Registered Nurse Operating Room

Mount Nittany Health•State College, PA

22d

About The Position

The Registered Nurse Operating Room provides professional nursing care for pediatric through geriatric patients undergoing surgical intervention. Nursing practice is guided by current perioperative nursing knowledge, AORN Standards and Recommended Practices, and Mount Nittany Medical Center policies and procedures. The role uses the nursing process to assess patients and relevant health data, analyze findings, develop and implement an individualized plan of care, and evaluate outcomes. The nurse assesses patients before surgery, develops and updates the plan of care throughout the holding, operative, and post-operative settings, and promotes patient safety through perioperative nursing practices. Responsibilities include maintaining asepsis and a sterile field, ensuring supplies and equipment are available and functional, responding to physiological changes during procedures, educating patients and families, documenting care, and maintaining professional competence. The position reports to the clinical supervisor and Director of Surgical Services. Supervision of others is limited to service as Charge Nurse.

Requirements

Completion of an accredited registered nurse program.
Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania.
Meet American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) standards and renew BLS every two years.
After four months from the hire or transfer date, meet American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) standards and renew ACLS every two years.
Effectively function as a team member and liaison between patients and staff.
Support and encourage harmonious communication.
Demonstrate strong verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills and communicate professionally.
Demonstrate mental and emotional tolerance, an even temperament, tact, sensitivity, sound judgment, and a professional attitude when interacting with patients, families, providers, and coworkers.
Accept responsibility and accountability for maintaining perioperative nursing knowledge, skills, and competency.
Begin the in-house Operating Room course upon transfer or hire into the Operating Room.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Previous registered nurse experience.
Charge Nurse qualification.
Prior Operating Room experience.
Relevant certification upon hire, as specified in the Registered Nurse addendum for the unit.
Knowledge of perioperative nursing practices and AORN standards.

Responsibilities

Assess the physical and psychological status of patients scheduled for surgery, including identification, planned procedure, allergies, relevant health data, and conditions that could affect their response to surgery.
Promote excellent customer service in accordance with Mount Nittany Medical Center service standards.
Develop and continuously update an individualized plan of care based on ongoing assessment in the holding area, operating suite, and post-operative setting.
Identify patient strengths, limitations, goals, and nursing interventions relevant to surgical care.
Ensure supplies and equipment are available and functional, and create and maintain a sterile field using aseptic principles.
Implement perioperative nursing techniques and respond appropriately to physiological changes during procedures in accordance with facility policies, procedures, and AORN standards.
Recognize changes in patient health status and direct appropriate care to support patient safety.
Apply aseptic and surgical technique, electrical, chemical, and laser safety, positioning, and patient care management principles.
Apply technical, interpersonal, educational, leadership, and communication skills in clinical practice.
Manage surgical specimens, cultures, and foreign bodies appropriately.
Document individualized changes to the plan of care and patient interactions.
Provide patients and families with preoperative education about surgical nursing functions and the physical aspects of the operating room.
Maintain perioperative nursing knowledge, skills, and competency, including awareness of professional issues and current concepts, trends, scientific advances, biomedical equipment, and ethics.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the daily operations of surgical services and sterile processing.