Registered Nurse - Preop / PACU

Job Purpose:

The Pre-Op/Post-Op Registered Nurse is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and coordinating patient care from admission to discharge. The Registered Nurse prepares patients for surgical procedures, monitors and cares for patients post-operatively and is responsible for the achievement of patient outcomes in accordance with the mission of the facility.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assesses patient status on admission and on an ongoing basis
• Implements appropriate standards of care based on assessment data and patient’s goals
• Coordinates nursing interventions to enhance achievement of expected outcomes and to ensure readiness for discharge
• Ensures provision of patient care daily in an organized and timely manner
• Documents response to nursing action and provides instructions to the patients
• Treats patients and guests with courtesy, respect and professionalism
• Provides pertinent patient information to the physician, family and other members of the multidisciplinary team
• Stocks unit and carries out unit routine, check crash cart and counts narcotics
• Responds to phone calls and anticipates patient needs
• Documents all unusual occurrences and post-operative complications for QI follow up
• Practices infection control and standard precautions as instructed or trained
• Adheres to all Round Rock Surgery Center policies and procedures
• Performs all other duties as assigned by supervisor
• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge and experience in PACU nursing or critical care
• Knowledge and experience in ASC, operating room or ASC nursing care
• Competence in assessing, treating and caring for patients based on age-specific needs
• Ability to set priorities and provide direction to others that promotes efficiency on the unit
• Ability to correlate clinical data with patient’s medical and nursing care
• Effective communication and positive interpersonal skills
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality
• Ability to transcribe physicians orders accurately and read labels and instructions completely

Supervision: Reports directly to the Director of Nursing and Administrator

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduate of an Accredited School of Nursing
• Current licensure to practice in the State of Texas, successful completion of Basic Cardiac Life Support Course; ALCS required and PALS preferred
• Two years’ experience in PACU, ICU or ER nursing

Working Conditions:

Environmental Conditions: Medical Office environment, Ambulatory Surgery Center

Physical Conditions:

Must be able to work as scheduled. Good visual acuity and accurate color vision. Ability to lift/transfer patients in excess of 100 pounds, which may require pushing, pulling and essentially utilizing a full range of body movement. Ability to push a gurney with a 150-pound patient on it. Ability to stand, walk, stop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl. Ability to reach, grasp, use fine finger movement and feel fine sensation to discern temperature, texture, size and shape. Ability to lift 25-pound instrument trays. Ability to push heavy equipment on wheels within the OR suite. Ability to wear lead apron.