Registered Nurse Post-Anesthesia Care Unit - PACU

Registered Nurse

Registered professional nurse who assumes responsibility and accountability for a group of patients for a designated shift. Prescribes nursing care based on the nursing process that is consistent with the medical plan of care and is based on input from the patient and significant others. Collaborates with the physicians and other members of the health care team and coordinates the delivery of patient care to patients of any age including neonatal, infant, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric. Incorporates teaching and discharge planning needs in the overall plan of care. Delegates certain aspects of patient care delivery to other nursing staff based on their current clinical competence and legal scope of practice.

Education and Work Experience: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN): Preferred Acute care facility experience: Preferred

Licenses/Certifications: Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the state of practice: Required Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BLS OR HS-BLS OR RQIBLS) certification: Required ALL Units Admitting Telemetry Patients: Dysrhythmia recognition course or demonstrated competency and ACLS: Required PACU/SDS:PALS certification within 1 year of hire: RequiredACLS: RequiredIV Sedation within 6 months of hire: Required: Preferred

Essential Functions: Utilizes the nursing process to assess patients, design and implement an individualized plan of care for assigned patients and to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan, patient's response to care and the patient's progress towards established goals. Modifies plan as necessary. Considers age specific, cultural and spiritual needs of patients. Collaborates with other disciplines to formulate the plan of care for assigned patients. Applies knowledge of illnesses, injuries, diseases, and developmental stages to the delivery of patient care. Utilizes knowledge of pharmacology (action, route of administration, side effects and contraindications) when preparing and administering medications and IV therapy. Provides patient / family education in all phases of care delivery to gain cooperation, allay apprehension and promote compliance. Assesses knowledge, plans appropriate learning activities, varies techniques and materials to patients' age and unique needs and evaluates effectiveness by seeking feedback from patients and families. Responds to emergency patient situations or internal / external disasters following established protocols, remaining calm and informing appropriate persons. Oversees the delivery of patient care and challenges or corrects errors of others to ensure patient safety and wellbeing. Reports observations, reactions and problems regarding patients to the appropriate persons in a timely manner. Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for problem solving and clinical decision-making on assigned shift. Ensures continuity of care by promptly processing and following through on physician's orders and all aspects of the treatment plan. Demonstrates an ability to set appropriate priorities in providing patient care and ability to respond to changes in workload. Acts as the patient's advocate, ensuring patient rights and intervening when necessary to assure those rights are preserved. Demonstrates knowledge of job descriptions and appropriately delegates to CNA's and student nurses based on their current clinical competence. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Practices registered nursing according to the California Nurse Practice Act. Maintains awareness of professional responsibilities and legal scope of practice. Utilizes communication skills and appropriate resources to assure effective communication with patients, families, staff, physicians and coworkers. Documents assessments, nursing interventions and care provided to all assigned patients. Performs technical aspects of patient care according to established policies / procedures; adapts techniques to patients' age and unique needs with attention to detail, accuracy and patient comfort. Prepares and administers medications and IV's to patients with consideration of age specific needs. Performs emergency procedures, such as CPR, and assesses patient response. Demonstrates safe use of equipment, including but not limited to electric beds, infusion pumps, mechanical lifts, suction devices, physiologic monitors, traction equipment and other patient care devices. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.