Job Description

JOB TITLE Registered Nurse

Provides direct care to adult patients. Addresses the psychosocial, physical and general aspects of care related to the surgical environment. Assists with the maintenance of PRE-OP/ PACU equipment and inventory. Participates in performance improvement activities. Responsible for monitoring patient’s physiological status in the immediate pre/post-operative environment. Communicates with surgeon and anesthesiologist continuously, and as needed, about patient conditions. Intercedes to maintain optimum homeostasis.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Gives patient explanations and verbal reassurances consistently.
• Demonstrates knowledge of perioperative factors that alter immediate postoperative phase.
• Demonstrates ability to provide specific care to postoperative adult patients.
• Carries out safety measures to prevent patient from harming him/herself or others.
• Coordinates patient care; gives explanations and teaching to patient/family, as necessary.
• Obtains, documents and assesses vital signs per protocol.
• Demonstrates ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
• Clearly documents in chart facts and concepts about the patient. Documentation is completed within shift; meets standards, policies and procedures.
• Communicates effectively and thoroughly the patient’s condition upon transfer to all staff involved in patients’ care.
• Notifies physician of any abnormal lab/test results.
• Maintains regulatory agency requirements, ASA and nursing policies, procedures, and standards. Counts narcotics at the beginning and end of all shifts per policies and procedures.
• Ensures Pre-op Checklist is complete (H&P present, informed consent signed, test results present, etc.) before patient is taken into surgical suite.
• Establishes and maintains effective communication and good working relationships with coworkers.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Approaches patient in a kind, gentle and friendly manner.
• Responds to patient’s inappropriate behavior in a therapeutic manner.
• Takes appropriate actions and documents in response to manifested anxiety or distress.
• Gives patient explanations and verbal reassurances consistently.
• Adapts nursing procedures to meet the needs for treatment of individual patients
• Identifies physical symptoms and changes and takes appropriate actions in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates ability to assess cardiopulmonary systems for changes and reports/responds appropriately.
• Adequately assess and reassess pain levels. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and their families.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care; provides patient and family with teaching/education, as necessary.
• Follows the five medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
• Protects patient’s sensitivities and right to privacy.
• Appropriately responds to the patient in an emergency or physically distressful situation.
• Assessment and reassessment of the patient is clearly and concisely communicated in charting. Documentation meets current standards, policies and procedures and is completed within shift.
• Utilizes initiative; strives to maintain steady level of productivity; self-motivated; does not waste time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)

Education/Certification/Licensure:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Maintain current State RN licensure.
• Current BLS and must maintain BLS certification for Health Care Providers.
• Current ACLS or must obtain within 90 days of employment, then must maintain ACLS certification.

Behavioral Skills:

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
• Ability to identify problems and recommend solutions
• Ability to develop and maintain department quality assurance
• Ability to apply and modify the principles of professional nursing to provide on-going patient care.

Other Requirements:

• Knowledge of organizational policies, regulations, and procedures to administer patient care.
• Knowledge and ability to troubleshoot a variety of medical equipment and instruments to administer patient care.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in busy or emergent situations
• Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively in the English language in person, via phone, and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians, management and peers.

• Demonstrates knowledge of anesthetic drugs, actions and side effects.
• Demonstrates understanding and necessity of chemical and biological monitoring.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to:

• Hear: Adequate to perform job duties in person and over the telephone. Able to use stethoscope and respond to verbal questions.
• Speak: Must be able to communicate clearly to patients in person and over the telephone.
• Vision: Visual acuity adequate to perform job duties, including visual examination of patient and reading information from printed sources and computer screens. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Other: Requires frequent lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds unassisted, including assisting patients when required. Adequate physical ability including sufficient manual dexterity to perform the requisite health care service, including injections. Requires frequent bending, reaching, repetitive hand movements, standing, walking, squatting and sitting, with some heavy lifting, pushing and pulling exerted regularly throughout a regular work shift. Requires exposure to communicable diseases and/or bodily fluids.

The employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without supervision. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.