Registered Nurse - Perioperative

Perioperative Registered Nurse

The Perioperative (Pre-op, PACU, Endoscopy) Registered Nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age specific components. The RN assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. The RN administers medications, completes procedures per established policies and guidelines, executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.

The RN is expected to communicate timely and effectively with all members of the Interdisciplinary Team as well as relate courteously and appropriately to all internal and external customers. The RN is expected to work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment working as a patient advocate and build strong teams within multiple levels of interdisciplinary staff. The Perioperative Surgery RN provides specialized care throughout the peri anesthesia continuum to include the pre procedure, post procedure Phase I, post procedure Phase II, and administers moderate sedation for Endoscopy and other procedures.

The Perioperative Surgery RN possesses knowledge related to the physiology associated with various anesthesia techniques and surgical interventions. Procedural duties, include (but not limited to) nursing assessment of patients for procedures, readily recognizes contraindications for anesthesia and/or surgical intervention, verifies the presence procedural consents, H&P's, administration of intravenous fluids including venipuncture, assuring all lab work and other preoperative/ procedural testing is completed and communicated to team members, confirms surgical sites are prepared and marked, and the administration of medications as ordered.

The Perioperative RN applies the appropriate post sedation scoring and assesses the patient's postoperative status to include cardiovascular and respiratory systems, airway management, neurological system, hemodynamic stability, pain, comfort needs, and mental status, implementing appropriate interventions to maintain or return all physiological systems to baseline or above. The Perioperative RN documents responses to interventions, findings, and reports any changes. Provides clear and concise preoperative teaching and reviews discharge instructions to patients and families with written and verbal communication.

The Perioperative RN monitors post-operative patient's level of consciousness after the recovery of anesthesia/sedation. Closely observes signs of side effects of post residual anesthesia medications. The Perioperative RN maintains knowledge of current American Society of Peri Anesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) standards, VHA Directive, and service level standard operating procedures. The Perioperative RN is responsible for ensuring comprehensive documentation of all phases of care and is timely, complete, and accurate in the electronic health record.

PRACTICE:
Demonstrates expertise in professional practice using the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation) with improved evidence-based and/or data-driven outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting. Expectations:
1. Leads and organizes delivery of care to ensure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice in alignment with the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
2. Applies advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting.
3. Applies nursing expertise to lead improvement, with demonstrated outcomes, beyond the immediate practice setting.
4. Performs appropriate nursing assessments, documents care, recognizes and reports contraindications for surgery/sedation to the appropriate provider.