RN Specialized - Cardiothoracic Surgery - La Jolla

This is a benefited, full time position generally working Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5pm. No weekends or holidays. Located at the Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Center in La Jolla. 

Why join Scripps Health?

At Scripps Health, your ambition is empowered and your abilities are appreciated:

• Nearly a quarter of our employees have been with Scripps Health for over 10 years.
• Scripps is a Great Place to Work Certified company for 2025.
• Scripps Health has been consistently ranked as a top employer for women, millennials, diversity, and as an overall workplace by various national publications.
• Becker's Healthcare ranked Scripps Health on its 2024 list of 150 top places to work in health care.
• We have transitional and professional development programs to create a learning environment that enables you to thrive in your specific field as well as in your overall career.
• Our specialties have been nationally recognized for quality in areas such as cardiovascular care, oncology, orthopedics, geriatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and gastroenterology.

Why AMP Cardiology? 

• Support a busy, dynamic, and growing department.
• Scripps Clinic’s John R. Anderson V Medical Pavilion provides a “one-stop” health-care experience for people in the greater San Diego region.
• Located just off I-5 and Genesee Avenue, the pavilion is on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
• Services offered at AMP:
  • Primary care (family medicine and internal medicine)
  • Specialty care (including cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, neurology, and pulmonary medicine)
  • Imaging services; Blood tests and labs
  • On-site vascular lab to test for vascular disorders
  • Cardiac testing, including echocardiograms and exercise stress tests
  • Outpatient cardiac catheterization procedures and Vascular surgery and vein treatment

What you'll do: 

• Demonstrates sound clinical judgment and leadership in improving patient care using the nursing process for patients requiring specialized or complex care with some supervision.
• Provides surgical case management from point of decision for surgery until patient post-op tenure is completed or they are returned to CTS Clinic for continued follow up.
• Is a subject-matter resource for their Specialty Service(s) and a for staff and patients through the pre-op process including necessary consults, appointments, testing, education, etc. with some assistance.
• Maintains mandatory and clinical competencies required for the position
• Coordinate patient referrals for surgical risk stratification, completion of evaluation and surgery date selection. Ensures all surgical patients are medically cleared prior to their surgery date.
• Acts as a primary contact for surgical patients
• Functions as a liaison between all members of the Specialty team (administration, attending, residents, etc.), clinic staff, outpatient clinics; Operating Room (OR) and inpatient care.
• Provides excellent customer service as a liaison between patients and families to provide education, emotional support, care coordination within the medical facility and outside clinics.
• Triages and addressed phone messages, secure messages and consults as dictated per Service.
• Collaborate with CTS surgery scheduler to coordinate scheduling of patients as needed.
• Orders pre-op imaging, labs, consults per Nursing Standard Procedure Protocols. Assures all diagnostic tests are completed, reviewed, and resulted prior to surgery. Coordinates autologous blood donation, reports to blood bank regarding antibody positive screens, reviews +COVID test with surgeon to determine surgery course.
• Addresses psychological needs of preoperative patients as needed.
• Provides education to staff and families regarding the surgical procedure, pre- and post-op expectations
• Triages all patient calls pre op and post op
• Completes surgical worksheet in preparation for case.
• Collaborates with surgeon to manage Aneurysm Clinic
• Collaborates with physician to coordinate Urgent surgical scheduling and testing needs.
• Reviews all pre op testing results and consults with provider regarding treatment plan.
• Maintains log managing incoming test results, follow up testing orders, and appointments.
• Addresses patient complaints with optimal service.
• Collaborate with multiple disciplines/departments to improve clinic efficiency and delivery of patient care.
• Assists patient referrals and urgent scheduling
• Collaborates with home service providers with post operative needs
• Performs wound vac changes, dressing changes, and assists surgeon with procedures in clinic
• Arranges outpatient wound vac care, INR machine, and other DME needs for patient.

This position is eligible for up to $4k in New Hire Retention Incentives and relocation up to $3k if moving from 100+ miles away. 

The following are not eligible for hiring incentives:

• Internal candidates​
• Rehires that left Scripps less than 3 years ago
• Candidates with less than 1 year of experience as an RN

In order to remain eligible for your retention incentive the following criteria must be met​:

• Must remain in original hired FTE Status and Shift (if specified in offer letter)​
• Must remain in original department/specialty​
• Must remain in original Job Title​

Transfers to other locations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may result in forfeiting remaining incentive bonus unless specifically noted in your offer letter.

Required Education/Experience/Specialized Skills: 

• Current California RN License
• BLS and ACLS from American Heart Association
• Graduate from an Accredited Nursing Program 

Preferred Experience:

• Cardiology experience
• Cardiothoracic surgery experience