Pre-Op/PACU Registered Nurse

Description

Main Function: 

Performs nursing care for the patient in the preoperative and immediate postoperative (PACU), and Phase II period, assessing and documenting patient’s status upon arrival and throughout stay. Provides nursing care to meet patient needs related to surgical condition and type of anesthesia administered, monitoring patient and informing surgeon or anesthesiologist of observed complications.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

1. Philosophy

• Supports the facility’s ideology, mission, goals, and objectives
• Performs in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures
• Follows the facility’s standards for ethical business conduct
• Recognizes patients’ rights and responsibilities and supports them in performance of job duties
• Participates in facility committees, meetings, in-services, and activities
• Shares input regarding short- and long-term goals of the facility
• Seeks out additional assignments and duties

2. Work Quality

• Performs duties in an accurate and organized manner
• Adheres to policies and procedures in performance of duties
• Ensures knowledge of job and asks questions when unsure
• Completes duties within appropriate timeframes
• Performs according to established quality improvement policies and procedures. Makes suggestions to identify opportunities to improve quality of care
• Participates in data collection activities to support the quality improvement program

3. Personal Attributes

• Shows initiative and dependability including punctuality and attendance
• Displays good judgment
• Cooperates and is flexible
• Follows appropriate dress code presenting a professional image

4. Customer Service

• Fosters a culture of outstanding patient service showing courtesy in interactions with patients, physicians and co-workers
• Presents good telephone skills
• Responds promptly to patient needs and co-worker requests

5. Communication and Teamwork

• Expected to be a positive and responsible team member with a good attitude
• Presents good oral and written communication (documentation) skills
• Promotes effective communication among the facility’s clinical areas, business office, and physician practices

6.Professional Competence

• Participates in continuing education and other learning experiences
• Shares knowledge gained in continuing education with staff
• Maintains membership in relevant professional organizations
• Maintains certification
• Seeks new learning experiences by accepting challenging opportunities and responsibilities
• Welcomes suggestions and recommendations
• Maintains current CPR certification

7.Maintains current BLS, ACLS and PALS certification.

8.Safety/Risk Management

• Adheres to safety policies and procedures in performing job duties and responsibilities
• Reports observed or suspected safety violations, hazards, and policy/procedure
• noncompliance to the Clinical Manager
• Performs according to established compliance policies and procedures

9. Duties

• Effectively organizes time, equipment, supplies and personnel
• Uses equipment effectively by anticipating patient needs and providing appropriate care
• Confirms that proper techniques and procedures are used according to accepted standards of practice
• Assists in inventory of supplies, drugs, and equipment to maintain availability and stock levels in the preoperative and postoperative areas
• Performs thorough preoperative patient assessment required in the outpatient setting
• Assists in assessing the physical and emotional status of the patient prior to admission
• Provides preoperative instruction and explanation of patient rights and responsibilities
• Describes the preoperative experience to the patient/significant other, including what to expect before, during, and after the procedure, and how the significant other will participate
• Performs preoperative phone call referring to pertinent patient records prior to patient’s arrival
• Assures all preoperative testing is completed (i.e., laboratory work, electrocardiogram, x-rays, etc.)
• Reports all abnormal values to anesthesiologist/attending surgeon
• Explains informed consent for surgery, patient rights/responsibilities, and preoperative/postoperative instructions
• Obtains necessary signatures and verifies correct surgical site
• Informs patient about routine care and procedures related to the perioperative experience
• Discusses all findings with anesthesiologist prior to anesthesiologist’s preoperative evaluation of patient
• Provides comfort and reassurance to the patient and supports the patient’s right to privacy, dignity, and confidentiality
• Documents postoperative care according to policy/procedure
• Performs safe and individualized care for the patient in the pre and post-operative areas
• Assesses and documents the patient’s physical and emotional status upon arrival in the preoperative area
• Provides nursing care to meet the patient needs related to surgical condition and type of anesthesia administered
• Monitors patients and informs surgeon or anesthesiologist of observed complications
• Performs thorough postoperative patient assessment prior to discharge of the patient
• Assists in assessing the physical and emotional status of the patient in preparation for discharge
• Develops a plan of care tor the patient based on the assessment data
• Reviews postoperative instructions and prescriptions from the surgeon with the patient and significant other and documents in the patient’s medical record
• Informs patient and family about appropriate care and procedure to follow upon returning home
• Determines that patient and significant other understand conditions that require immediate care/method to obtain immediate care
• Other duties as assigned

Reports to PreOp/PACU Manager

Contacts

1. Patients

2. Patients’ family/significant others

3. Physicians and physician office personnel

4. Facility personnel

5. Vendors

6. Administration

7. Medical director

8. Governing body

Requirements

Qualifications

• Cooperative work attitude toward co-employees, management, patients, visitors, and physicians
• Ability to promote favorable facility image with physicians, patients, co-workers and general public
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems in a timely manner.

Requirements 

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• RN with active Louisiana license
• BLS/ACLS/PALS Certification
• Strong ethical and moral character references
• Language skills adequate for high-level written, interpersonal, and telephone communication in American English
• Preferred
• ACS experience with minimum 2 years recent Pre-op/PACU experience or critical care experience
• Computer literacy

Job quality requirements

• Accuracy
• Attention to detail
• Timeliness
• Organizational skills
• Efficiency
• Little supervision needed to accomplish tasks
• Physical stamina for extra working hours, if needed

Dependability

• Attendance
• Punctuality
• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to meet deadlines

Physical/mental requirements

• Ability to walk, sit, and stand for long periods
• Visual and auditory acuity for frequent use of computer, telephone, and occasional use of other office equipment
• Capability for occasional overhead and low reaching
• Physical strength for equipment needs and patient-care activities – 20 pound minimum
• Visual and auditory acuity for timely responsiveness and patient-care assessment activities
• Ability to move quickly in response to patient needs
• Ability to frequently make judgments on/respond to problems
• Ability to occasionally make judgments on/respond to disasters/emergencies, actual events, or drills
• Hepatitis immunization/negative TB test (annual tine testing)