PACU

Grand Itasca•Grand Rapids, MN

About The Position

Overview: A clinically competent, registered, professional nurse who has demonstrated expertise in the peri-anesthesia field. Effectively delivers peri-anesthesia care to the Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging patients (includes intra-procedural) through the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation, and evaluation.

Requirements

Currently registered with the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
Must have demonstrated competency: in Day Surgery and PACU within the last three years or minimum of two years of full time Critical Care nursing experience within the last three years or minimum of two years of full-time diagnostic imaging procedure experience within the last three years and two-full years of previous Critical Care nursing experience.
Current moderate sedation certification or willingness & ability to obtain within 6-months.
BLS, ACLS and PALS certification or ability to attain within six months and maintain certification.
Demonstrated ability to manage large volumes of multiple patient/family/ staff/physicians priorities within short timeframes and organize workload; includes critical thinking, delegation skills, and respectful communication.
Experience in assessing the individual needs of adult, geriatric, adolescent, and pediatric patients and their families undergoing operative and other invasive procedures and developing appropriate plans of care.
Ability to report to the hospital within thirty minutes of notification for call-outs.
Demonstrated ability to follow and adhere to Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital policies, vision, mission and values.
Maintains reliable and consistent attendance.
Perform other related duties as required.

Responsibilities

Provides quality care to all patients and ensures patient safety throughout the continuum of peri-anesthesia care, advocates for the patient respecting advanced directives and patient decisions.
Completes a pre-anesthesia nursing history and assessments including a physiological systems review and assessment and educational, psychosocial, and cultural needs. Utilizes critical thinking and analysis.
Maintains accurate, objective patient records.
Provides patient/family education to include procedural expectations, potential peri-anesthesia complications, anesthesia protocols and post procedural care.
Maintains knowledge of ASPAN, AORN and The Joint Commission standards and incorporates the standards into the practice of Peri-anesthesia nursing.
Nursing skills/competencies include but are not limited to: IV access, phlebotomy, ECG interpretation, medication and herbal therapies and associated anesthesia risks, anesthetic agents and adjuncts, pain and PONV management, thermoregulation techniques, hemodynamic monitoring and interpretation, airway management, neurological assessment, fluid management, infection control measures, sedation/analgesia assessment and monitoring including administration of Moderate Sedation, respiratory and ventilator management and management of Malignant Hyperthermia.
Diagnostic Imaging duties include but are not limited to: Assisting with vein ablations, PICC lines, PowerPort access, biopsies, catheterizations, contrast screening and Metformin education.
Identifies accurately, nursing diagnosis/collaborative problems to determine appropriate intervention within the framework of accepted standards of care.
Care and management of the surgical/DI patients and their families during the pre-procedural/surgical, (intra-procedural in DI) and post procedural phases.
Create and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for surgery/DI by e nsuring the plan of care is consistent with nursing standards and hospital policy and procedures.
Initiates and documents discharge and transfer planning; facilitates "Patient Centered" communication and care.
Pre and post surgical/procedure phone calls.
Communicates professionally and effectively with patients, families, co-workers, healthcare team members, and ancillary departments to ensure "Patient Centered" coordination of care.
Assigned call for PACU weeknights, holidays, and weekends on a rotation with other nurses in PACU/DSU/DI and PAC/PACU/DSU.
Participation in performance improvement activities.
Collaborates with and delegates to ancillary/professional staff as appropriate; assures adherence to their scopes of practice, considering licensure and/or certification.
Participates in professional growth and self-development activities to ensure accountability for own professional nursing practice.
Participates in staff meeting, committees, and special projects; actively contributes to Surgical Services/DI quality and development.
Other duties as assigned.