OR Circulating Registered Nurse

Essential

Responsibilities

Completes and verifies all surgical documents, notifying the attending physician and/or anesthesia personnel of any concerns/discrepancies. Verifies patient identification, utilizing the Center’s approved two unique identifiers. Ensures time-out processes are completed prior to initiation of surgery; Correct patient, correct surgery, correct side and site, correct equipment and implants.

Assesses the patient for allergies and other preexisting conditions. Prepares and assists with positioning of patients for surgery. Maintains infection control throughout the procedure observing all surgical team members for appropriate techniques to maintain the sterile field.

Intervenes immediately if/when breaks in sterile technique are observed. Coordinates with surgical scrub technician and anesthesia to ensure that all necessary equipment and supplies are appropriately identified and available in the surgical suite. Contacts the Clinical Director should equipment or instrumentation need.

Provides additional medications, supplies, and equipment as needed throughout the intra-operative episode. Monitors high-tech activities such as electrosurgical and laser devices, and video and imaging equipment, when applicable. Performs counts of surgical items prior to the operation and after with the scrub with the scrub technician to ensure none are retained in the patient, when applicable.

Follows all policies related to retained surgical items. Records all care information concisely, accurately, and completely, in a timely manner, in the appropriate format through the electronic health record system and when necessary, on approved paper forms. Participates in training and education as designated, including initial orientation, ongoing competency assessment and related mandatory educational topics.

Assists in orientation of new staff members. Responsible for coordinating activities in the event of an emergency. Demonstrates clinical knowledge of the nursing process and adheres to the policies, procedures, programs, plans, and standards adopted by the facility.

Demonstrates knowledge of operating room process to ensure patient safety and infection control. Fosters a customer-focused environment for patients, visitors, and member of the health care team. Maintains clinical competency in professional nursing practice.

Assumes role of patient advocate while patient is most vulnerable. Consistently fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation through communication and cooperation with all members of the health care team. Fosters public relations through positive representation of the organization.

Delegates duties and responsibilities to support staff, when applicable. Participates with committee as appointed by the governing body. Serves as a resource person to the health care team.

Serves on committees as assigned. Consistently adheres to OSHA bloodborne pathogen guidelines; applying standard and transmission-based precautions. Demonstrates an awareness of patient safety and proper body mechanics when moving patients or equipment.

Accurately completes incident reports within the shift of occurrence and immediately communicates critical incidents to the appropriate personnel. Assists with the orientation of new personnel as assigned. Maintains confidentiality of all patients and respects the patient’s privacy.

Additional

Responsibilities

This position has supervisory responsibilities for the following staff

Licensed practical nurses, Surgical scrub technician Other non-licensed clinical staff if providing care in the surgical suite.

Minimum

Qualifications

Completed an accredited School of Nursing and possesses a current unrestricted PA Registered Nurse license. BLS and ACLS certification within 30 days of hire. Maintain clinical competency in professional nursing practice.

Meets all continuing education requirements as required for licensure renewal on a 2-year cycle. Familiarity with computer and ancillary equipment, telephone, and emergency communication systems. Knowledge of medical terminology, medical procedure, and nursing processes related to circulating duties.

Knowledgeable of documentation requirement of the Center’s electronic health record. Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with the public, peers and physicians. Able to speak fluently in English.

Ability to understand reports generated by computer system. Ability to add, subtract, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Ability to deal with problem solving of several concrete variables concurrently.

Preferred

Qualifications

Experience in acute care surgical services or same day/ambulatory surgery is preferred.

Physical/mental

Requirements

Hears, detects, assesses, and responds to equipment alarms, call lights, telephone. Moderate physical effort, periods of prolonged standing, walking, pushing, pulling, bending, and stooping. Transport and ambulate patients of varying height and weight. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Respond quickly and effectively to an emergency.

Position environment, type and expected hours of work

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This includes but not limited to being exposed to bloodborne pathogens, anesthetic gases, electrical and mechanical hazards, confused or combative patients, bio-contaminated waste, and unpleasant elements. Subject to stressful situations; occasional irregular hours related to patient need. The noise level in the work environment is usually considered to be moderate.

This is a full-time/part-time, non-exempt position. Business hours of operation 6am-4:30pm, subject to change based on volume.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Intrepidus Surgical Institute provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.