Registered Nurse Patient Care

Located in Troy, Michigan, UnaSource Surgery Center provides multi-specialty outpatient surgery to infants, children, adults and seniors. Formed in 2002 and designed for patient comfort and surgical efficiency, we have five operating rooms and 18 private patient care suites and treat over 7000 patients each year. If you want to work in a place that puts patients and family first, a place where you can make a difference in the lived of others, and a place where you can grow personally and professionally then we want to know more about you. 
 
As a .60 FTE Registered Nurse, you’ll be responsible for the delivery of patient care that promotes safety and well-being of patients and staff. Provides physical, educational, and technical care and support. Demonstrates strong assessment skills both pre and postoperative. Appropriate assessment includes physical, psychosocial/family, cultural, personal beliefs or restrictions, cognitive abilities, pain and comfort needs. Participates in the development and implementation of policies and procedures. Identifies immediate problems in the pre and postoperative phase and intervenes appropriately. Performs direct patient care preoperatively and postoperatively; Assesses, documents, and manages postoperative pain; demonstrates ability to assess airway adequacy and intervene quickly and appropriately when necessary; demonstrates proficiency with cardiac monitoring and interpretation. Demonstrates understanding and knowledge of Phase I and Phase II recovery nursing principles and expectations. Ensures continuity of patient care by communicating with all surgeons, anesthesiologists, OR personnel and other staff any pertinent or abnormal findings. Requires a high degree of responsibility, confidentiality, and discretion. Remains calm and effective in stressful situations and takes initiative in emergency situations. Able to prioritize, organize and multi-task. Supports the organization mission and vision. Promotes teamwork and functions as a team member providing care that encompasses compassion, collaboration, and trust. Possesses a moral obligation to promote the welfare, health and safety of the patient, and to advocate on the patient’s behalf whenever necessary. for the delivery of patient care that promotes safety and well-being of patients and staff. You’ll be expected to provide physical, educational, and technical care and support, while demonstrating strong assessment skills both pre and postoperatively. Appropriate assessment includes physical, psychosocial/family, cultural, personal beliefs or restrictions, cognitive abilities, pain, and comfort needs.

• Patient evaluation should take place sufficiently in advance of the scheduled surgery to integrate an appropriate evaluation, necessary testing and thorough patient education per policy.

• Extubate patients with endotracheal and larynx-mask airway.


• Assess airway quality and function.


• Managing Patient Airway


• Connect airway to t-tube oxygen and suction airway as needed.


• Place oral and/or nasal airways as needed.


• Evaluate breath sounds and document.


• Identify signs and/or symptoms of respiratory distress and intervene appropriately.


• Administer breathing treatments as needed.


• Properly position head for optimal airway function.


• Use bag-valve-mask, suction equipment, oral and nasal airways, t-tubes, suction catheters, oximeters, mist puffers.

C. Assessment of Surgical Site

• Assess integrity of surgical site.


• Notify surgeon of increased bleeding, bruising, discoloration, temperature, heat, redness or swelling at site.


• Identify signs and symptoms of infection.


• Identify any drains and record amount of drainage.


• Document type of dressing (4x4s, bandaid, ace wrap, etc.) and site.

• Assess pain level and need for pain medications continuously until optimal response is obtained.


• Administer pain and other medications with knowledge of dosage and effects.


• Position patients comfortably and teach breathing techniques and alternatives for pain management.


• Locate oxygen tubing, supplemental oxygen masks, t-tubes, and airway supplies efficiently.


• Sign off doctor orders as received.


• Perform surgeon’s orders (ice bags, medications including pain meds and antibiotics, elevation of extremities, etc.).


• Monitor and record IV fluids, incisional drains, empty catheters, etc.


• Obtain temperature and intervene as appropriate with warm blankets or heating or cooling methods.


• Verify and validate patient and family awareness of discharge instructions.


• Ensure that post-operative teaching is understood by patient/family by performance of tasks or repeating instructions verbally.


• Identify discharge criteria.


• Discharge patient according to discharge criteria to a responsible adult.


• Provision of patient care to outpatient total joint and complex spine specialty patients.

• Establish availability of responsible adult to provide home care and transportation home.


• Verify family and patient education regarding pain management and medication, nourishment, activity, safety and follow-up care.


• Provide written discharge instructions.

F. Lab Tests

• Obtain labs, referrals blood, X-rays using the correct process.


• Competent and proficient in I-Stat testing.


• Perform urine pregnancy tests according to anesthesia criteria.

G. Venipuncture and Blood Draw

• Identify proper veins or capillaries to use for obtaining blood samples.


• Competent and proficient in venipuncture.


• Reassure and educate patient before procedure.


• Identify correct collection device and/or vacuum tube for test to be performed.


• Obtain blood sample for point of care and I-STAT testing as ordered by physician.


• Obtain I-STAT for diabetic patients.

H. Use of Monitoring Equipment

• Attach leads and monitoring equipment correctly to patient to monitor patient’s vital signs and EKG.


• Read and interpret values (EKG, B/P, heart rate, pulse oximetry) on monitors.


• Troubleshoot and adjust equipment as necessary.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of Pathophysiology of body systems and how anesthesia drugs affect each body system.


• Knowledge of nursing unit standards of care in the POCU/PACU and patient room areas.


• Knowledge of safety regulations along with policies and procedures (Universal Precautions).


• Ability to verbally communicate accurate data to doctors, surgeons, and anesthesiologists in a quick and thorough manner.


• Ability to write thoroughly enough for nursing care actions that could be defensible in a court system.


• Math skills to calculate IV drip rates, antibiotic dosages, to convert medication dosages to CCs from bulk medication containers, and to calculate appropriate pain medications.


• Reading skills to comprehend training manuals, physician orders, computer information, and data related to patient care in the POCU/PACU.


• Ability to effectively explain and train other nurses.


• Ability to prioritize nursing tasks according to standards of care in the POCU/PACU.


• Demonstrate competency in total joint and complex spine perioperative nursing.


• Annual completion of specified mandatory in-services.


• Annual completion of six hours of total joint and complex spine specialty education.

Physical Characteristics 

• See well enough to read written/typed material, monitors, gauges, printouts, computers, etc.


• Hear well enough to receive doctors’ orders over the telephone and to hear monitor alarms at all times.


• Speak well enough to communicate ideas to doctors, other nurses, health care professionals, and family members.


• Strength to physically maneuver patients around in bed.


• Have use of hands and fingers to give injections, draw up medications into syringes, and assist doctor with any procedures.


• Have mobility to move quickly in an emergency, to reach overhead and under beds, and to stand long periods of time.

Education/Experience

• Graduate of accredited registered nurse program.


• Valid registered nurse state license.


• BLS, ACLS, PALS certification within one year of employment.


• One to three years’ experience in CCU, ICU, ER and/or PACU preferred.

Additional Characteristics

• Flexible to work unscheduled hours as needed.


• Functions as a member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, consults and collaborates with colleagues, peers, supervisors and other healthcare providers and promotes respectful relationships among colleagues.


• Delivers care in a non-judgmental, compassionate and nondiscriminatory manner that is sensitive to diversity.


• Delivers care in a manner that preserves and protects patient autonomy, dignity, respect and rights.


• Evaluates factors related to safety, effectiveness, and costs to the outcome of optimal patient care.


• Annual completion of specified competencies and in-services


• Report Incidents and Adverse Incidents per Center policy.

We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive compensation and an extensive benefits package. Plus, we work to maintain the best possible environment for our employees, where people can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative environment where each person feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, decisions, planning and culture. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.