The Pre-Operative/Post-Operative Registered Nurse, under the supervision of the PACU Manager or the Director of Nursing, according to the organizational structure, is responsible for providing peri-operative patient care in accordance with sound nursing judgment, regulatory and accreditation standards, and the facility's mission, vision, and values. The position must provide direct and indirect patient care across the age continuum; and utilize the nursing process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation according to policies and procedures of the facility.

Assesses and documents patient's physical and emotional status upon arrival in the PACU, provides nursing care to meet patient needs related to surgical condition and type of anesthesia administered, performs safe and individualized nursing care for the patient in the immediate postoperative period, develops a plan of care based on the assessment data, monitors patients and informs surgeon or anesthesia of patient status and notifies of changes/complications in a timely manner, provides comfort and reassurance to the patient and promotes privacy and dignity, reviews postoperative instructions from the surgeon with patient and caregiver and documents in medical record, provides written discharge instructions and any needed supplies, calls patients postoperatively to assess postop condition.

Essential Job Functions:

• Shows appropriate delegation, while directing and supervising ancillary personnel in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating patient care in the pre-operative/post-operative clinical areas according to accepted standards.
• Provides direct patient care in the assigned clinical areas and demonstrates clinical competence.
• Participates in service recovery by taking ownership of the situation and correcting problems. Keeps customers informed of progress related to clinical operations and provides comfort, information and assistance during the process.
• Reviews daily schedule and prepares patient care areas based upon types of procedures and specific patient care needs. 
• Communicates changes in status as necessary to physicians, family members, and other staff.
• Initiates physical and psycho/social assessment and pre-operative plan of care, identifies patient and obtains informed consent.
• Completes and documents a pre-operative interview, obtains necessary diagnostic test results and notifies appropriate physicians and staff regarding variances and/or concerns.
• Completes the Post-anesthesia record and assures all patients have met the discharge criteria prior to discharge; and provides all patients post-operative instructions.
• Assures the delivery of quality clinical care through participation in NSH benchmarking programs.

Qualifications, Knowledge, and Ability:

• Demonstrates eligibility for employment in the U.S.
• Graduate of approved school of professional nursing with current and valid licensure with State Board of Nursing
• Minimum of two years of experience required in ICU/Emergency Room/Recovery Room or other critical care nursing environment.
• Knowledge of State, Federal and Accrediting Body regulations and standards related to healthcare.
• Ability to achieve CPR, ACLS, PALS certification within 60 days of employment.
• Ability to relate and work effectively with others
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written English communications for safe and effective patient care and to meet documentation standards.
• Willingness to participate in goal-setting and educational activities for own professional advancement.
• Is aware of professional nursing standard and performs in accordance with them.