Registered Nurse PreOP

PRN Position

Job Summary: To act as patient advocate, providing continuity of care designed to meet individual patient needs through collaboration with other members of the health care team at the Hospital. Supports the philosophy, objectives and goals of the Hospital. The Pre-op nurse will ensure quality care to the individual patients pre-operatively including, but not limited to geriatric, adult, pediatric and adolescent patients.

Qualifications:

• Degree from accredited nursing program.
• Licensure as registered nurse. Current PALS and ACLS certification
• Minimum of 1 years work experience as a staff nurse preferred.

Responsibilities:

• Readies the pre-op area for the day.
• Assesses physical and emotional needs of patients and implements appropriate nursing interventions.
• Confirms allergies, medications taken at home, dentures, contacts or glasses, pertinent medical conditions, pertinent past medical history, consent and operative side, laterality procedure marking, and responsible party.
• Performs temperature, weight and height, starts IV on all patients, except those who have an order not to start an IV.
• Respects patients' right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
• Assists the patient to undress, if patient needs assistance, and gives locker key to patient's family.
• Follows appropriate Pre-Op/Admitting policies and procedures.
• Performs pre-operative instruction and explanation according to facility policy and procedure.
• Is knowledgeable about and responsive to emergency situations.
• Reports and completes appropriate forms for incidents related to patients, visitors, and employees.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings and staff development programs, including mandatory ones.
• Participates in CQI process and activities.
• Assists with all other duties as the need arises or as assigned.
• Performs duties of waived and specific non-waived laboratory testing.
• Ensures that patients are seen by the anesthesiologist prior to being taken to the OR.
• Sets priorities to facilitate the timely and efficient flow of patients throughout the day.
• Prepares and restocks the Pre-Operative area for the following day.
• Comply with facility Standards of Behavior and complete all required education assignments within the designated timeline.

Physical Demands:

1. While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to sit, converse, and listen; use hands to touch, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; and to reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
2. The employee must be able to lift and/or carry over 20 pounds on a regular basis and be able to push/pull over 25 pounds on a regular basis.
3. The employee must be able to stand and/or walk at least five hours per day.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.