Professional- licensure, reimbursement, other

Jason,

The unfortunate reality is that these "Magnet rules" are interpreted differently between organizations. I worked for a magnet hospital as a masters prepared CEP. I was a supervisor for many years, then became Manager of the Cardiac Rehab Department as well as the hospital's heart failure clinic. Both departments employed nurses. I was allowed to serve in these roles because 1) the job description allowed for for CEPs to serve in them, and 2) I reported to a nurse. The Manager position I previously held and is mentioned above is now being filled by an ultrasound (ECHO) tech. But she will report to a Director who is an RN. For magnet status, each level of management does NOT need to be a nurse. Unfortunately, it sounds as like you will need to find a different health system if you wish to work in management or wait until your current leaders are replaced by others who are more open-minded to other professions serving in those roles.

Hi Robert, can you explain in any more detail how this is not true? This is exactly what my manager is telling my now, that since we are a Magnet Hospital nurses have to report to nurses and thus I, as an Exercise Physiologist ACSM CEP, can not apply for a supervisor role. They won't even let me run just phase 3 without RN supervision, which is crazy. In your experience do programs have either an MD or RN present if an EP is doing phase 3? I've read a few of the articles you have co-authored, and done my research but I still get the same answer. They say Risk Management wants an RN there, but my question still remains the same, why? How does that reduce risk by having an RN present when protocol is to do BLS and call 911? EPs can perform all necessary RN tasks at a fraction of the cost. I'm in California for what it's worth. Is there somewhere I can read up on Magnet policies or something?

Jason Butler MS CEP

John Muir Health

925-586-6706

This comes up from time to time, and the short answer is that it depends on where you are. You will occasionally hear that "only nurses can supervise nurses." In most states this is categorically not true. I used to supervise several nurses, and I don't have a nursing degree.

You will occasionally hear that "only RNs can evaluate RNs." Again, categorically not true in nearly all states. I did annual employee evaluations on all the nurses in my cost center, and was invited to participate (by nurses) in the evaluation of other nurse leaders within the health system.

You will occasionally hear that in a Magnet hospital specifically, the above two claims are true. Again, not true.

At the end of the day, who is "qualified" to supervise has infinitely more to do with the innate qualities of the individual (e.g. professionalism, experience, good judgement, etc.) than the letters after someone's name.

Mark,

What you are asking will be based on how supervisor/management positions are defined. Many of these supervisory positions are defined as "nurse managers" because that is how the position was defined years ago. Beyond that, there is no reason a CEP could not be a supervisor to nurses.

I think you are also asking for examples of how institutions are organized. We have a CPET laboratory in the Preventive Cardiology Unit of Henry Ford Hospital. We see the gamut of heart disease pathologies, including patients with LVADs. The Unit and the lab are entirely run and supervised/managed by CEPs. In a related example, I am aware of a very busy non-invasive cardiology testing unit with a program director who is a PhD-prepared CEP. This role is typically held by a physician.

Hello all, time to discuss the issue that has plagued many of us our whole careers. Whom can lead whom? I am going to write up a bigger article in the Winter newsletter edition, but would like to get some feedback from my fellow CEPs

This pertains to stress testing centers only for now, rehab programs is another beast.

In the stress testing centers (University/College, Hospital, Outpatient clinics) who are:

1. Direct Manager/Supervisor
2. Team Lead (not management)

Let me know if they are an RN, PT, CEP or other????

Thanks!