Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:

Responsible for the delivery of safe, effective, and quality patient-family centered care in the OR and other areas of perioperative services for all patient populations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Perioperative with relationship to Operating Room:

1.Promote the mission, vision, and values of the organization.

2.Assess patients at intervals as stated in policies and procedures.

3.Develop an individualized perioperative patient plan of care.

4.Implement the plan of care by

• protecting the patient from injury caused by extraneous objects and chemical, electrical, laser, mechanical, and thermal sources;
• performing accounting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items;
• performing interventions necessary to ensure that the patient’s procedure is performed on the correct site, side, and level;
• managing the patient’s specimens according to organizational policy and procedures;
• communicating the patient’s current status to relevant parties throughout the continuum of care;
• administering medications safely and correctly;
• performing interventions to maintain the patient’s wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels;
• performing interventions to maintain the status of the patient’s genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels;
• performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period;
• performing interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection;
• assessing the knowledge level of the patient or designated support person;
• providing education regarding the expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medication management, pain management, wound management, and expected responses to the operative or invasive procedure;
• involving the patient or designated support person actively in decisions affecting his or her perioperative plan of care and the rehabilitation process;
• protecting the patient’s rights, dignity, and privacy;
• providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; and
• providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting.

5.Evaluate the patient’s progress toward attaining outcomes.

6.Transfer care as applicable.

7.Delegate tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act and job descriptions.

8.Document nursing care accurately, completely, and legibly.

9.Collaborate effectively with other disciplines as applicable.

10.Participate in quality review and performance improvement projects.

11.Participate in the performance appraisal process.

12.Use problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.

13.Maintain required competencies.

14.Pursue professional growth and participates in a professional organization.

15.Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.

Preoperative/Postoperative:

1. Support the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
2. Assess patient’s postoperative status at intervals according to facility or health care organization policies and procedures to include the patient’s
1. cardiovascular system,
2. respiratory system and airway management needs,
3. neurological system,
4. hemodynamic stability,
5. pain and comfort needs, and
6. mental status.
3. Interpret information accurately from various noninvasive and invasive monitors.
4. Describe the underlying pathophysiology of commonly encountered disease processes.
5. Describe the physiology associated with various anesthesia techniques and surgical or procedural interventions.
6. Apply the relevant scoring system/discharge criteria for patient transfer (e.g., Aldrete Score, Modified Aldrete Score [i.e., PARSAP], Post Anesthesia Discharge Scoring System [PADSS], White) score accurately as defined by organizational policy.
7. Develop an individualized peri anesthesia plan of care.
8. Implement the plan of care including the following interventions:
   1. managing patient recovery from anesthesia – general;
   2. managing patient recovery from anesthesia – monitored anesthesia care;
   3. managing patient recovery from anesthesia – regional;
   4. managing patient recovery from anesthesia – local;
   5. protecting patient from injury caused by positioning, thermal sources, and extraneous objects;communicating the patient’s current status throughout the peri anesthesia continuum of care;
6. providing acute pain and comfort management as needed;
7. administering medications correctly by implementing the 7-rights of safe medication practices (i.e., right patient, right medication, right dose, right time, right route, right indication, right documentation);
8. performing interventions to maintain the integrity of the patient’s wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels;
9. performing interventions to maintain the status of the patient’s genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems, and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels;
10. performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period;
11. performing interventions to protect patient from infection;
12. managing patient’s other co-morbid conditions as applicable;
13. managing patient’s fluid as prescribed;
14. assessing knowledge level of patient or designated support person and providing education regarding the expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medication management, pain and comfort management, wound management, and expected responses to the operative or invasive procedure;
15. involving patient or designated support person actively in decisions affecting his or her perioperative plan of care and the rehabilitation process;
16. protecting patient’s rights, dignity, and privacy;
17. providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; and
18. providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting.
19. Evaluate the patient’s progress toward attaining outcomes.
20. Transfer care as needed.
21. Delegate tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act (if applicable), state board of nursing or professional registration requirements, state laws, and job descriptions.
22. Document nursing care completely, accurately, and legibly.
23. Collaborate effectively with other disciplines as needed.
24. Participate in quality review and performance improvement projects.
25. Participate in the performance appraisal process.
26. Use critical thinking, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
27. Maintain required competencies.
28. Pursue professional growth and participate in a professional organization.
29. Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.

OTHER FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL EMPLOYEES:

1. Supports and models individual behavior consistent with the Standards of Excellence and the mission, vision and values of Livingston Healthcare.
2. Demonstrates commitment to customer service by:
   • Building effective working relationships and treating others with respect.
   • Interacting with customers (patients, co-workers and visitors) in a warm and friendly way.
   • Taking immediate action to meet customers’ needs or request.
   • Attentive to each customer concern.
3. Demonstrates and encourages an ethic of open and effective communication and teamwork throughout the organization.
4. Adheres to Livingston HealthCare’s Code of Conduct and Livingston HealthCare and departmental compliance policies.

The above statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements which may be inherent in the position.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS (Required):

Education/Licensure/Certification qualifications:

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing
• Current registered nurse licensure in state of employment
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

Preferred:

• Two years perioperative services experience
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing
• Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) certification and Certified Perianesthesia Nurse (CPAN) or Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA)certification
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification within 3 months of hire
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, depending on patient population within 3 months of hire
• Basic computer skills (eg, Microsoft® Word)