Pre-Admission Testing Nurse (LVN)

Urology San Antonio•San Antonio, TX

47d

About The Position

The Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) Nurse is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and coordinating patient care from admission to discharge. The PAT Nurse is responsible for the achievement of patient outcomes through implementation of critical pathways and in accordance with the mission, vision, and values of the facility. The PAT Nurse works within the Pre-Op/PACU department and is responsible for coordinating patient preparation for procedures for patients of all ages (pediatric, adult, and geriatric). The Nurse communicates with referral sources, patients and physician offices to assure the appropriate preoperative testing and patient education are complete in accordance with physician orders and in compliance with the philosophy and protocols of Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center, standards of practice and regulations of governing agencies.

Requirements

Graduate of an Accredited School of Nursing.
At least one year of nursing experience required which should include Pre-Op and PACU preferred.
Current state licensure to practice.
Successful completion of Basic Life Support (BLS)/Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) within 90 days of employment or documentation of current BLS/BCLS certification.
Ability to correlate clinical data with patients medical and nursing care.
Ability to set priorities.
Ability to provide direction to others that is clear, concise and promotes efficiency throughout the clinical areas of the facility.
Ability to communicate well with patients, families, teammates, physicians, other members of the healthcare team, etc.
Is courteous, understanding and sympathetic toward patients, physicians and others.
Ability to set priorities and work independently.
Warm, friendly personality with a commitment to treat patients with compassion and respect.
Ability to interact in a positive manner and to communicate well with patients, families, co-workers, physicians, supervisor and other facility teammates.
Recognizes legal and policy limits of individual practice.

Nice To Haves

Previous outpatient surgery center and pre-admission experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Assesses, plans, evaluates and ensures the implementation of the patients care to achieve identified outcomes and delivers safe patient care according to facility policy and procedure.
Evaluates the patients past medical history and surgical plan using the Outpatient Surgery Admission Index and the PAT Anesthesia Protocols and obtains Anesthesia approval when necessary. Prepares charts at the minimum 2 days in advance with one week being the goal.
Implements appropriate standards of care based on assessment data and patients own goals. Goals are mutually set with the patient and family.
Interviews pre-operative patients to gather necessary data to assist for admission planning, pre-admission screening and teaching.
Ensures provision of patient care daily in an organized and timely manner.
Adheres to all facility policies and procedures when providing patient care.
Utilizes nursing care standards when planning and implementing patient care.
Assesses learning needs according to patients level of understanding and readiness to learn.
Assumes an active role in the provision of quality nursing care for patients receiving care. Continues to develop the role of pre-admission nurse role in outpatient setting adhering to clinical guideline practices.
Utilizes specialized nursing knowledge, nursing process and discriminative judgment while giving direct or indirect care.
Assumes pre-op and PACU duties as described in those job duties.
Demonstrates ability to make decisions concerning facility-based problems.
Participates in team conferences on assigned patients.
Demonstrates continued competence in assessing, treating, and caring for individuals based upon age-specific needs utilizing a developmental perspective.
Demonstrates appropriate knowledge and competence of designated skills identified for position.
Displays an understanding of each patients cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturity in the assessments, treatment, and care undertaken based on age-specific criteria.
Appropriately modifies approach to the patient based upon patient age utilizing a developmental perspective.
Provides appropriate age-specific interventions related to safety issues.
Serves as initial and primary contact for referral sources to direct screening and clearance of patients scheduled for, or potentially to be scheduled for procedures by using the Outpatient Admission criteria and reviews information with Anesthesia if required.
Contacts patients preoperatively to gather medical history, relevant social and cultural information, allergy, and medication information.
Verifies patient information, surgical site, and planned procedure match what is on the surgery schedule.
Reviews all preoperative test results and notifies physicians when results are outside normal limits or incomplete. Lab values, EKG, X-Rays, Prior H&P, Prior documented vital signs, scheduling sheet and physician orders
Variations are identified during the preoperative nursing assessment are noted and documented. Notification of surgeon and anesthesia provider must occur and be documented.
Identifies relevant emotional, safety and psychological needs of patient and family or significant others.
Obtains previous surgical and anesthesia history.
Verifies accompanying responsible adult and availability of safe transport home.
Assesses ability to understand pre-procedural teaching and discharge plan.
Reviews charts for completeness.
Works with physician offices and specialty physician to obtain additional testing.
Communicates with clinical lead if unable to obtain.
Arranges appointments for preoperative testing as needed within operating times of available services.
Provides education to patients or caregiver. The patients discharge sheet is required to be reviewed with the patient and/or caregiver.
Communicates clearly with physician offices
Uses office equipment
Documents in OMP, and on the paper chart appropriately, accurately and timely.
Utilizes time effectively.
Follows established facility policies and procedures for attendance.
Maintains and evaluates own clinical expertise and clinical practice.
Upholds and practices the principles and policies of the PPSC Compliance program. Demonstrates the safe operation of equipment and machinery and follows procedures for reporting and correcting an unsafe situation.
Completes appropriate financial management responsibilities.