Circulating Registered Nurse - Operating Room

Job Description

Job Description

The Circulating Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for managing and coordinating nursing care within the operating room during surgical procedures. The Circulating RN acts as the patient advocate, ensures a safe and sterile environment, coordinates the surgical team, and maintains accurate documentation throughout the perioperative process.

BASIC FUNCTIONS OF POSITION:

1. Prescribes, delegates, and coordinates nursing care for patients utilizing the nursing process.

2. Provides leadership by working cooperatively with ancillary departments and other patient care team members in maintaining Standards for Clinical Practice and Standards of Patient Care in the clinical setting.

3. Participates in Quality Improvement.

4. Participates in patient/family teaching and discharge planning.

5. Directs, supervises and evaluates nursing care provided. Leads and facilitates decision making at the unit level.

6. Assigns nursing care to team members in accordance with patient’s needs and nursing staff competencies and qualifications.

7. Competently performs core and specific skills.

8. Provides one unit based education to staff annually.

9. Competently administers medications with knowledge of action, mode of administration, side effects, and contraindications.

10. Implements, transcribes, and/or countersigns physician orders.

11. Utilizes assessment skills to identify biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, selfcare, discharge planning, spiritual and educational needs of patient, family, and/or significant other.

12. Communicates pertinent unit activities, work load fluctuations/staffing, and difficult situations.

13. Makes patient rounds with physicians and assists with diagnostic tests and procedures.

14. Identifies learning opportunities for self and others.

15. Promotes good public relations for the nursing department/hospital.

16. Competently assumes an active role in the safe, effective administration of oncology chemotherapy, understands mechanism of action, modes

of administration, dosage calculation and contraindication.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: Graduate from an approved school of nursing; BSN preferred. BLS training.

LICENSE: Possess current licensure by Missouri State Board of Nursing.

EXPERIENCE: Previous nursing experience preferred.

SPECIAL:

PATIENT CONTACT: Must have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.

PHYSICAL: Must be able to lift approximately 50lbs.

STANDING: Majority of shift spent standing.

WALKING: Considerable amount of time spent walking.

LIFTING: Must use good body mechanics to independently lift or in certain situations, assist with lifting/transferring a patient.

VISUAL: Must have ability to read physician orders and observe patient care areas; utilize inspection skills during patient assessment.

HEARING: Must be able to receive/comprehend telephone calls; auscultate and percuss during physical assessment.

SPEAKING: Talking is essential in instructing and supervising nursing personnel, communicating physician orders and

addressing patient/family needs and/or requests.