Operating Room RN

OR RN Duties

The OR RN works with the multidisciplinary surgical team for the coordination of care focused on the patient throughout the continuum of care. Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs. The OR RN is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from the nursing care for the patient undergoing a surgical/invasive procedure. The OR RN plans, directs and coordinates the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures, taking into consideration respect for the individual and recognition of the important contribution that each team member makes to the patient's wellbeing. The OR RN is expected to function proficiently in either the circulator or scrub role within the OR and to be competent in all surgical specialties served. All OR RNs will carry out a range of duties including, but not limited to: circulating cases; scrubbing, at the minimum, cases in their area of specialty; computer charting and ordering; updating surgeon preference cards; preparing cases for the following day, coordinating with vendors and the Perioperative Business Manager to address service specific needs, coordinating with the Perioperative Nurse Educator for staff in services on new procedures and equipment, and other duties as assigned by OR leadership. The OR RN maintains knowledge of current Association of Peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) Standards, VHA Directives, and facility/service level guidance. The OR RN assures the sterility of the surgical field is maintained and all instrumentation and equipment is used in a safe and efficient manner. The OR RN protects the patient from injury caused by chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal sources, and extraneous objects, performs counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items, participates in the Time Out process to ensure correct site, side, and level, and follow implant and tissue/tissue based product documentation, policy, and procedures. The OR RN manages the patient's specimens in the appropriate manner, administers medications safely and correctly, performs interventions to maintain the patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels, and performs interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection. The OR RN is responsible for ensuring comprehensive documentation of all care provided during the perioperative experience is timely, complete, and accurate in the electronic health record (EHR). The OR RN spends time reviewing the patient's history, labs, allergies, and other pertinent information before interviewing the patient in the pre-op area. The OR RN communicates throughout the case with the family or other support person, offering support and information, and documents this in the EHR. The OR RN will be assigned to a surgical specialty as a service coordinator. As a service coordinator the OR RN will be responsible for working with the other coordinator(s) to ensure all needs for the surgical specialty are being met. The duties of the service coordinator will include, but are not limited to: communicating with surgical staff for case/patient specific needs, communicating with the sterile processing service (SPS) for instrument needs, coordinating with the Perioperative Business Manager for new equipment or purchases, maintain knowledge of inventory and supplies needed, evaluate par levels annually with logistics, ensure preference cards are evaluated and updated in a timely manner for changes, serve as a resource for staff outside of the specialty during orientation and as needed. The OR RN is required to be included in the OR on-call rotation to provide patient care for emergency procedures during off tours (nights, weekends, holidays).