Preop PACU RN

SUMMARY    

The Preop PACU RN assists in the daily clinical operations of the Preop PACU in accordance with established federal, state and accreditation standards and facility policies and procedures. Participates in direct patient care including maintaining a clean, orderly and safe environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assess patients/significant others understanding of disease process and need for surgical intervention.
• Performs pre/post operative teaching to patient/significant other.
• Demonstrates appropriate nursing management and intervention preoperatively and postoperatively.
• Assess the patient for level of recovery from anesthesia.
• Provides effective airway management postoperatively.
• Assesses and manages post operative complication, such as nausea and vomiting.
• Provides would assessment and management to ensure uncomplicated would healing.
• Provides safe medication administration.
• Manages patient complications/emergencies preoperatively and postoperatively.
• Manages and documents controlled substance inventory.
• Utilizes aseptic technique and infection control principles to establish and maintain intravenous access.
• Reports significant patient information to medical staff appropriately.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in caring for the latex sensitive patient.
• Initiates and follows procedures protocol.
• Demonstrates appropriate care for the patient experiencing pain.
• Demonstrates techniques to relieve patient’s pain and evaluates the effectiveness of the techniques used.
• Documents patient response during postoperative period.
• Facilitates actions and activities that support accountability to practice.
• Identifies and initiates problem resolution.
• Actively participates, develops, and implements activities and measures promoting quality care.
• Demonstrates knowledge of medical record policy and procedure in management of patient information.
• Participates in medical records QAPI.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND SUCCESS INDICATORS

• Listens carefully, gives feedback directly, honestly and talks with others to clarify differences.
• Utilizes translation services when needed.
• Utilizes appropriate services when needed to communicate with employees and patients with speech and hearing disorders.
• Effectively communicates and interacts with patients, their family, and other external and internal clients (including fellow employees) from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrates a willingness to look at new ideas and work in a changing environment.
• Understand, verbalizes, and participates in the quality improvement process.
• Supports initiatives designed to improve individual and organizational performance.
• Provide appropriate patient care across the age span.
• Identifies and reports suspected child, spousal/partner and elder abuse per protocol.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Current California RN license required
• Associate’s degree in nursing required.  Bachelor’s preferred.
• Minimum 2-5 years of clinical experience with an emphasis in PACU, surgery, or ER required.
• Current BLS and ACLS and PALS required.
• Knowledge of regulatory standards. 
• Interpersonal, critical thinking skills.
• Working knowledge of telephone, fax, and patient monitoring equipment.

Complexity:

Ability to perform highly detailed work with sustained attention and ware while providing/obtaining information on numerous inquiries is paramount to success in this position.