Per Diem Pre-Op / PACU Registered Nurse

* Demonstrates and practices aseptic techniques * Sets up sterile/clean operating room with the correct instruments and supplies * Ability to concentrate and quickly respond to given directions from the team of surgeons/RN's/Admins * Follows company policies, standards and keeps informed of changes through organizational participation * Maintains and updates patient documents and patient progress * Operates consistently with clinical knowledge and skills competencies to facilitate patient care in accordance with current standards of practice * Actively participates in continuing education and welcomes new learning experiences * Clearly communicates, collaborates and positively interacts with the team, patients and families * Understands how to operate clinical/office equipment used for patient care * Comprehends the need to be flexible and have the ability to adapt in order to meet the needs of patients and fellow co-workers * Adheres to Quality Assessment Performance Program (QAPI), compliance program and safety/risk management program * Must be able to work 2 Saturdays per month. *Key Responsibilities* *Pre-Operative Care (Pre-Op):* * Conduct comprehensive patient assessments, reviewing medical history, medications, allergies, lab results, and confirming informed consent and operative site specific to the procedure * Perform pre-op tasks like checking vital signs, starting IVs, administering eye drops for ophthalmology cases, or pre-op analgesics for pain management procedures; ensure compliance with NPO (nothing by mouth) guidelines. * Educate patients and families on specialty-specific procedures and post-op expectations, such as activity restrictions or wound care. * Assure all medical documents are completed and signed by patients and physicians prior to surgery. *Post-Anesthesia Care (PACU):* * Monitor patients recovering from anesthesia (general, regional, local, or monitored anesthesia care) tailored to the specialty, assessing vital signs, pain, nausea, and consciousness levels. * Manage specialty-specific post-op complications, such as: * mpartment syndrome, neurovascular status, or cast/splint issues after joint replacements or fracture repairs. * *Podiatry*: Check for foot/ankle swelling, nerve block effects, or infection risks post-bunionectomy or reconstructive surgery. * *Pain Management*: Evaluate pain relief efficacy and monitor for sedation or respiratory depression after epidural/spinal injections or nerve blocks. * Administer medications (e.g., antiemetics, analgesics, or eye drops) and intervene promptly for complications like respiratory distress or bleeding. * Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses in electronic health records (SIS); provide detailed handoff reports for discharge or unit transfer. * Offer tailored discharge instructions, such as eye patch care (ophthalmology), crutch use (orthopedic/podiatry), activity limits (pain/vascular), or signs of complications to watch for. *General Duties: * * Advocate for patient rights and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including specialty surgeons and anesthesiologists, for seamless care. * Participate in unit tasks like narcotic counts, equipment checks (e.g., ophthalmology microscopes or orthopedic traction devices), and quality improvement. * Maintain infection control, safety protocols, and compliance with specialty-specific guidelines (e.g., sterile technique for vascular grafts). *Required Qualifications and Skills* * *Education and Certification: * * Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. * Active New Jersey State Registered Nurse (RN) License * Basic Life Support (BLS) & Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications required * Experience: * * Minimum 1-2 years in Pre-OP and/or PACU, experience in an Ambulatory Surgical Center * Familiarity with specialty-specific procedures (e.g: pain management, GI, urology, podiatry, general, and OBGYN procedures). *Skills and Abilities:* * Knowledge of anesthesia effects, specialty-specific pharmacology (e.g., eye drops, anticoagulants), and emergency responses in high-acuity settings. * Strong assessment skills for detecting complications unique to each specialty * Excellen