Registered Nurse: Preop/Pacu

Responsible for providing care for pre- and post-operative patients recovering from anesthesia, including general, regional and local. The PACU Nurse treats inpatients and outpatients according to their needs, monitoring their vital signs to determine necessary care. The staffing of the Center is based on a teamwork concept. Employees may be cross trained in other clinical areas and may be expected to perform duties other than their normal ones as staffing and patient needs change.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Promotes the mission, vision and values of the organization.
• Adhering to principles of Universal Precautions. Maintains confidentiality of patient and Center related business.
• Obtains and documents nursing history from patients and/or significant others that is comprehensive of present condition and prior problems.
• Performs basic assessment of patients, indicating adequate knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
• responsible for observing and treating a patient post-operation and making sure that they safely awake from anesthesia.
• Provides for safe, efficient and compassionate pre and postoperative care.
• Records vital signs, notes changes, and pursues more-specific investigations as needed.
• Identifies abnormal diagnostic data and shows a fundamental understanding of its implications by reporting information to the physician and others caring for the patient, and by incorporating information in the nursing care plan.
• Reviews and develops care plans for assigned patients. Uses care plans as a basis for providing safe and therapeutic care to patients. Communicates with the patient and his or her family and other members of the health care team in carrying out the goals of the care plan.
• Uses assessment information to develop a care plan before the end of duty time that communicates enough information for incoming staff to adequately care for the patient.
• Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments, and following Center and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care; including those outlined by the State Nurse Practice Act and other governing agency regulations.
• Accepts accountability for clinical care of assigned patients including supervision of nonprofessional personnel.
• Evaluates and notes the patient's response to nursing care defined in the nursing care plan and medical records.
• Prepares, documents, and administers medications safely and correctly. Inventories medications at the beginning and end of the shift; notifies supervisor of discrepancies.
• Maintains nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to delegate tasks as appropriate according to the state Nurse Practice Act.
• Exhibits favorable bedside manner including listening and communication skills.
• Basic computer skills (e.g., Microsoft® Word).
• Uses problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
• Exhibits favorable bedside manner including listening and communication skills.
• Function independently without constant supervision. Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to read and legibly write, communicate appropriately and effectively, understand and execute instructions as needed and visually distinguish color.
• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Qualifications and Experience

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
• Current Registered Nurse licensure in state of employment.
• Two (2) years perioperative services experience and/or training, preferred.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Certified Nurse, Operating Room (CNOR) certification, preferred.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, preferred.