latex Gloves Mental/Sensory -Emotional Mental / Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking Emotional: Fast-paced environment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change Days EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.