POSITION: Pre-Op/Recovery Room Registered Nurse/Operating Room
DEPARTMENT: Physicians Surgery Center of Albuquerque
REPORTS TO: Director of Nursing
Covid-19 Vaccine and Booster Required.
Job Summary: This individual is responsible for acting as the supervisor of the patient, while in the pre-operative and recovery room areas, including direct supervision of the medical assistant, acting as patient advocate, and ensuring that quality care is administered.
Education and Experience:
1. Licensed Registered Nurses in the state of New Mexico.
2. Operating room experience with at least one-year expertise in a surgical specialty or related field.
3. Supervision of ancillary staff experience.
4. Current ACLS certification.
Essential Skills and Abilities:
1. Capacity for making quick, intelligent decisions, and initiating appropriate actions.
2. Stability, maturity, dependability.
3. Excellent communication skills.
4. Empathetic personality with concern for patients’ needs,
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Procedures
a. Provides education to patient and family about upcoming surgery.
b. Completes patient health questionnaire and obtains medical clearance from patient’s family physician (if patient has an active medical problem).
c. Reviews appropriate lab work and EKG, and acts on abnormal results.
On Day of Surgery
a. Identifies patient and assesses patient’s chart for completeness, establishes basic interventions for patient care:
· Reviews patient history.
· Obtain surgical and anesthesia consents
· Records base line vitals.
· Assesses patient’s physical status.
· Obtains any necessary point of care testing and report results if out of range.
· Check’s medications ordered and administered, and notes effects.
· Informs surgeon or anesthesiologist of change in patient status.
b. Reviews pre-operative teaching regarding events to take place in recovery room and operating room:
· Retro bulbar block.
· Dilating drops (if applicable).
· Transportation to OR.
· Expectations during surgery.
c. Provides emotional support for patient pre- and post-operatively.
d. Assists in:
· Starting IV or heparin lock.
· Attaching leads to cardiac monitor.
· Attaching pulse oximeter.
· Applying oxygen.
e. Monitors patient during administration of peri/retro bulbar block.
f. Completes pre-operative documentation.
g. Assists patient to operative suite.
Post-Operatively
a. Assists in escorting patient from operative suite to recovery room while assessing the post-operative status.
b. Initiates appropriate monitoring, utilizing any necessary equipment: 02, suction, EKG, pulse oximeter, blood pressure, and temp.
c. Receives report from OR staff/ CRNA and documents care given.
d. Checks patient for level of consciousness, blood pressure, pulse and respiration every 15 minutes, or as frequently as indicated by patient’s condition.
e. Checks dressing every five minutes; alerts surgeon if bleeding is present; notes patient’s skin color, skin temperature, and IV state.
f. DC IV after patient demonstrates stable vitals & BP. Consider ability to take and retain fluids.
g. Writes concise, legible notes, which reflect care that is pertinent to the patient’s status.
h. Makes an entry of any untoward events during nursing care and reports them to the CRNA and/or physician in charge.
i. Accurately records pain scale, intervention, and patient’s response.
j. Involves patient and family members in pre-op and post-op teaching and planning.
k. Assists in discharge of the patient:
· Uses the following criteria for discharge:
§ Patient is taking and retaining fluids.
§ Vital signs are stable.
§ Patient has been up, alert, and at baseline mobility.
· Collects discharge order from anesthetist.
· Escorts and assists patient to transportation via wheelchair.
· Ensures patient chart is complete, including:
§ Condition on discharge.
§ Ambulatory status.
§ Time and mode of discharge.
§ Wound and dressing condition.
§ Discharge instruction sheet.
§ Time, date, and all signatures.
l. Makes post-operative phone calls on all patients, documenting the findings in the surgical/anesthesia logbook.
m. Cleans and stores non-disposable supplies and equipment, ensuring:
§ Equipment is cleaned with Super Sani Cloth after each use.
n. Communicates effectively, maintaining harmonious interpersonal relationships.
2. General Responsibilities
a. Assists director of nursing in improving teaching program for staff members.
b. Reviews all policies and procedures on a yearly basis.
c. Attends update and continuing education courses relevant to specialty field.
d. Provides a safe environment for treating surgical patients to prevent cross-infection.
e. Maintains current ACLS certification and ongoing in-service in basic cardiac and respiratory emergencies.
f. Assists in providing in-service for all staff members in the following areas:
· Fire safety, with drills.
· Infection control.
· Malignant Hyperthermia.
· Medical education.
g. Assists in cleaning and terminalization of pre-/post-op room, supplies, and equipment.
h. Assists in ordering supplies and equipment.
i. Participates in on-going quality assurance programs.
Writes concise legible notes, which reflect care that is pertinent to the patient’s status
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $35.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
Medical specialties:
Physical setting:
- Ambulatory surgery center
Standard shift:
Weekly schedule:
Education:
Experience:
- Nursing: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- RN (Required)
- ACLS Certification (Preferred)
Work Location: In person