Registered Nurse - OR Circulator (PRN)

During operations and other surgical procedures, the circulator assists by acting as an intermediary between the operating room staff and the rest of the surgery center. The staffing of the Center is based on a teamwork concept. Employees may be cross trained in other clinical areas and may be expected to perform duties other than their normal ones as staffing and patient needs change.

Responsibilities

• Promotes the mission, vision and values of the organization.
• Adhering to principles of Universal Precautions. Maintains confidentiality of patient and Center related business.
• Obtains and documents nursing history from patients and/or significant others that is comprehensive of present condition and prior problems.
• Prepares the patient for the procedure and handles the preparation of operating room before the surgery.
• Records vital signs, notes changes, and pursues more-specific investigations as needed. Provide technical assistance to surgeons.
• Performs interventions necessary to ensure that the patient’s procedure is performed on the correct site, side and level. And performs interventions to protect patient from surgical infection.
• Manages the patient’s specimens in the appropriate manner.
• Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions.
• Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments, and following Center and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care; including those outlined by the State Nurse Practice Act and other governing agency regulations.
• Prepares, documents, and administers medications safely and correctly. Inventories medications at the beginning and end of the shift; notifies supervisor of discrepancies.
• Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Conducts pre- and post-operative education. Provide education regarding the expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medication and pain management, wound management and expected responses to the operative or invasive procedure.
• Accepts accountability for clinical care of assigned patients including supervision of nonprofessional personnel.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to delegate tasks as appropriate according to the state Nurse Practice Act.
• Exhibits favorable bedside manner including listening and communication skills.
• Basic computer skills (e.g., Microsoft® Word).
• Uses problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
• Exhibits favorable bedside manner including listening and communication skills.
• Function independently without constant supervision. Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to read and legibly write, communicate appropriately and effectively, understand and execute instructions as needed and visually distinguish color.
• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Qualifications and Experience

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
• Current registered nurse licensure in state of employment.
• Two (2) years perioperative services experience and/or training, preferred.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Certified Nurse, Operating Room (CNOR) certification, preferred.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, depending on patient population, preferred.

Preferred:

• Bachelors degree in nursing.
• Certified Nurse, Operating Room (CNOR) certification.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Working Conditions: Exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation and repetitive motions; Category 1-Occupational exposure.

• Physical Demands: Physically demanding, high-stress environment. Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients. Pushing and pulling heavy objects. Manual and finger dexterity; hand and eye coordination; standing and walking for extensive periods of time. Lifting and carrying items weighing up to fifty (50) pounds. Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range.