Registered Nurse – Pre-Op/PACU
Reports to: Director of Nursing/PACU Manager
Department: Nursing
Status: Non-Exempt
Pay Range: $34- $100 depending on experience
Job descriptions may be revised in writing to add or delete duties at any time at the discretion of management.
Position Purpose:
The Registered Nurse is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and coordinating patient care from admission to discharge. The Registered Nurse is responsible for the achievement of patient outcomes through implementation of critical pathways and in accordance with the mission of the center.
Interpersonal Relationships:
As a representative of NEBSC, all comments attitudes, actions and behaviors have a direct effect on the Facility’s image and perceptions of quality service. Interaction with patients, families, physicians, referral sources, affiliating schools, visitors, volunteers, co-workers, supervisors, vendors, etc. must be in a manner that is friendly, supportive, courteous, respectful, cooperative, and professional. This behavior should promote an atmosphere of teamwork which is congruent with Facility standards and guidelines to promote positive relations.
Position Requirements:
- Current Massachusetts nursing licensure.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification.
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
- Two years of PACU, orthopedic experience in an outpatient setting preferred.
Skills and Abilities:
- The ability to correlate clinical data with patient’s medical and nursing care.
- The ability to set priorities.
- The ability to provide direction to others in a clear, concise manner that promotes efficiency on the unit.
- The ability to communicate well with patients, families, co-workers, etc.
- The ability to demonstrate flexibility with assignments and schedule.
Essential Functions:
- Assesses, plans, evaluates and ensures the implementation of the patient’s care to achieve identified outcomes.
- Assesses patient status on pre-op assessment phone calls, on admission and on an ongoing basis.
- Implements appropriate standards of care based on assessment data and patient’s own goals. Goals are mutually set with the patient and family.
- Coordinates nursing interventions to enhance achievement of expected outcomes and to ensure readiness for discharge.
- Ensure provision of patient care daily in an organized and timely manner.
- Adheres to all facility policies and procedures when providing patient care.
- Utilizes nursing care standards when planning and implementing patient care.
- Demonstrates ability to direct and provide patient care in emergency situations.
- Assesses learning needs according to patient’s level of understanding and readiness to learn.
- Assumes a leadership role in the provision of quality nursing care for patients receiving care.
- Analyzes nursing care provided in the facility related to the established standards of care.
- Participates in the monitoring and evaluation of nursing care provided.
- Demonstrates the ability to coordinate the nursing care provided in the facility.
- Assigns patient care responsibilities based on patient needs and the abilities of available staff.
- Assumes charge nurse responsibility as assigned.
- Demonstrates ability to make decisions concerning facility-based problems.
- Participates in the Quality program to facilitate improvement of nursing care and achievement of the mission of the facility (e.g., committee and project involvement). This also includes infection control, all satisfaction and culture of safety surveys, and compliance with OSHA standards and Risk Management.
- Participates in the Quality Improvement process and activities including the areas of Safety, Infection Control, Patient Education/Teaching, Documentation, Adherence to Guidelines for Cleaning/Decontamination of the Center, Adherence to guidelines for Sterilization of Instruments and supplies, Patient Satisfaction, Physician Satisfaction, Compliance with OSHA Standards, and Risk Management.
- Participates in the orientation of nursing staff.
- Participates in developing standardized patient education programs, as requested.
- Demonstrates continued competence in assessing, treating, and caring for individuals based upon age-specific needs utilizing a developmental perspective.
- Displays an understanding of each patient’s cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturity in the assessments, treatment, and care undertaken. Appropriately modifies approach to the patient based upon patient age utilizing a developmental perspective.
- Provides appropriate interventions related to safety issues.
- Demonstrates appropriate knowledge and competence of designated skills identified for position.
MACHINES/EQUIPMENT USED: Clinical equipment used for patient care, i.e., suction machine, defibrillator, patient lift, IVs, ECG/BP monitors, oximeters, and other clinical equipment specific to the registered nurses working in the center. Office equipment: computer, copiers, and printers
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Indoors in climate-controlled environment. Patient care environment with potential exposure to unpleasant odors, to blood and body fluids which may carry infection, to infectious disease, and to chemical and electrical hazards. Occasional exposure to outdoor climate.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Good visual acuity, accurate color vision. Ability to lift/transfer patients more than 100 pounds, which may require pushing, pulling and essentially utilizing a full range of body movement. Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl. The ability to reach, grasp, use fine finger movement and feel fine sensation to discern temperature, texture, size and shape. Ability to speak and hear.
DEGREE OF SUPERVISION PROVIDED TO POSITION: Minimal, must be self-directed and able to work independently.