PACU/Pre-Op Registered Nurse

Capital Surgical Solutions•Bethesda, MD

4h•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves performing pre-operative telephone assessments and ensuring all necessary documentation is complete before surgery. The nurse will coordinate with the Nurse Administrator and/or on-site anesthesiologist to confirm patient suitability for a free-standing surgical center. Additionally, the role requires providing high-quality Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nursing care, including physical assessments, monitoring hemodynamic and airway status, responding to clinical changes, and educating patients and families before discharge. The position emphasizes professionalism, teamwork, resourcefulness, and adherence to all regulatory and facility standards. The role also includes overseeing daily operations of the Pre-Op area, serving as a point of contact for clinical questions, providing real-time support for problem-solving, and ensuring regulatory and safety standards are maintained. In the PACU, the nurse is responsible for delivering care, monitoring patient status, evaluating responses, and collaborating with anesthesia and surgeons to resolve clinical concerns. This includes managing scheduling issues, break coverage, and staff resources, ensuring compliance with PACU policies, medication management, and discharge criteria, and monitoring supply levels. The nurse will also perform initial and ongoing patient assessments, provide nursing care, respond to emergencies, offer emotional support and education, and assist with patient discharges.

Requirements

Current Maryland or compact-state RN licensure
BLS and ACLS certification
Minimum of 2 years recent PACU nursing experience
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Responsibilities

Performs pre-operative telephone assessments of patients scheduled for surgery and ensures all required documentation is complete prior to the surgery date.
Coordinates with the Nurse Administrator and/or on-site anesthesiologist to verify patient suitability for a free-standing surgical center.
Provides high-quality PACU nursing care, including physical assessments, monitoring hemodynamic and airway status, responding to clinical changes, and educating patients and families prior to discharge.
Utilizes initiative, maintains productivity, demonstrates professionalism, teamwork, and resourcefulness, and adheres to all regulatory and facility standards.
Oversees daily operations of the Pre-Op area, ensuring adequate staffing, patient flow, and timely chart review.
Serves as first point of contact for clinical questions from staff, anesthesia, and surgeons.
Provides real-time support for problem-solving, patient concerns, and coordination between front desk, anesthesia, and clinical staff.
Ensures regulatory and safety standards are maintained, including documentation accuracy, infection control, and medication handling.
Completes all morning checks including refrigerator temperatures, med gas levels, glucometer and pregnancy test controls, and participates in the daily narcotic count with another RN.
Makes pre-operative calls to all patients and completes the Health Questionnaire.
Gathers required data such as labs, EKGs, and H&Ps for each patient chart.
Performs pre-operative teaching with patients.
Maintains daily logs of completed pre-op calls and reports received.
Coordinates chart review by the Nurse Administrator and/or anesthesiologist and follows up on additional orders.
Documents all communications with physician offices in the pre-op testing log.
Documents all relevant patient communications in the patient chart.
Maintains strong communication with physician offices and patients.
Ensures strict patient confidentiality.
Assists the front desk with answering phones and routing calls.
Demonstrates professionalism, ability to prioritize, and strong interpersonal skills.
Ensures all assigned job duties are completed efficiently.
Assists in Pre-Op, Phase I, or Phase II as needed during high-volume times.
Supports the goals of DOSC, including excellence in customer relations, cost containment, quality initiatives, attendance standards, professionalism, safety, and infection control compliance.
Collaborates with anesthesia and surgeons to resolve clinical concerns promptly.
Addresses scheduling issues, break coverage, and redistribution of staff resources as needed.
Ensures compliance with all PACU policies, recovery scoring systems, medication management, and discharge criteria.
Monitors supply levels, organizes equipment needs, and coordinates with materials management for replenishments.
Receives report on patient status from O.R. nurse and surgeon/anesthesiologist.
Performs an initial assessment with the anesthesiologist and continues with a complete body systems assessment once the patient is stable.
Provides or directs nursing care per assessment findings or physician orders.
Recognizes and responds to respiratory, cardiac, or circulatory emergencies.
Provides emotional support, comfort measures, and education.
Provides nourishment as appropriate for patient condition.
Gives explanations and discharge instructions to patients and family members.
Collaborates with the anesthesiologist to determine discharge readiness.
Assists with physical discharge to a responsible adult.
Participates in maintaining and improving nursing practice standards.
Assists with orientation and evaluation of personnel.
Performs RN functions in Pre-Op, Phase I, and Phase II as assigned.
Maintains the recovery room in a clean, safe, and orderly manner.
Performs post-operative phone calls.
Helps keep all departments tidy and assists with linen, trash removal, and supply organization as needed.