POSITION TITLE:  Registered Nurse (RN) Pre-Op & PACU

FACILITY/DEPARTMENT: Preop/PACU

Position reports to: Pre-Op/PACU RN Manager

Position supervises: none

Interpersonal Relationships:  As a representative of this facility, all comments, attitudes, actions, and behaviors have a direct effect on the facility’s image and perceptions of quality service. Interaction with patients, families, physicians, referral sources, affiliating schools, visitors, teammates, managers, vendors, etc. must be in a manner that is friendly, supportive, courteous, respectful, cooperative, and professional. This behavior should promote an atmosphere of teamwork, which is congruent with center standards and guidelines to promote positive relations. 

Licenses or Certifications:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Current state licensure to practice in good standings
• Successful completion of Basic Life Support (BLS) within 90 days of employment or documentation of current BLS certification. (AHA preferred)
• Successful completion of Advanced Life Support (ALS) within 6 months of employment or documentation of current ALS certification. (AHA preferred)
• Successful completion of Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) as required by supervisor when pediatric care in included in the facility scope of services with 6 months of employment or documentation of current PALS certification. (AHA preferred)

Education, vocational training, and experience:

• High School Graduate or equivalent
• One year of ICU, ED, PACU, and/or medical/surgical nursing experience preferred.
• Specialty certification in Perioperative or Peri anesthesia Nursing preferred

Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Promote the mission, vision, and values of the Company.
2. Assess patient’s preoperative and postoperative status at intervals according to facility/health care organization policies and procedures to include the patient’s:
1. cardiovascular system
2. respiratory system and airway management needs
3. neurological system and mental status
4. hemodynamic stability
5. pain/comfort needs
3. Interpret information accurately from various noninvasive and invasive monitors.
4. Describe the underlying pathophysiology of commonly encountered disease processes.
5. Describe the physiology associated with various anesthesia techniques and surgical/procedural interventions.
6. Apply the relevant scoring system/discharge criteria for patient transfer (e.g., Aldrete Score, Modified Aldrete Score, Post Anesthesia Discharge Scoring System) score as defined by organizational policy.
7. Develop an individualized peri anesthesia plan of care by implementing:
1.  

1. Preparing for and managing patient recovery from anesthesia: general, monitored anesthesia care (MAC), regional and local.
2. Preparing for and protecting patient from injury caused by positioning, thermal sources, and extraneous objects.
3. Communicating the patient’s current status throughout the peri anesthesia continuum of care.
4. Protecting the patient from injury caused by extraneous objects and chemical, electrical, mechanical and thermal sources.
5. Demonstrating safe operation of equipment and machinery and follows procedures for reporting and correcting an unsafe situation.
6. Speaking up with safety concerns acting as the patient’s advocate.
7. Handling specimens according to facility policy and procedures.
8. Adhering to standard precautions including the use of personal protective equipment.
9. Providing acute pain and comfort management as needed.
10. Administering medications safety and correctly by using the 8-rights of safe medication administration.
11. Performing interventions to maintain the integrity of the patient’s wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels.
12. Performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period.
13. Providing nursing and appropriate monitoring in accordance with policies and procedures.
14. Performing interventions to protect the patient from infection.
15. Managing patient’s other co-morbid conditions as applicable.
16. Managing patient’s fluid as prescribed.
17. Assessing the knowledge level of the patient or designated support person.
18. Providing education regarding the expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medical management, pain management, wound management, and expected responses to the operative or invasive procedure.
19. Involving patient or designated support person actively in decisions affecting his or her perioperative plan of are and the rehabilitation process.
20. Protecting patient’s rights, dignity, and privacy.
21. Providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; and
22. Comply with Universal Protocol and facility site validation and time-out policy.
1. Evaluate the patient’s progress toward attaining outcomes.
2. Transfer care as needed.
3. Provide hand-off report to other teammates that is accurate, concise and pertinent to the patient’s condition and response to care.
4. Delegate tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act (if applicable), state board of nursing or professional registration requirements, state laws, and job descriptions.
5. Document episode of care completely, accurately, and legibly.
6. Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration skills with members of the perioperative team and other stakeholders.
7. Serve as a member of a multidisciplinary team in planning patient care.
8. Participate in quality review and performance improvement projects.
9. Participate in the performance appraisal process.
10. Use problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
11. Maintain required competencies.
12. Pursue professional growth.

1. Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individual and health information.
2. Comply with Company and facility policies and procedures when providing patient care.
3. Actively participate in team meetings, trainings, and daily safety huddles.
4. Demonstrate fiscal responsibility.
5. Perform all other duties as assigned.

II.  Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Physically demanding, high-stress environment 
• Exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, and repetitive motions 
• Pushing and pulling heavy objects  
• Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients and equipment 
• Manual and finger dexterity  
• Hand eye coordination 
• Standing and walking for extensive periods of time  
• Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 lbs. 
• Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range 
• Working irregular hours