Description

Job Purpose:

The PAT Nurse provides preoperative assessments and instructions to prepare patients for surgery.

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Initiates preoperative assessment and care to pre-surgical patients using the nursing process

· Responsible and accountable for pre-procedural testing, documenting and communication patient history

· Provides preoperative instructions and education to patients prior to surgery

· Discusses and arranges post-operative follow up care for patients

· Reviews physician orders to ensure necessary tests and preoperative labs are complete

· Evaluates and screens patients for any possible complications

· Communicates with the surgeon, office nursing staff, triage, scheduling and OR staff as needed

· Works collaboratively with the other team members to assure the safe and accurate delivery of patient care

· Assesses the patient’s condition and addresses their needs before and during surgery

· Has regular and predictable attendance

· Adheres to ADSC policies and procedures

· Performs other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Prior PAT nurse experience

· 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 nursing 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 perioperative nursing preferred

Bilingual preferred

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.