RN NEW GRAD - PACU

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY:

Responsible for the delivery of safe, effective, and quality patient-family centered care in the OR and other areas of perioperative services for all patient populations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Promote the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
2. Assess patients at intervals as stated in policies and procedures.
3. Develop an individualized perioperative patient plan of care.
4. Implement the plan of care by
   1. protecting the patient from injury caused by extraneous objects and chemical, electrical, laser, mechanical, and thermal sources;
   2. performing accounting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items;
   3. performing interventions necessary to ensure that the patient’s procedure is performed on the correct site, side, and level;
   4. managing the patient’s specimens according to organizational policy and procedures;
   5. communicating the patient’s current status to relevant parties throughout the continuum of care;
   6. administering medications safely and correctly;
   7. performing interventions to maintain the patient’s wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels;
   8. performing interventions to maintain the status of the patient’s genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels;
   9. performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period;
   10. performing interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection;
   11. assessing the knowledge level of the patient or designated support person;
   12. providing education regarding the expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medication management, pain management, wound management, and expected responses to the operative or invasive procedure;
   13. involving the patient or designated support person actively in decisions affecting his or her perioperative plan of care and the rehabilitation process;
   14. protecting the patient’s rights, dignity, and privacy;
   15. providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; and
   16. providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting.
5. Evaluate the patient’s progress toward attaining outcomes.
6. Transfer care as applicable.
7. Delegate tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act and job descriptions.
8. Document nursing care accurately, completely, and legibly.
9. Collaborate effectively with other disciplines as applicable.
10. Participate in quality review and performance improvement projects.
11. Participate in the performance appraisal process.
12. Use problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
13. Maintain required competencies.
14. Pursue professional growth and participates in a professional organization.
15. Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

Other duties as assigned from time to time.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE:

1. Graduate from an accredited school of nursing
2. Current registered nurse licensure in state of employment

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s degree in nursing preferred
2. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
3. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
4. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, depending on patient population

AGE OF POPULATION SERVED:

Newborn  Infant/Pediatric  Adolescent  Adult  Geriatric  All X No Patient Care

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Physically demanding, high-stress environment
2. Exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, and repetitive motions
3. Pushing and pulling heavy objects
4. Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients
5. Manual and finger dexterity
6. Hand and eye coordination
7. Standing and walking for extensive periods of time
8. Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 lbs
9. Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range
10. Working under stressful conditions
11. Working irregular hours including call hours