Pain Management Pre-Admission Testing Nurse

KU MedWest Ambulatory Surgery•Overland Park, KS

18h

About The Position

The Pain Management Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) Nurse develops individualized plans of care for patients scheduled for pain procedures. The role evaluates medical history and surgical plans, interviews patients, reviews preoperative test results, assesses eligibility for the ambulatory surgery center (ASC), and coordinates screening and clearance with referral sources and physicians. The nurse educates patients about medications to hold, procedural expectations, pain and wound management, and other aspects of care, while advocating for patient safety, dignity, privacy, and participation in care decisions. The nurse collaborates with the perioperative team and other stakeholders, provides accurate hand-off reports, delegates tasks within applicable nursing requirements, documents care, participates in quality improvement and team activities, maintains competencies, and complies with facility policies and procedures. The position reports to the Clinical Nurse Manager and supervises no one. Work takes place in a physically demanding, high-stress environment and may involve irregular hours.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
Current state licensure to practice in good standing.
One year of preoperative, PACU, and/or medical/surgical nursing experience is preferred.
Specialty certification in Perioperative or perianesthesia Nursing is preferred.

Nice To Haves

One year of preoperative, PACU, and/or medical/surgical nursing experience.
Specialty certification in Perioperative or perianesthesia Nursing.

Responsibilities

Describe the underlying pathophysiology of commonly encountered disease processes and the physiology associated with procedural interventions.
Develop individualized plans of care using PAT protocols and the patient's medical history and surgical plan.
Interview preoperative patients and gather data needed for admission.
Review preoperative test results and notify physicians when results are outside normal limits or incomplete.
Serve as the initial and primary contact for referral sources regarding screening and clearance of patients scheduled for or potentially scheduled for procedures.
Review charts thoroughly to determine ASC eligibility.
Understand medication actions and educate patients about medications to hold before pain procedures.
Operate equipment and machinery safely and report and correct unsafe situations.
Raise safety concerns and act as a patient advocate.
Manage patients' other comorbid conditions as applicable.
Assess the knowledge level of patients or designated support persons and provide education about psychosocial, nutritional, medical, pain, and wound management and expected responses to pain procedures.
Involve patients or designated support persons in decisions about perioperative care plans and rehabilitation.
Protect patients' rights, dignity, privacy, and confidential health information; provide age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal practice standards.
Comply with Universal Protocol and facility site-validation and time-out policies.
Provide other teammates with accurate, concise, pertinent hand-off reports about the patient's condition and response to care.
Delegate tasks according to applicable Nurse Practice Act, nursing board or professional registration requirements, state laws, and job descriptions.
Document episodes of care completely, accurately, and legibly.
Communicate and collaborate effectively with the perioperative team and other stakeholders; serve on a multidisciplinary care-planning team.
Participate in quality review, performance improvement projects, performance appraisal, team meetings, and training.
Use problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills to foster effective work relationships.
Maintain required competencies and pursue professional growth.
Comply with facility policies and procedures, demonstrate fiscal responsibility, and perform other duties as assigned.