Pre & Post-Op Nurse

Job Summary:

As a Registered Nurse at Northtowns Ambulatory Surgery Center you will be responsible for providing direct nursing care for patients both before and after procedures in the Operating room and the Endoscopy suites. You will assist in screening patients for the center and supervising LPNs and Medical Assistants. Registered Nurses are expected to maintain the highest level of customer service and professionalism while making sure our patients are safe and well cared for.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Philosophy
   1. Supports the center's ideology, mission, goals, and objectives.
   2. Performs in accordance with the center's policies and procedures.
   3. Follows the center's standards for ethical business conduct.
   4. Conducts self as a positive role model and team member.
   5. Recognizes patients' rights and responsibilities and supports them in performance of job duties.
   6. Participates in center committees, meetings, in-services, and activities.
2. Communication
   1. Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, visitors, physicians, and coworkers.
   2. Interacts with others in a positive, respectful, and considerate manner.
3. Financial practices
   1. Uses center resources appropriately and avoid wasteful practices.
   2. Reports wasteful practices.
   3. Analyzes work area and makes recommendations for potential cost-effective improvements.
4. Compliance program
   1. Contributes to the progress and development of the organization's adopted compliance program.
   2. Performs according to established compliance policies and procedures
5. Performance-improvement program
   1. Contributes to the progress and development of the organization's adopted performance-improvement program.
   2. Performs according to established performance-improvement policies and procedures.
6. Safety/risk-management program
   1. Adheres to safety policies and procedures in performing job duties and responsibilities.
   2. Reports observed or suspected safety violations, hazards, and policy/procedure noncompliance to safety officer or other designated person.
7. Professional competence
   1. Participates in continuing education and other learning experiences.
   2. Shares knowledge gained in continuing education with staff.
   3. Maintains membership in relevant professional organizations
   4. Seeks new learning experiences by accepting challenging opportunities and responsibilities.
   5. Welcomes suggestions and recommendations.
8. General Duties
   1. Effectively organizes time, equipment, supplies, and personnel.
   2. Organizes nursing activities efficiently.
   3. Considers staff abilities when delegating activities.
   4. Uses equipment effectively by anticipating patient needs and providing appropriate care.
   5. Confirms that proper techniques and procedures are used according to accepted standards of practice.
   6. Assists with inventory of supplies, drugs, and equipment to maintain availability and stock levels in the admission area.
   7. Maintains order and cleanliness of admission area.
9. Pre-operative Duties:
   1. Greets patient and provides comfort and reassurance to the patient and supports the patient's right to privacy, dignity, and confidentiality.
   2. Performs thorough admission assessment of patient.
   3. Develops a plan of care for the patient based on assessment data and implements admission care (e.g., evaluates chart, administers medication).
   4. Informs patient about routine care and procedures related to the perioperative experience.
   5. Confirm patient name, DOB, intended procedure, surgical site
   6. Ensure responsible adult escort available prior to admission
   7. Establish safe physical environment
   8. Secures signed surgical consent, witness as appropriate
   9. Review admission criteria per center policy/procedure
   10. Obtain H&P. If not performed within 30 days of scheduled date, obtain new one from provider and incorporate into patient record
   11. Confirm presence of documentation of allergies including adverse reactions
   12. Perform initial medication reconciliation with patient input
   13. Assists in the monitoring of physical symptoms and behavioral changes
   14. Monitor/document patient vital signs per policy
   15. Perform pre-admission testing per established criteria
   16. Establish IV access
   17. Documents admission care according to policy and procedure.
   18. Completes admission checklist when turning care of patient over to operating room personnel.
   19. Initiates nursing actions based on interpretation of physiological changes
   20. Follows established criteria for monitoring of patient, assessment of pain, per established criteria
10. Post-Operative Duties
    1. Assess patients' condition after a surgery has been performed
    2. Ensure that all vitals are within normal range
    3. Log all findings in patients' files
    4. Answer patients' questions and ensure that they are kept comfortable
    5. Make sure that all relevant IVs are in check
    6. Administers medication according to policy
    7. Provide nourishment per policy
    8. Discuss pain management. Both prescribed medications and alternative treatment options
    9. Develop individualized care plans based on each individual patient's condition
    10. Ensure that the all nursing activities are carried out in accordance to individual patient care plan
    11. Monitor patients for condition changes and report any changes to the doctor
    12. Initiate patient education programs to ensure that both patients and families are educated on procedures and medications
    13. Determine when patients are ready to discharge
    14. Ensure responsible adult escort available prior to discharge
    15. Evaluate patient ability to ambulate safely
    16. Assist patient in dressing as needed
    17. Review discharge instructions with patient and available family member. Provide information both verbally and in written format.
    18. Provide supplies for at home care as deemed needed
    19. Perform medication reconciliation and provide copy to patient with discharge information. Document when next dose of medications due (pain, antibiotic, etc.)
    20. Perform intervention duties in cases of post-operative emergencies
    21. Record sedation levels and body temperature
    22. Ensure that the post-operative space is clean and sanitized
    23. Change bandages and dress surgical wounds

Education and Experience:

Required

1. Graduate of accredited school of nursing
2. RN with active license in New York State
3. ACLS Certification, PALS Certification within 6 months
4. Evidence of leadership qualities
5. Strong ethical and moral character references

Physical/Mental Requirements

1. Ability to sit/stand for a considerable amount of time; ability to walk.
2. Visual and auditory acuity for frequent use of computer, telephone, and occasional use of other office equipment.
3. Ability to perform occasional overhead and low reaching.
4. Physical strength required for equipment needs and patient-care activities.
5. Visual and auditory acuity for responsiveness and patient-care assessment activities.
6. Ability to move quickly in response to center needs.
7. Constant and frequent judgment and response.
8. Occasional judgment and response to disasters or emergencies or drills.

Working Conditions (Environmental)

1. Well-lit and ventilated, with non-hazardous and hazardous equipment.
2. Category I: involves occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids and materials.