OR Circulating Nurse PRN

Summit Surgical•Hutchinson, KS

About The Position

The OR Circulating Registered Nurse promotes patients’ physical and mental health using the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. The nurse interacts effectively with patients, significant others, and providers while maintaining professional nursing standards. The role assesses operating-room equipment and readiness, obtains supplies for individual cases, meets the surgical team’s needs, and monitors, positions, and assists patients during procedures. The nurse provides direct care to patients from pediatric through geriatric populations, addresses psychosocial and physical needs in the surgical environment, and adapts care to individual patients. Responsibilities include assessing patient condition and responding to changes, administering medications and fluids safely, observing medication effects, maintaining surgical asepsis and using PPE, providing patient and family education, protecting privacy, and creating timely documentation that meets applicable standards and policies. The nurse follows AORN standards and coordinates and supervises patient care. OR-specific duties include preparing patients and operating rooms for procedures, safely positioning patients, setting up for surgical procedures, ensuring required preoperative information is available, and accurately recording, handling, and labeling specimens. The role also includes cleaning operating-room suites before and after cases. Secondary responsibilities include contributing to hospital process development and performance improvement, and creating and maintaining policies and procedures in accordance with state, federal, and facility requirements.

Requirements

Current Registered Nurse licensure in the State of Kansas.
Current BLS certification.
At least one year of work experience.
Current ACLS certification or willingness to obtain it within three months.
Maintain regulatory requirements and complete annual education requirements, including attendance at the required annual education program.
Ability to interface effectively with computers and learn new concepts and procedures quickly.
Excellent organizational skills and accuracy.
Ability to manage time and appropriately prioritize tasks and responsibilities.
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with co-workers, vendors, and others.
Punctuality.
Ability to perform laboratory testing according to laboratory policies and procedures and interpret test results and take appropriate action.
Knowledge of the storage, care, and use of each specific cartridge.
Knowledge of quality-control testing monthly or with each new shipment, and proficiency testing.
Ability to work independently and maintain composure in emergency or physically distressful situations.

Nice To Haves

One year of operating-room work experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care to pediatric through geriatric populations in the surgical environment.
Address patients’ psychosocial, physical, and general care needs, and adapt procedures to the needs of different patients.
Assess physical symptoms and cardiorespiratory status, recognize changes, and respond appropriately and promptly.
Observe behavioral and physiological changes related to medications and take appropriate action.
Maintain surgical asepsis, use PPE, and administer medications and parenteral fluids safely.
Demonstrate knowledge of anesthetic drugs, their actions, and side effects.
Assess postoperative pain and condition, and medicate patients as needed.
Count narcotics with another nurse at the beginning and end of each day, according to policy.
Coordinate and supervise patient care; provide education to patients and families; and protect patient privacy.
Communicate explanations and reassurance, respond therapeutically and courteously to patients, and maintain composure during emergencies or distressing situations.
Create timely documentation that meets current standards, policies, and procedures.
Assess operating-room equipment functioning and readiness, obtain supplies for cases, and ensure the surgical team’s needs are met.
Monitor, position, and assist patients during procedures; prepare patients for procedures according to policy.
Set up surgical procedures and prepare and clean operating-room suites before and after cases.
Ensure required preoperative information is available before a patient is taken to surgery.
Accurately record, handle, and label specimens.
Provide innovative input into hospital environments and processes, and participate in facility performance-improvement activities.
Create and maintain policies and procedures in accordance with state, federal, and hospital or clinic regulations.
Perform laboratory testing according to laboratory policies and procedures, interpret results, take appropriate action, and follow cartridge storage, care, use, and quality-control requirements.