Summary of Role

Coordinates and administers physical and psychosocial nursing care to the surgical patient during the intraoperative phase. Complies with all established standards and practices. Ability to travel to satellite locations, performs other related duties as assigned, and has basic computer knowledge, Microsoft office.

Must be willing to travel between satellite sites, work flexible hours and days as needed including evenings, competent with computer skills and complete other duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities

Nursing Process

• Performs a comprehensive intraoperative nursing assessment.
• Demonstrates competency in assessment of the physiological and psychosocial health status of the patient.
• Acts as a circulator, according to surgical suite policies and procedures for all types of procedures.
• Ensures the safety of all patients and acts as a patient advocate when appropriate.
• Shows flexibility in daily duties; adapts as situation requires.
• Uses therapeutic communication skills with patients and significant others, peers, physicians, other surgical center departments and nursing management.
• Uses established channels of communication for problem solving.
• Demonstrates professional knowledge to ensure effective professional practice standards.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of nursing care based upon the assessment of patient's responses to the surgical experience.

Compliance with nursing service policies.

• Demonstrates willingness to support staffing/scheduling needs of clients and the agency.
• Participates in in services, committee meetings, educational programs, and nursing service meetings.
• Assists in the orientation and development of nursing personnel.
• Professional practice is consistent with established policies, procedures and protocols.
• Assures adherence to ethical and legal standards of the agency and profession.
• Participates in quality assurance and performance improvement activities.
• Assumes leadership role to provide high-quality, cost-effective patient care.
• Maintains accountability for nursing care delivered directly and for aspects of care delegated to others.
• Demonstrates professional behaviors and knowledge to ensure effective practice in the operating room environment.

Organizational Expectations

• Supports a caring and respectful atmosphere with patients, visitors and surgical center associated personnel.
• Protects privacy and confidentiality of information pertaining to patient, employee, department and surgical center information and records.
• Maintains a safe and secure working environment and practices safe working habits.
• Adheres to surgical center/department dress code.
• Follows appropriate procedures for universal precautions.
• Complies with surgical center absentee policy.
• Assists in control of surgical center resources.
• Attends departmental meeting and mandatory in-service programs on fire, safety, disaster, and infection control.
• Uses proper body mechanics and other safety precautions to prevent patient and/or personal injury.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

• BLS required, ACLS within 1 year of hire.
• Experience Preferred, One-year operating room or previous operating room exposure i.e. surgical tech. Willing to train the right candiadate if no experience.
• Licensure: Current RN Wisconsin licensure by the state Board of Nursing
• Equipment: Basic knowledge of all equipment used in operating room environment, will train if unexperienced.

Education

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.

Work Environment

• Normal perioperative environment with exposure to chemical odors, cleaning solvents and other hazardous materials. Must follow established procedures to ensure safety.
• Exposure to possible injury when working with electrical equipment and lasers which require care and following proper safety procedures.
• Physical demands
• Sitting 20% of day
• Standing/walking 80% of day
• Trunk movements (rotation, repetition, bending)
• Lifting patients (large, heavy repetition 46 lbs. and above)
• Carrying (small, lightweight objects on smooth terrain)
• Pushing/pulling (frequent occupied beds and carts)
• Low level work (squatting, kneeling)
• Dexterity of hands and fingers, fine finger movements