Registered Nurse - Preop / PACU

Job Purpose

The Pre-Op/Post-Op Registered Nurse is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and coordinating patient care from admission to discharge. The Registered Nurse prepares patients for surgical procedures, monitors and cares for patients post-operatively and is responsible for the achievement of patient outcomes in accordance with the mission of the facility.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assesses patient status on admission and on an ongoing basis

• Implements appropriate standards of care based on assessment data and patient’s goals

• Coordinates nursing interventions to enhance achievement of expected outcomes and to ensure readiness for discharge

• Ensures provision of patient care daily in an organized and timely manner

• Documents response to nursing action and provides instructions to the patients

• Treats patients and guests with courtesy, respect and professionalism

• Provides pertinent patient information to the physician, family and other members of the multidisciplinary team

• Stocks unit and carries out unit routine, check crash cart and counts narcotics

• Responds to phone calls and anticipates patient needs

• Documents all unusual occurrences and post-operative complications for QI follow up

• Practices infection control and standard precautions as instructed or trained

• Adheres to all Round Rock Surgery Center policies and procedures

• Performs all other duties as assigned by supervisor

• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge and experience in PACU nursing or critical care

• Knowledge and experience in ASC, operating room or ASC nursing care

• Competence in assessing, treating and caring for patients based on age-specific needs

• Ability to set priorities and provide direction to others that promotes efficiency on the unit

• Ability to correlate clinical data with patient’s medical and nursing care

• Effective communication and positive interpersonal skills

• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality

• Ability to transcribe physicians orders accurately and read labels and instructions completely

Supervision: Reports directly to the Director of Nursing and Administrator

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate of an Accredited School of Nursing

• Current licensure to practice in the State of Texas, successful completion of Basic Cardiac Life Support Course; ALCS required and PALS preferred

• Two years’ experience in PACU, ICU or ER nursing

Working Conditions

Environmental Conditions: Medical Office environment, Ambulatory Surgery Center

Physical Conditions

Must be able to work as scheduled. Good visual acuity and accurate color vision. Ability to lift/transfer patients in excess of 100 pounds, which may require pushing, pulling and essentially utilizing a full range of body movement. Ability to push a gurney with a 150-pound patient on it. Ability to stand, walk, stop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl. Ability to reach, grasp, use fine finger movement and feel fine sensation to discern temperature, texture, size and shape. Ability to lift 25-pound instrument trays. Ability to push heavy equipment on wheels within the OR suite. Ability to wear lead apron.