Perioperative Nurse

Description

Responsible and accountable for providing and directing individualized care during the immediate preoperative and postoperative period utilizing the nursing process and established standards of care. This requires assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the care of patients through clinical knowledge and skills. This position is 20 hours per week.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Not Applicable

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides direct and indirect, age appropriate patient care, using the nursing process to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient requirements as directed by the physician; use medical equipment in accordance with standards; demonstrate continued competence in all facets of ambulatory surgery to include Laser, Pain Management & Endoscopy.
• Selects and prepares appropriate supplies for the pre-operative and post-operative areas based on the OR schedule, clinical knowledge, and the physicians plan of care. All patient care areas will be restocked at the end of each day.
• Performs nursing assessment and reviews the patient record for completeness prior to procedure time to include but not limited to; Identification of patient, patient understanding of procedure and completion of consent forms, review of chart for completeness to include history and physical, verify NPO status and time of last oral intake, and allergies
• Documents all required and pertinent information in a timely manner and signs documentation.
• Assesses the patient’s level of anesthesia emergence in accordance with all policies and procedures and ASPAN standards
• Executes physician’s orders specified efficiently and appropriately while in unit in a timely manner.
• Implements patient comfort measures as appropriate (medication for pain and nausea & vomiting, position changes, and temperature control).
• Discharges patient from facility according to physician’s orders, patient condition, and standards of care.
• Educates patient and family on post-operative instructions and makes pre and post-operative telephone calls.
• Maintains working status of instruments and equipment; ascertains that broken and/or missing instruments are properly repaired or replaced.
• Maintains safe conscious sedation for procedures needing this type of sedation as per Conscious Sedation Policy & procedure.
• Practices principles and techniques of infection control, universal precautions, proper hand washing, and safety.
• Completes mandatory annual education, participates in staff meetings and in-services, and is responsible for own professional development.
• Will address and respond to all complaints in a timely manner; will notify Operations Manager for Perioperative Services/CNO of any physician or patient complaints.
• Will participate in the QI plan by tracking any data in accordance with established guidelines.
• Adheres to surgery center policies, all applicable state and federal rules and regulations, and strictly adheres to patient privacy and confidentiality requirements.
• Demonstrates and adheres to SPSC Mission, Vision and Value Statements
• Protects and maintains confidentiality of information; provides information on a need to know basis; adheres to all HIPAA compliance practices.
• Treats all patients with actions that contribute to high levels of patient satisfaction.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills by conveying necessary information accurately, listening effectively and asking questions when clarification is needed.
• Participates in staff meetings and in-services.
• Follows fire/emergency safety, hazard communications and infection control procedures
• Observes cost containment practices
• Respects and complies with all decisions made by the CEO, COO, CNO, and CFO.

Requirements

• IV therapy skills are required
• Must have a clear understanding of the anesthetic agents and medications used by Anesthesia.
• Must be able to recognize, communicate, delegate, and coordinate management of emergent situations in a rapid and effective manner

Education and Experience:

• Current Virginia RN license
• BLS required. ACLS and PALS required within 6 months if does not have already.
• 2 years experience in a PACU and/or Intensive Care preferred
• Ambulatory Surgery experience preferred

ADA Job Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Demands: Intermittent lifting and supporting of patients required; must intermittently lift and support up to 100 pounds or more while assisting patients. Walking, standing, lifting, reaching with hands and arms, carrying, stooping, kneeling, crawling, bending, squatting, handling, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, prolonged sitting, vision, eye-hand coordination, tasting or smelling. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance, vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Communication Skills: Writing, speaking, hearing, reading, interpersonal relationships, receiving instructions, giving instructions.
• Intellectual Skills: Short and long term memory, abstract reasoning, decision making, directing others, mathematical calculations.
• Work Situations: Working as part of a group, working with the public, performing a variety of duties.

Disclaimer:

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, but not all-inclusive of all possible activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required. See ADA checklist for specific related criteria.