Registered Nurse - PACU

Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) – Registered Nurse - PRN

The Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for implementing, directing and coordinating the care of patients through the use of the nursing process: assessment, planning implementation and evaluation. Included is recognition and treatment of the physical and psychosocial changes unique to the age/population group served on the specific unit.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions and Responsibilities Job Class Specifics:

• Demonstrates safe medication practice.
• Maintains a professional image that reflects the employee's role in health care, with confidence and a positive impression.
• Completes chart check to ensure no missed orders.
• Accurately transcribes physician's orders.
• Demonstrates therapeutic communication skills.
• Demonstrates ability to assess patient education needs and use of patient education resources.
• Demonstrates involvement in unit by attending 50% of staff/committee meetings and in-services for area.
• Demonstrates leadership through the nursing process and supervision while maintaining accountability for treatment and patient outcomes.
• Acts as a resource person regarding patient care, specialty area, orientation and teaching of staff.
• Responds to delays in a calm manner. Apologizes for inconveniences and gives alternatives.
• Analyzes assessment data, identifies priority problems and documents on Plan of Care in PCS for patients and families and significant others.
• Uses effective problem-solving skills to plan patient care.
• Identifies critical factors evidencing changes in patient condition and responds appropriately.
• Completes and documents discharge assessment against plan of care goals.
• Initiates and maintains Intravenous Therapy according to IV standards.
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations.
• Utilizes proper body mechanics to prevent injury to self and others. Safely positions, transfers and transports patients.
• Functions as a virtual nurse as assigned which includes, but is not limited to, admissions, discharges, education, documentation through a virtual platform and working collaboratively with the bedside nursing staff.
• Demonstrates ability to function in the resource role.
• Demonstrates correct patient identification by following the universal protocol.
• Completes preoperative teaching and documents PAT assessment information.
• Demonstrates compliance with screening criteria for assessment by Department of Anesthesia for all PAT assessments.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service skills in the collection of data during the completion of phone interviews and in the collection and sharing of data from allied health professionals.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the preparation of patient documentation, including review of diagnostic studies, completion of consents, and presence of H&P's and notification of physician of abnormal results.
• Verbalizes knowledge of the most commonly used medications, including actions, side effects and rationale for use and including the use of the medication grid.
• Obtains and maintains equipment needed to implement standards of care.
• Abides by self-scheduling guidelines to assure proper patient care/safety.
• Anticipates the need for pain relief upon emergence from anesthesia.
• Verbalizes and effectively uses appropriate pain assessment and interventions.
• Assesses and evaluates patient response to procedures and therapies.
• Effectively uses appropriate interventions to manage patient's post-operative/post-procedure care.
• Verbalizes concepts in selection of drug delivery routes for effective and safe pain management strategies.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the use of CPAP/BiPAP equipment.
• Completes annual urine pregnancy testing competency.
• Completes annual glucometer competency.
• Demonstrates sterile technique and proper healthcare asepsis.
• Demonstrates correct patient identification; completes universal protocol, including time out.
• Follows established criteria in assessing patients for discharge readiness.
• Demonstrates competency on radiation safety by completing radiation safety education.
• Participates in the annual malignant hyperthermia drill.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain an open airway for the anesthetized patient.
• Identifies signs/symptoms of airway obstruction, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, aspiration, and respiratory arrest, and takes appropriate action to correct the problem.
• Demonstrates ability to program and to troubleshoot the ventilator, and verbalizes the process to include the Respiratory Therapy practitioner in the care of the patient.
• Safely extubates patient, when indicated.
• Demonstrates the ability to calibrate and to draw blood from an arterial line.
• Demonstrates ability to utilize the autotransfusion device.
• Demonstrates ability to assist with the insertion of a chest tube, including set-up and post-insertion patient care.
• Demonstrates working knowledge of high-risk medications that require independent double-checks, including dose calculation and key points and including the use of the medication grid (e.g., patient-controlled analgesia, epidural analgesia, or critical care drip medications).

Qualifications

Qualifications and Standards:

Education: • Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing is preferred. • Evidence of participation in educational programs to update and maintain current knowledge and clinical skills.

Experience: • Experience applying customer service behaviors and communication skills required. • Previous nursing experience in specialty area preferred.

Certifications/Licensure: • Eligible for or currently licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in Pennsylvania. • Certification in specialty preferred. • CPR certification required. • ACLS required for Cardiovascular Services, CCU, Device Clinic, Emergency, IMCU, FBS, Tele Observation, PACU/SDS, or achieved within one year of start date. • ACLS required for Cardiac Rehab or achieved within 3 months of hire/transfer. • Proficiency in cardiac monitor interpretation, conscious sedation, and ACLS required for Cath Lab or achieved within 6 months of hire/transfer. • ACLS required for Float Pool. • PALS required for Emergency, PACU, and Pediatric trained staff within one year from start date. • PALS and Conscious Sedation is required for SDS, or must be achieved within four months of hire/transfer. • CNOR preferred for OR. • CPAN/CAPA preferred for PACU/SDS. • CRRN preferred for Rehabilitation Medicine. • NRP required for Level II NICU. • NRP and Fetal Monitoring education required for Family Birthing Services within one year from start date. • PMH-BC preferred for BHS (IP and OP). • Proficiency in cardiac monitor interpretation required for PACU/SDS, IMCU, Tele Observation, CCU, Cardiac Rehab, Cardiovascular Services, Cath Lab, and Emergency. • Temporarily reassigned personnel will work in a limited scope of practice consistent with credentials and be supervised by appropriately credentialed staff. • WOCNCB or CWCN preferred for Wound Care Center.