Registered Nurse- Circulator

Registered Nurse - Circulator

Department: Clinical

FLSA Status: Hourly/Non-Exempt (Full Time or PRN)

Reports To: Clinical Manager

Position Summary

Promotes and restores patients’ health by completing the nursing process; collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members. Provides physical, emotional and psychological support to patients, friends and families. Supervision of assigned team members. During operations and other surgical procedures, the circulator assists by acting as an intermediary between the operating room staff and the rest of the hospital.

Responsibilities

• Promotes the mission, vision and values of the organization.

• Identifies patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.

• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing support in areas such as emotional and psychological.

• Promotes patients’ independence by establishing patient care goals; teaching patients, friends and family to understand condition, medications and self-care skills; answering questions.

• Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments; following Center and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act and other governing agency regulations.

• Resolves patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.

• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.

• Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.

• Administers and documents medication given to patients, assesses reactions and reacts as needed including contacting physician and/or supervisor.

• Maintains continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities and continuing needs.

• Ensures that the surgical room is sterile and safe for the patient.

• Works side by side with scrub nurses to help maintain the sterile field in the operating room.

• Prepares the patient for the procedure and handles the preparation for the operating room before the surgery takes place.

• Must have a strong attention to detail and physical stamina to handle long, arduous work hours.

• Assess the patient’s condition before a surgical procedure.

• Assesses the needs of the patient during the procedure, to ensure the best outcome.

• Works with a physician to develop the care plan for the patient during the surgery

• Continues to evaluate the patient’s condition during the procedure and makes changes to the care plan as necessary

• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques.

• Maintains nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies; using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

• Maintains a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information; responding to requests; building rapport; participating in team problem-solving methods.

• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

• Transfers care as appropriate.

• Regular, physical attendance on a predictable basis is essential to the performance of this job.

• Maintains confidentiality of patient and Center related business.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and act as a patient advocate.

• Ability to delegate tasks as appropriate according to the state Nurse Practice Act and job descriptions.

• Basic computer skills (eg, Microsoft® Word).

• Uses problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.

• Adhering to principles of Universal Precautions

• Maintains required competencies.

• Exhibits favorable bedside manner including listening and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing.

• Current registered nurse licensure in state of employment.

• Two years perioperative services experience.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, depending on patient population.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing.

• Certified Nurse, Operating Room (CNOR) certification.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Working Conditions: Exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation and repetitive motions; Category 1-Occupational exposure.

• Physical Demands: Physically demanding, high-stress environment. Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients. Pushing and pulling heavy objects. Manual and finger dexterity; hand and eye coordination; standing and walking for extensive periods of time. Lifting and carrying items weighing up to fifty (50) pounds. Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range.