ASC RN

ASC Registered Nurse

1.0 FTE Monday through Friday 6-4:30 PM Salmon Medical Center/ Ambulatory Surgery Center

Job Overview:
Provides safe, quality patient care in the Peri-Operative area (Preop, Recovery or OR). Accountable for the assessing, planning, implementing and coordinating patient care from admission to discharge.

Essential Functions Include But Are Not Limited To:

• Assess patient status on admission to the preop area, the operating room and/or the post-op area, and on a continuing basis.
• Provides safe, therapeutic quality care to patients by utilizing the nursing process and nursing diagnosis in a timely manner and by setting appropriate priorities. Coordinates nursing interventions to enhance achievement of expected outcomes and to ensure readiness for discharge. Documents interventions and patient's responses.
• Ensures provision of patient care in an organized and timely manner.
• Utilizes nursing care standards when planning and implementing patient care.
• Communicates appropriate information regarding patient conditions to those who require the information including, surgeons, anesthesia, management and other staff.
• Safely carries out physician's orders correctly and promptly, documenting all activities.
• Initiates and participates in patient and family education. Assesses learning needs according to patient's level of understanding and readiness to learn.
• Displays an understanding of each patient's cognitive, physical, emotional and chronological maturity in assessments, treatment, and care.
• Takes part in pre and post-op phone calls and communicates any problems to the appropriate person.
• Maintains competencies to function in RN role within specific area. (Ex. OR circulator – Identification, counting and care of instrumentation and sponges, skin preparation of surgical site).
• Maintain competencies in conscious sedation administration and monitoring of sedated patient. Including airway protection, assessment and support of sedated patients.
• Protect sedated and anesthetized patients by identifying safety hazards such as electrical, equipment, pressure points and by minimizing exposure to maintain privacy and body temperature.
• Expertise in safety principles, asepsis, sterile technique and universal precautions.
• Assesses, anticipates and implements appropriate care throughout the surgical process.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Correlates clinical data with nursing care. Provides the patient with care measures congruent with his/her age, sex and health status.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, prioritizes work to meet the changing needs of the department.
• Document and perform nursing care in assigned area based on standards of care and practice, and TDC policies and procedures.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures, including but not limited to standards for confidentiality, Infection Control, safety (OSHA), attendance, punctuality and personal appearance.
• Serve as a role model and mentor, providing direction and leadership to other staff.
• Demonstrates understanding of established emergency procedures for the Center.
• Demonstrates the ability to direct and provide for patient care in emergency situations.
• Demonstrates the ability to make decisions concerning Center based problems.
• Participates in the orientation of nursing and ancillary staff as requested.
• Participates in developing standardized patient education programs.
• Participates in Quality Improvement activities including identification of opportunities for cost reductions and efficiencies.
• Works to achieve and maintain regulatory certification and accreditation of the Center.
• Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for professional practice and for continued professional growth and development through printed material or other sources and by attending in-services and seminars as appropriate.
• Must be willing to flex work hours as needed and/or requested by Manager.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification/Licensure:

• Maintains current State of Washington RN licensure.
• Maintains CPR certification for Health Care Providers.
• ACLS certification preferred. Required in PACU/POHA.

Experience:

• Two years of Pre/Post-Operative or Operating Room experience, preferably in an ambulatory surgery center setting.

Skills:

• Ability to apply and modify the principles, methods and techniques of professional nursing to provide on-going patient care.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to identify problems and recommend solutions.
• Ability to develop and maintain department quality assurance.

Other Requirements:

• Knowledge of professional nursing theory and practice to give and evaluate patient care.
• Knowledge of organizational policies, regulations and procedures to administer patient care.
• Knowledge of and ability to troubleshoot a variety of medical equipment and instruments to administer patient care.
• Knowledge of common safety hazards and precautions to establish a safe work environment.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in busy or…