Description

Responsible for providing care for pre and post-operative patients recovering from anesthesia, including general, regional and local. The PACU RN treats inpatients and outpatients according to their needs, monitoring their vital signs to determine necessary care.

Responsibilities

• Promotes the mission, vision and values of the organization.
• Identifies patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.
• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing support in areas such as emotional and psychological.
• Promotes patients independence by establishing patient care goals; teaching patients, friends and family to understand condition, medications and self-care skills; answering questions.
• Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments; following Center and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act and other governing agency regulations.
• Resolves patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.
• Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Administers and documents medication given to patients, assesses reactions and reacts as needed including contacting physician and/or supervisor.
• Maintains continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities and continuing needs.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Maintains nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies; using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Maintains a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information; responding to requests; building rapport; participating in team problem-solving methods.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Transfers care as appropriate.
• Regular, physical attendance on a predictable basis is essential to the performance of this job.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient and Center related business.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and act as a patient advocate.
• Ability to delegate tasks as appropriate according to the state Nurse Practice Act and job descriptions.
• Basic computer skills (eg, Microsoft Word).
• Uses problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
• Maintains required competencies.
• Adhering to principles of Universal Precautions
• Exhibits favorable bedside manner including listening and communication skills.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
• Current registered nurse licensure in state of employment.
• Two years perioperative services experience.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, depending on patient population.