Circulating Registered Nurse

Indiana Joint Replacement Institute•Noblesville, IN

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The circulating nurse is responsible for patient safety and nursing care of the patient while being transferred to and from the operating room and while in the operating suite. This role utilizes specialized nursing knowledge and discriminative judgment while administering direct or indirect patient care. The nurse visits the patient prior to surgery to alleviate fears and perform a nursing assessment. Responsibilities include assisting in the care and treatment of instruments and supplies, maintaining aseptic techniques, cleaning and stocking operating rooms, managing supplies, preparing the operating room for cases, setting up instrument trays, and assisting anesthesia personnel with procedures. The circulating nurse also assumes responsibility for intraoperative patient safety, including positioning, equipment use, and chemical/solution use. Additional duties involve checking room supplies, preparing the room for specific patients and procedures, transporting patients, maintaining operating room records, ensuring appropriate surgical preparation, assisting with patient positioning, performing sponge, needle, and instrument counts, documenting physician orders and medications, informing management of needed supplies and medications, securing emergency equipment, assisting physicians and anesthesia personnel, controlling the operating room tone, setting up equipment and packs, performing narcotic counts with anesthesia personnel, and working efficiently as a member of the surgical team.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the state of Indiana.
Healthcare experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must be knowledgeable in the operation of all facility equipment and technology, including but not limited to C-arm, patient monitors, defibrillators, medical recording devices and computers, and all emergency equipment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in outpatient healthcare operations or an ambulatory surgery center setting.
Experience in orthopedic surgery is desirable.

Responsibilities

Utilizes specialized nursing knowledge and discriminative judgement while administering direct or indirect patient care.
Visits the patient prior to surgery to alleviate their fears and to perform a nursing assessment of potential patient problems.
Assists in the proper care and treatment of instruments and supplies including sterilization and storage where appropriate. Wrapping equipment for sterilizing and running the sterilizer.
Assists in carrying out safe aseptic techniques and procedures as adopted by the department and aided by their knowledge of basic science.
Cleaning and stocking the operating rooms at the end of the day.
Knowing where all supplies are kept in the OR area and the storage area.
Putting away laundry and supplies.
Assists in preparing the operating room for each case in the room.
Knowledge of setting up instrument trays.
Assists anesthesia personnel with the intubation/extubating of patients, the administration of anesthetic blocks, and the thermo-regulation of the patient.
Assumes the responsibility for the intraoperative patient safety related to positioning activities, the use of equipment, and the use of chemicals and solutions.
Checks room for needed supplies and prepares room for specific patient and procedure.
Transports patient to the operating room and checks the patient’s record for appropriate pre-operative preparation and procedure (i.e. EKG, consents, medication lists, and medical history).
Responsible for operating room records, implant cards, and patient chart.
Responsible for appropriate surgical preparation. (i.e. EKG monitors, BP cuffs, O2 Stat, and prep).
Knowledge of and assistance with the proper safe positioning of the patient.
Responsible for the sponge, needle and instrument count and documentation.
Receives and documents all physicians’ orders.
Obtains and records all medication administered during surgery.
Inform the Clinical Nurse Manager what medications are needed.
Inform the Clinical Nurse Manager of what supplies are needed each week.
Secures and checks the emergency equipment and supplies monthly and as needed.
Provides assistance to physicians and anesthesia personnel as needed.
Controls the general “tone” of the operating room.
Sets up the operating room with necessary equipment and packs.
Responsible for the sponge, needle and instrument count and documentation.
Responsible with the anesthesia personnel for narcotic counts.
Works as a member of the surgical team efficiently during the procedure.
All other assigned duties as needed.