JOB TITLE: Post Anestesia Care Unit Registered Nurse

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The delivery of patient care through the framework of the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis and patient outcome) in the preoperative and postoperative phase of the surgical patient.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Supervisor of Clinical Services

EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Current Registered Nurse License
• Current American Heart Assn. BLS and ACLS certifications
• MUST have at least 1 year of PRE-OP/PACU experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrates current, comprehensive professional knowledge and skills in conformance with recognized nursing standards and department policies including the Patient Bill of Rights and JCAHO regulations, Standards for Nursing Care and the Nurse Practice Act.
• Assesses physiological and psychosocial health status of patient.
• Assesses pain per policy.
• Completes patient history.
• Verbally reports pertinent information to appropriate staff to provide continuity of care.
• Legibly documents information in patient record and signs record using appropriate professional title.
• Assesses level of understanding and expectations of care.
• Identifies desired patient outcomes.
• Establishes nursing diagnosis.
• Establishes patient/family goals that are mutually acceptable.
• Formulates Plan of Care for the patient.
• Implements nursing care plans tailored to patient/family needs.
• Demonstrates ability to assess and problem solve.
• Responds to emergencies.
• Practices within legal and ethical guidelines (Nurse Practice Act, legal statutes, ANA code for Nurses, PRMC Policy and Procedures.
• Performs nursing actions that demonstrate accountability (demonstrates flexibility, exercises safe judgment).
• Continually adjusts care plan based on patient/family data.
• Demonstrates proper preoperative process – communication/report.
• Demonstrates proper procedure and documentation for post anestesia patients. 
• Demonstrates proper aseptic technique.
• Demonstrates proper patient identification verification per policy.
• Demonstrates proper surgical site identification and monitoring.
• Participates in a Profession Nursing Organization.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Standing: 66-100%
• Sitting: 0-33%
• Walking: 66-100%
• Lifting: 0-50lbs. as needed
• Carrying: 0-25lbs. as needed
• Pushing: 0-400lbs. on wheels with assistance as needed
• Climbing: 1-5 flights of stairs as necessary
• Pulling: As necessary while providing patient care
• Bending: Proper bending necessary to pick things off the floor
• Squatting: As necessary while providing care
• Rotating: Shoulders as necessary
• Kneeling: If necessary while providing patient care
• Reaching: overhead while providing patient care
• General comments: Visual and hearing senses must be adequate to provide patient care.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

• Inside: 95-100%
• Outside: 0-5%
• Temperature: 30F-115F
• Fumes: Occasional
• Dust: Occasional
• Gases: None
• Odors: Occasional
• Mist: Occasional
• Radiation: Occasional
• Noise or Vibrations: Biomedical equipment, needles, sharps, copy machine, phones, latex, disinfectants, etc.
• Hazards: Occasional contact with communicable disease, electrical equipment, etc.
• Personal Protective Equipment: Provided (gowns, gloves, masks, head cover).

This description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements.Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions may change as needs evolve.