Job Description

Overview

The Pre-Admission Testing Registered Nurse is responsible for ensuring preoperative optimization including patient education for those patients undergoing surgical and endoscopic procedures. The nurse works closely with key stakeholders in coordinating the patients’ perioperative needs.

Responsibilities

Assessment and Review of Records

• Monitor patient medical records for preoperative testing results and exercise professional nursing judgement to identify and address barriers to optimization for surgical, diagnostic, invasive, noninvasive and other special procedures.
• Performs accurate and comprehensive review of clinical factors, past medical history and relevant information.
• Use effective interviewing skills to perform patient health interviews with surgical and endoscopy patient by collecting and analyzing clinical and psychosocial data, identifying problems and health patterns/trends which may directly affect optimization for surgical/endoscopy procedures.
• Promote and maintain patient safety by assessing clinical and psychological needs in preparation for the day of surgery/procedure.

Clinical Knowledge

• Utilize clinical knowledge to ensure optimization of patients scheduled for surgery prior to their admission date to prevent surgery cancellations and delays.
• Utilizes clinical knowledge and established perioperative protocols (surgical and anesthetic) to provide patient with individualized preoperative education. Demonstrates the ability to identify areas of knowledge deficit, and provides additional needed information to the patient.
• Possess adequate understanding of operative procedure, required patient preparations, and expected post-operative course.

Care Coordination/Collaboration/Communication

• Bring pertinent information obtain during chart review and patient interview to the care team. Alerts the team to pertinent information that would affect patients’ perioperative risk and areas that are a risk for a safe discharge.
• Demonstrates ability to work both independently and as an effective member of the health care team.
• Take an active role in strengthening the climate for acceptance of positive change and initiatives that improve patient care outcomes.
• Provides assistance to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) as case load indicates to the level of training.
• Participates in quality assessment and improvement plan as outlined by the department.
• Demonstrates effective and proper phone and email etiquette.
• Communicates with appropriate providers when indicated to ensure patients are optimized for surgical procedure and anesthesia administration.
• Communicates outstanding preoperative clearance requirements with appropriate members of the surgical team.
• Complies with hospital and departmental policies, procedures, regulations and standards.
• Attends and participates in hospital/department meetings.
• Meets or exceeds the standards of performance as established for employment at New London Hospital

Education/Documentation

• Educate patients about the perioperative process, including but not limited to, patient preparation, day of surgery requirement and discharge planning.
• Maintain current professional education appropriate to perioperative services.
• Document in patients’ medical record all relevant data obtained during the health interview and all instructions/education provided.
• Demonstrate basic computer skills in an Electronic Medical Record.

Qualifications

• 2 years relevant clinical practice
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing

Required Licensure/Certifications

REQUIRED LICENSE(S): • Licensed RN with NH eligibility REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS: • (BLS) Basic Life Support