PACU Nurse - Casual at Specialty Surgery Center for Women Inc – Maplewood, Minnesota

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains pre & post-operative services as assigned, in accordance with written policies and in compliance with various regulatory and accrediting agencies and is responsible for quality patient care.
• Assists with the development and monitoring of the standards of assigned areas pertaining to pre and post-operative care.
• Responsible for efficient and effective patient care and quality improvement.
• Helps in determining goals for assigned area and effectively manages resources to achieve the goals.
• Maintains a collegial relationship with physicians to ensure quality patient care.
• At the direction of the Clinical Director, maintains an adequate inventory for assigned area, including but not limited to, equipment and supplies.
• Assists in recruitment, selection, training, supervision, and retention of post-op employees.
• Assists with staffing assigned area and performing daily operational processes.
• Responsible for fostering an environment that promotes staff growth and development.
• Supervises and adheres to Surgery Center policies, procedures, and safety programs.
• Participates in Medical Leadership Committee(s) as requested, and/or assigned. Proactively seeks to continuously improve patient care and operations.
• Exhibits competency in performing all functions of assigned area or duties.
• Responsible for other functions as assigned by the Clinical Director and/or the Executive Director.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education/Experience/Licenses/Certificates/Eligibility:

Current State R.N. license

BCLS & ACLS required

Two (2) years’ clinical experience working in Pre-op or Post/PACU care.

Eligibility: All employees must be able to provide proof of their identity and their right to work in the United States.

Skills/Knowledge/Ability:

· Previous PACU experience required.

• Skilled in rapid nursing assessments, airway management, and post-surgical nausea and pain management.
• Previous patient admission experience.
• Knowledge in Pre/Post patient equipment (patient monitors & defibrillator).
• Peripheral IV insertion and maintenance.
• Wound care – Skills with sterile technique, patient catheterization.
• Skilled at doing Pre/Post-op patient education calls.
• Patient charting.

Interpersonal: Actively participates in the development of a healthy work environment. Uses interpersonal skills to establish and maintain healthy interpersonal relations which include functional trust, positive feedback, and constructive criticism. Good communication skills: oral and written. Ability to remain composed in high-pressure, fast paced environments.

Critical Thinking: Ability to make sound nursing judgement based on nursing theory. Demonstrates primary nurse accountability through coordination, communication, and continuity of patient care. Must be able to assess, prioritize, plan and implement direct patient care. Assumes responsibility for competency of practice and takes initiative for professional development and continuing education.

Knowledge: Working knowledge and experience in PACU from hospital or ambulatory surgery center including direct patient care. Ability to adhere to work schedule and manage time appropriately. Ability to utilize resources in a timely, organized and cost effective manner.

MACHINES, EQUIPMENT, WORK AIDES: Computer, telephone and fax. Knowledge of patient monitoring equipment and point of care testing.