Job Title: | RN Surgery | Reports To: | Surgical Services RN Manager |
Department: | Surgical Services | FLSA Status: | Non-Exempt |
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Prepared Date: | 2/15/2023 |
Summary: Provides direct patient care to neonate through geriatric patient populations. Addresses the psychosocial, physical and general aspects of care related to the surgical environment. Provides care in a variety of surgical roles and settings, including but not limited to, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative. Communicates with surgeon and anesthesia provider continuously and as needed about patient condition. Assists with the maintenance of surgical equipment and inventory. Participates in performance improvement activities. Assesses operating room for equipment functioning and readiness, obtains supplies for individual cases and ensures all appropriate needs of surgical operating team are met.
Job Responsibilities:
- Perform all duties within the department including admission of patients, circulating RN, scrub RN, post anesthesia care unit RN, and discharge RN. Additionally, staff will be competent in all aspects of sterile processing and office duties, including but not limited to, scheduling procedures, chart reviews, and patient and physician phone calls.
- After initial training, surgery nurses are expected to complete orientation in the Outpatient, Emergency, and Acute Care Departments. RN’s may be utilized within these additional departments when needed. Agency staff are not expected to cross train in additional departments.
- On call responsibilities include weeknights, weekends, and holidays. A minimum of one weekend a month is required. Holiday coverage varies each year.
- On call responsibilities include assistance to other departments as needed due to staff shortage, illness and/or high census in any other unit. This coverage is to be kept to a minimum but will follow the staffing matrix and policy.
- Works as a team player and is flexible for the ever-changing demands within the department.
- Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age appropriate care to the patient population served. Able to interpret data about the patient’s status in order to identify each patient’s age specific needs and provide care needed by the patient group.
- Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and their families.
- Adapts nursing procedures to meet the needs for treatment of individual neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.
- Approaches patient in a kind, gentle and friendly manner.
- Responds to patient’s inappropriate behavior in a therapeutic manner.
- Establishes and maintains effective communication and good working relationships with co workers for the patient’s benefit.
- Protects patient’s sensitivities and right to privacy.
- Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
- Utilizes initiative; strives to maintain steady level of productivity, self-motivated; manages activity and time; does not waste time.
- Ensures Pre-op Checklist is complete (H&P present, informed consent signed, test results present, surgical site identified, etc.) before patient is taken into surgical suite.
- Carries out established techniques for safe administration of medications and parenteral fluids, as per facility policies and procedures.
- Reviews chart for appropriate order, consent, and preoperative orders prior to patient admission.
- Consistently ready and prepared for assigned cases and has patients in the surgical suite at the appropriate time.
- Able to open sterile supplies and set up for procedure.
- Gives patient explanations and verbal reassurances consistently.
- Assessment and reassessment of the patient is clearly and concisely communicated in charting. Documentation meets currents standards, policies and procedures and is completed within shift.
- Effectively communicates with the physician in accounting for all sponges, needles and instrumentation during and after the procedure and documents in the appropriate area.
- Communicates Clinical Laboratory/Imaging Services reports to the surgeon during the procedure.
- Accurately records, handles and labels specimens; demonstrates care of specimens.
- Identifies physical symptoms and changes and takes appropriate actions in a timely manner.
- Demonstrates ability to assess cardiorespiratory systems for changes in pediatric to geriatric patients and is able to treat appropriately.
- Ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
- Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
- Ability to perform waived testing (point-of-care testing) per Clinical Laboratory’s and the patient care unit’s policies and procedures.
- Positions patients safely; pads and protects bony prominences as outlined per facility policy.
- Preps and drapes patients correctly for all procedures.
- Carries out medical and surgical asepsis during all procedures.
- Directs and assists in maintenance and handling of special equipment and instruments.
- Demonstrates thorough knowledge of location, care and operation of all surgical equipment.
- Follows the medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
- Observes behavioral and physiologic changes due to medications, takes appropriate actions and documents.
- Adjusts expectations of patient behavior and acts according to the effect medication has on patient.
- Demonstrates knowledge of anesthetic drugs, actions and side effects.
- Coordinates and supervises patient care; provides patient and family with teaching/education, as necessary.
