Job description; Per-Diem Circulating and recovery nurse

Reports to: Director of Operations/ Director of Nursing/ Physician

Qualifications: Required for successful performance in this position is current licensure as a registered nurse and up to date CPR and ACLS certification. The ability to deliver excellent personalized nursing care is required, as is skill in communicating with a variety of patients. Employee must also have at least two years of recovery room, OR circulating, or critical care nursing experience.

Position goal: Follow patients from pre-op, to OR, and to recovery, providing excellent patient care. Meet the physical and psychosocial needs of the patient to ensure their safety and well being during their surgical experience. When in the OR; coordinate actions and meet the needs of the surgeon, scrub nurse, and anesthesiologist. Practice of; proper patient positioning and transfer, aseptic technique, emergency protocol, identification of surgical instruments, post anesthesia recovery and proper discharge of patient.

Duties and Responsibilities

Receive assignments and ask questions about procedures unfamiliar to you. Become familiar with the procedure; check doctor’s preference card and other written requirements. Ask for help if needed.

Prepare OR for surgery:

• Ensure instruments are present and in working order on a case by case basis, and replaced as needed.
• ensure set-up follows doctors preference card and open sterile supplies needed for case.
• Check and count needles and blades with the scrub nurse. Sponges and laps to be counted, where applicable.
• Assist the scrub nurse with solutions and medications as necessary.

Prepare patient for surgery

• Perform pt. check in and primary survey, check wristband for appropriate information.
• Check chart and patient for appropriate surgical preparation.
• Bring the patient into the operating room with Surgeon’s and anesthesiologist’s approval.
• Position patient
• Assist anesthesiologist as necessary. Be available at the patient's side during induction of anesthesia.
• Assist with any changes in positioning, making sure of patients safety and comfort.
• Prepare operative area with proper sterile surgical prep.
• Present time-out protocol for the procedure at start of case

After patient is draped & during surgery

• Ensure all tools and equipment are present and functional for successful surgery. Ex; kick buckets, suction, cautery, saline, sutures.
• Remain in room at all times unless properly relieved or absolutely necessary.
• Count with scrub nurse any sponges or laps to be added to the surgical field.

After surgery and OR preparations

• Transport patients to the recovery room, apply monitors, leads, and monitors vital signs.
• Count needles and blades with the scrub nurse. Count sponges and laps where applicable. Document that all counts are correct.
• Assist with any dressings, if needed, and undraping of the patient per infection control policies.
• Assist with transferring of patients to the recovery room and assist with recovery of the patient.
• Properly package and label surgical specimens to be delivered to the lab pick-up area.
• Have knowledge of all paperwork required by law and by our practice for any surgery or procedure performed.
• Provide the patient's family with appropriate post-operative instructions, signed by the patient or responsible party and the discharging RN following all surgeries.
• Records all patient/nursing activity in patients medical record, obtain nursing history and assessment and review pre-op and post-op charts for completeness.
• Participate in the cleaning of the recovery room and stretchers between cases.
• Count and keep record of all narcotics used on a daily basis.
• Assess and reassess the patients pain and condition post surgery Utilize appropriate pain management techniques.
• Follow all policies and procedures regarding recovery room logbooks and record keeping.
• Administer oral, IM, or IV medication as indicated in post-op orders. Knowledge of IV fluids and their correct administration.
• Know pre and post-op medications, including side effects, complications, and indications, route of administration, dosage and contraindications.
• Know location of crash cart and use of defibrillator, suction apparatus, portable oxygen, emergency meds and CPR flow sheet.
• Communicates status of patient to surgeon and anesthesiologist and need for discharge

Pay: $38.00 - $45.00 per hour

Expected hours: 5 – 15 per week

Medical specialties:

• Perioperative Care
• Plastic Surgery
• Surgery

Physical setting:

• Ambulatory surgery center

Standard shift:

• Day shift

Weekly schedule:

• Choose your own hours
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Nursing: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• BLS Certification (Preferred)
• RN (Required)

Work Location: In person