About MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s Surgery Center

The Surgery Center provides pre- and postoperative care for patients at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. The Surgery Center supports 23 operating rooms that deliver inpatient and outpatient services along the following service lines: orthopedics, neurosurgery, limb salvage, gynecological surgery, otolaryngology, robotics, urology, pediatrics, thoracic, and general surgery. Our highest priority is patient safety and providing exceptional patient care every day to every patient.

As a Surgery Center Nurse, you will coordinate the pre- and postoperative care of the surgical patient and ensure it is delivered safely in a fast-paced, complex environment. Surgery Center nurses provide 3 phases of care, including Pre-Op, Phase I Post Anesthesia Care and Phase II Post Anesthesia Care.

Pre-Op: The nurse is responsible for completing a preoperative assessment, obtaining a patient history, administering preoperative medications, completing patient education and providing emotional support to the patient and their loved ones while working in close collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to complete the necessary safety checks prior to entering the OR.

Phase I Post Anesthesia Care: In this immediate postoperative phase of recovery, the nurse continually assesses and addresses basic life-sustaining needs of the patient. Nursing care focuses on airway management, re-establishing hemodynamic stability with frequent surgical site & vital sign assessments, and pain management. In collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, the nurse will use critical thinking to determine the next most appropriate level of care and facilitate the safe transfer of the patient to that location, including discharge home, admission to an inpatient bed, or transitioning to an intensive care setting.

Phase II Post Anesthesia Care: Phase II nursing care consists of assessing the patient for the appropriateness of discharge home while preparing the patient and loved ones for safe self-care at home. Effective patient education is essential in this phase of recovery. Nursing judgment, critical thinking, and patient advocacy are essential when evaluating the recovery status and readiness of the patient to be discharged home.

The Surgery Center values nursing education and professional development. As a result, newly hired nurses are provided a comprehensive orientation, designed by a clinical nurse educator and customized to the nurses’ skills and experience. Additionally, the clinical nurse educator coordinates ongoing educational programs designed to meet the unique needs of all Surgery Center associates, including nurses, nurse residents, clinical technicians, patient care associates and suite attendants.

Schedule: 

• Day Shift
• Three 12 hour shifts, Monday-Friday
• Minimal Weekend call shifts

Benefits:

• Competitive salaries plus differentials
• 20 Days of Paid Time Off per year plus personal time/holidays
• Education/Tuition assistance
• Relocation reimbursement
• Generous Total Rewards Benefits Package
• Matched Retirement Savings Plan
• Specialized training opportunities with one-on-one preceptorship
• Nationally renowned Nursing Wellbeing Program

Position Summary

Professional care provider who assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates the nursing care of patients from admission through discharge. In collaboration with the patient and family, provides theory-based professional nursing care and coordinates care delivery with various members of the interdisciplinary team.

Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred. Associates degree from an accredited School of nursing required. BSN enrollment required within 6 months of start date and completion within 3 years.

Experience: 1 year of RN experience required.

License/Certifications: DC Registered Nurse License required; CPR (Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation) required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Basic math skills. Verbal and written communication skills. Basic computer skills required.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Standard Job Duty: Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies, procedures, quality standards, safety standards, and MedStar SPIRIT Values. Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.
• Collects and analyzes significant patient’s information that pertains to physical, psychological, socio-cultural, economic, spiritual, and life-style behaviors and efficiently leveraging available technology.
• Functions autonomously providing relationship-based care that promotes continuous, consistent, efficient and accountable delivery of nursing care using the nursing process with a favorable focus on patient experience.
• Identifies current and potential complex problems of specific patient populations, critically analyzes trends and changes in patient status, and plans appropriate interventions.
• Incorporates evidence-based practice and research into patient care delivery, with a focus on quality and safety.
• Serves as a patient advocate by independently communicating clinical concerns, including ethical decisions, in a timely manner to other members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Practices within legal boundaries of nurse practice act and possesses a theoretical understanding of the universal ethical principles. Recognizes ethical discourse in practice and may seek other resources in advocacy for support and counsel.
• Individualizes patients plan of care, focusing on short and long-range goals and effectively uses a variety of teaching resources to meet the learning needs of patients and families.
• Communicates patient information clearly and accurately in verbal and written format.
• Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment. Identifies actual and potential patient safety issues and acts accordingly while incorporating HRO quality and safety principles.
• Demonstrates effective leadership behaviors. Establishes priorities and delegates tasks to peers and ancillary staff as appropriate to scope of practice and unit requirements.
• Effectively uses problem identification and resolution skills, focusing on the clinical scenario to resolve the apparent concern. Follows the chain of command by consulting with other healthcare professionals and seeks assistance as needed.
• Independently communicates concerns in a timely manner and makes suggestions to members of the interdisciplinary team by seeking and using resources effectively.
• Evaluates the patient's response to treatment and progress toward short and long-range goals and revises nursing interventions as appropriate.
• Identifies patient and family needs prior to discharge. Initiates and monitors discharge planning activities in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Independently identifies resources and strategies to enhance professional growth and development and commits to life-long learning. Engages in professional growth and development through reflective practice from performance feedback and participates in entity professional development activities.
• Supports and contributes to the unit, department, entity, and organizational goals inclusive of the mission, vision, and values.
• Standard Job Duty: Participates in meetings and on committees and represents the department and hospital in community outreach efforts.
• Standard Job Duty: Participates in multi-disciplinary quality and service improvement teams.
• Maintains direct observation of patient when functioning as an Observation Attendant.