- Demonstrates competence in preparing and cleaning of OR suites before and between cases and terminal clean after the last case.
- Appropriately responds to the patient in an emergency or physically distressful situation.
- Makes decisions reflecting knowledge of dysrhythmias, followed by appropriate treatment.
- Obtains, documents and assesses vital signs per policy when recovering a PACU patient.
- Demonstrates ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilize appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
- Clearly documents in charting ideas, facts and concepts about the patient. Documentation is completed within shift; meets standards, policies and procedures.
- Supervises and orients new nurses and surgical technologists in the operating room, as necessary and assigned.
- Takes appropriate actions and documents in response to manifested anxiety or distress. Requests Social Service/Pastoral Care, as appropriate.
- Demonstrates thorough knowledge of instrument processing, sterilization and biological monitoring. Actively participates in instrument processing, as schedule/assignments allow.
- Ability to access and follow all appropriate policies and procedures to ensure patient safety throughout procedure.
- Reports any great catches, near misses, of incidents using appropriate reporting tool prior to the end of shift.
- Completes specially assigned duties consistently and as schedule allows
- Utilizes initiative; strives to maintain steady level of productivity; self-motivated. Organizes and manages activities reflecting due consideration for the needs of the department staff.
- Other Duties as assigned by department manager
Competencies/Abilities:
- Ethics - Treats all people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity; upholds organizational values; maintains the confidentiality of all client/co-worker/organizational business.
- Customer Service- Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; consistently exhibits excellent phone skills; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments
- Team Work - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
- Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments; represents the business in all actions, dress and conduct in accordance with the Mission and Vision.
- Attendance/Punctuality – Reports to work at designated start time, assures work responsibilities are covered when absent; gives appropriate notification for absences.
- Dependability - Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
- Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
Qualifications:
Education/Experience: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. Current Registered Nurse licensure in the State of Washington. Minimum of one (1) year work experience in the operating room.
Certificates and Licenses: Current BLS, ACLS, PALS, and NRP certification within first year of employment.
- Agency staff must have current BLS, and ACLS. PALS certification is preferred.
Language Ability: Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
Computer/Technical Skills: Basic computer knowledge.
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.
The typical noise level for the work environment is: Moderate Noise
Hearing: Ability to hear alarms on equipment. Ability to hear patient call. Ability to hear instructions from physician/department staff
Specific Work Environment Characteristics include: High bloodborne pathogens risk.
Physical Abilities: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.
This job has special vision requirements.
- Close Vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)
- Distance Vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)
- Color Vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)
- Peripheral Vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point)
- Depth Perception (three-dimensional vision; ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)
- Ability to Adjust Focus (ability to adjust eye to bring an object into sharp focus)
REPETITIVE MOTION ACTIONS
| Number of Hours |
Repetitive use of foot control | 0 | 1-2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 7+ | |
- Right only
| x | | | | | |
- Left only
| x | | | | | |
- Both
| x | | | | | |
Repetitive use of hands | | | | | | |
- Right only
| x | | | | | |
- Left only
| x | | | | | |
- Both
| | | x | | | |
Grasping: simple/light | | | | | | |
- Right only
| | | | | | |
- Left only
| | | | | | |
- Both
| | x | | | | |
Grasping: firm/heavy | | | | | | |
- Right only
| | | | | | |
- Left only
| | | | | | |
- Both
| | x | | | | |
Fine Dexterity | | | | | | |
- Right only
| | | | | | |
- Left only
| | | | | | |
- Both
| | x | | | | |
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All employees of Coulee Medical Center who have direct or indirect access to patient health information must treat that information with the strictest confidentiality. Any unauthorized access, modification, disclosure or casual discussion of such information shall be considered a violation of the policy and shall be the grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
I have read this job description and fully understand the requirements. I accept the position of ____________________and agree to follow the requirements listed previously and will perform all duties and responsibilities to the best of my ability.
I understand that I may be assigned other duties, in addition to or in place of those described previously. I also understand that the essential duties of this position may change at any time, according to the needs of Coulee Medical Center.
I further understand that my employment is at-will, and therefore understand that my employment may be terminated at-will by Coulee Medical Center or myself.
I acknowledge, understand and agree to the job duties and requirements for this position.
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