Charge Nurse, PreOp PACU

East Dallas•Mesquite, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Townsen Surgery Center – East Dallas is seeking a full-time Charge Nurse for its PreOp/PACU team in Mesquite, Texas. The Charge Nurse coordinates and supervises nursing staff and patient care assistants, including work schedules, staffing assignments, and daily patient care activities, to support efficient and safe care delivery. The role provides professional nursing care throughout the pre-operative course and plans, implements, and evaluates patient care. Under the direction of the ASC Manager, the Charge Nurse oversees day-to-day Pre-Op/PACU operations, supports patient flow and problem resolution, ensures staff compliance with center policies and nursing standards, and provides leadership, coaching, mentoring, and training. The position also provides direct pre-operative and recovery nursing care, including patient assessment, preparation, monitoring, documentation, education, and discharge instruction. Additional duties include maintaining equipment and supplies, performing safety checks and narcotic counts, and conducting next-day follow-up calls.

Requirements

Current, active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the State of Texas.
Associate degree in Nursing.
Three years of perioperative nursing experience.
One year of nursing leadership experience.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, or ability to obtain it within 60 days of hire.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, or ability to obtain it within 60 days of hire.
Ability to work independently with sound judgment and reliability.
Ability to collaborate proactively and cooperatively in a team-oriented environment.
Knowledge of safety practices and procedures.
Leadership, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to maintain judgment, attention to detail, and efficiency under pressure.
Ability to lead, train, and support nursing staff and patient care personnel.
Skills with Microsoft Office and Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems.
Initiative and ability to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve conflicts.
Ability to multitask, prioritize according to urgency, and maintain attention to detail.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and supervise nursing and patient care assistants, including work schedules, staffing assignments, and daily patient care activities.
Make decisions about direct patient care needs and communicate relevant information to other team members.
Supervise daily Pre-Op/PACU operations and troubleshoot patient-care workflow issues under the direction of the ASC Manager.
Assist the ASC Manager with staff direction, patient flow, communication, and resolution of issues involving staff and physicians.
Ensure staff compliance with surgery center policies, procedures, and nursing standards.
Build effective relationships with center staff and hold employees accountable for assigned responsibilities, goals, and performance expectations.
Mentor and train new staff, support team members, coach employees, and provide guidance and instructions.
Serve as a resource and expert or super user for equipment, technical problems, and advanced or difficult procedures.
Monitor daily work assignments and provide management with timely feedback about employee performance and training needs.
Prepare for patient arrivals by ensuring required supplies and equipment are available.
Review patient charts and health histories to confirm completion of pre-operative evaluations and signed consent forms.
Admit and prepare patients for surgery, explain care to patients and caregivers, conduct nursing assessments, initiate IVs, and administer prescribed medications.
Communicate with the healthcare team to support coordinated patient care.
Receive post-surgical patients in recovery, assess their condition, and monitor their progress.
Document patient status, care provided, supply usage, and charges during pre-operative and recovery phases.
Provide discharge instructions and patient education, and verify that patients and caregivers understand them.
Conduct follow-up patient assessments by phone the day after surgery.
Maintain knowledge of emergency procedures and call systems, and know the location of emergency supplies and equipment.
Sanitize gurneys and recliners between patients and remake beds as needed.
Perform narcotic counts at the beginning and end of each surgical day and conduct daily crash cart checks.
Ensure adequate stock and proper functioning of equipment in the Pre-Op and PACU areas, and accurately track supplies and usage.
Perform other related tasks as needed.