Registered Nurse – Post Anesthesia Care Unit; PACU

Registered Nurse – Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

Full Time Bethesda, MD, US

30+ days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $52.23 To $57.32 Annually

• Monday–Friday, 10-hour shifts with a 45-minute unpaid meal break
  • Day
    
    Shift: 08:45AM–19:15PM
    • Day Shift personnel will be required to work one (1) evening shift within a 6-week scheduling block.
  • Evening Shift: 12:45PM–23:15PM

• Shall be knowledgeable of equipment and supply terminology and skill sufficient to identify and use necessary equipment and supplies properly and to communicate proper use with nurses, medical staff, patients, and family members.
• Shall be knowledgeable and possess nursing skills necessary to provide care appropriate to any age-related needs of the patients.
• Shall be knowledge of the principles of growth and development appropriate to patient population served:
  Infants, Children, Adolescent, Adults, and Geriatric (>65).
• Shall, assess, coordinate, facilitate, deliver and evaluate care for infant to geriatric patients using the nursing process.
• Will be expected to effectively manage the care of potentially critical patients for up to two hours.
• Shall be knowledge of a wide range of medical disorders/conditions, diagnostic studies and treatments related to prevention, and detection of illnesses in adults, is desirable.
• Shall be knowledgeable in professional care theories, principles, practices, and procedures to perform nursing assignments of moderate difficulty, with special needs, paralysis, amputations, and expressive disorders.
• Will be able to fully comprehend and be fluent in speaking and writing the English language.
• Shall be able to assist with bed-to-bed, bed-to-chair, chair-to-chair, wheelchair-to-commode, and commode to wheelchair transfer patients
• Will be able to walk the distance of 500 yards without needing rest, push an occupied wheelchair, push an occupied gurney, and lift linen bags of 30 lbs.
• Will be able to type efficiently and prepare medications from vials for patient care,
• Will be able to read (with or without assistive devices) computer screens and medication vials/packets.
• Will care for critically ill patients, including the management of invasive lines and advanced monitoring.
• Will be responsible in recognizing and responding to life‑threatening changes in a patient's condition; titration of vasoactive medications and operating specialized medical equipment. This includes but is not limited to epidurals pumps, patient‑controlled analgesia (PCA) devices, cardiac monitors, IV pumps, airway adjuncts, and mechanical ventilators.
• Provide a scope of care which includes emphasis on evaluation, management, and education of patients undergoing Anesthesia (general, regional, or local), Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) or Moderate Sedation.
• Conduct duties in accordance with PACU policies and procedures.
• Delivery of treatment within the personnel and equipment capabilities of the MTF, provision of mandated nursing surveillance and preventive services.
• The quality and timeliness of treatment records and reports required to document procedures performed and care provided.
• Participate in educational and continuous improvement programs to include training of the enlisted, LPN/CNA staff assigned to the PACU.
• Assess nursing needs, formulate, and implement a plan of nursing care for each patient consistent with established nursing standards and protocols for this unit and with the prescribed plan of medical care.
  • Contribute to the medical/nursing plan of care by observing, recognizing, recording, and reporting changes in the patient's condition, subjective symptoms and objective signs, reactions to medications, and responses to therapy.
  • Performance of supportive life functions such as management of medications, suctioning (to include tracheostomy suctioning) maintenance and electrolytic fluids, and oxygen administration for maintenance of airway, cardiovascular, and respiratory functions.
  • Monitor patients recovering from anesthesia in accordance with PACU protocols, including vital signs, airway management and pain control.
  • Communicate effectively with surgeons, anesthesiologists, Perioperative Staff, and other care team…