Registered Nurse - Surgery

Job Objective

A Registered Nurse who is responsible for the nursing care of patients in the Critical Care setting guided by policies and procedures of the Critical Care Unit and hospital.

A Registered Nurse who is responsible for the nursing care of patients in the Critical Care setting guided by policies and procedures of the Critical Care Unit and hospital.

• Nursing Process:
  • Assessment of physiological, psycho social, educational, cultural, and spiritual needs of patient as evidenced by written assessment within one hour of admission and visual assessment within fifteen minutes of arrival
  • Documents physical assessment every four hours on in the electronic medical record and vital signs/I&O Q2 or more frequently as required by diagnosis/disease process/physician orders.
  • Reassesses patient’s needs every four hours and more often when necessary and documents in the electronic medical record and patient care plan. Provides further interventions as necessary and re-evaluates outcomes.
• Care of acutely ill patient
  • Monitors vital sign, i.e. EKG, Sa02, etc. and intervenes as necessary
  • Initiate and monitor vasoactive drips, ie Dopamine, Dobutamine, Nipride, Norepinephrine etc.
  • Monitor invasive lines, i.e. central lines, arterial lines, etc.
  • Monitor ventilator patients and intervene when necessary
  • Operate various pain management equipment, i.e. PCA, Epidural, etc.
  • Assess patient for respiratory depressions and/or arrest and intervene immediately if necessary, i.e. CPR, use ambu bag, chin lift maneuvers airways, etc.
  • Responds to codes in unit and responds to codes in other units in the hospital.
  • Monitor, assess and intervenes with extremely unstable patients, ie post cardiac surgery, trauma, organ donation, etc.
  • Insures that patients have a safe post-operative/post-procedural period from general, regional or local anesthesia, including Moderate Sedation .
  • Provide age specific and disease specific care and education to patients/families relating to post-procedural care.
• Technical Equipment Operation:
  • Operates technical equipment safely, efficiently and accurately as per unit competency level.
  • Pressure line set up and maintenance
  • Cardiac monitors
  • Insertion, maintenance, withdrawal of blood form arterial line, and removal of arterial line
  • Cardiac output
  • Insertion, maintenance and removal of PA lines
  • ICP and/or Camino set up, insertion and maintenance
  • Crash cart/defibrillator/cardioverison
  • Ventilator management
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulator
  • Ventricular Assist Device
  • Transvenous pacemaker/non-invasive pacing
  • Femostop/C-clamp for line removal

• Participates on unit or hospital based committees
• Other duties as assigned, within compliance with Title 22, The Joint Commission, and CMS.

• Demonstrates knowledge of criteria for 1:1 patient
• Demonstrates knowledge of patient classification system
• Demonstrates knowledge of staffing guidelines for Critical Care Unit
• Demonstrates knowledge of Moderate Sedation
• Demonstrates knowledge of Critical Care security policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates knowledge of Critical Care visitation policy.
• Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVH Board of Directors
• Conforms to required accreditation standards.
• Conforms with and supports hospital quality management and performance improvement guidelines

• Meets skills and abilities of a Registered Nurse
• Skill and ability to follow telephone etiquette/standards
• Displays a willingness to work as a team player
• Safely and effectively uses all equipment necessary to carry out duties

• Ability to adhere to all established AVH policies and procedures and to interpret and function under these.
• Ability to organize work and…