About the position
The goal of the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) department is to provide compassionate and professional nursing care and recovery management for the post-anesthesia patients under the direction of the Anesthesia department for age specific groups including pediatric, adult and geriatric. PACU provides services for phase I and phase I recovery care. The department is routinely staffed from 0730 - 2100 Monday through Friday. PACU staff moves through an on-call rotation to provide 24/7 coverage for quality patient recovery care. This includes weekend and Holiday on-call recovery care. Provides professional nursing care at the beginner practitioner level within an assigned unit according to established procedures, protocols and regulations. Coordinates care planning with other disciplines. May require specialized skills depending on unit assignment.
Responsibilities
- Provides and coordinates direct care in accordance with the principles of Relationship Based Care to patients based on the nursing process and according to the clinical standards of the hospital.
- Acts as a primary nurse for patients on the unit.
- Synthesizes patient data to develop outcome-driven plans.
- Safely and independently administers prescribed treatments, medications, and nursing interventions based on assessment and plan of care.
- Appropriately organizes and prioritizes time based on patient condition and expected workload.
- Identifies changes in patients' status and acts accordingly.
- Knows and can activate resources to achieve outcomes for patients.
- Identifies and communicates individualized patient needs for inter-shift report and transfer/discharge.
- Includes patient/family in planning.
- Collaborates with all disciplines in evaluation of patient progress.
- Appropriately and correctly documents the patient response to interventions and progress toward outcomes.
- Identifies and documents variances from pathway or plan of care.
- Keeps practice current by participating in performance improvement efforts.
- Complies with changes in clinical standards and policies.
- Participates in data collection for performance improvement activity.
- Recognizes the value of evidence based research as it applies to best practice.
- Seeks learning opportunities and resources beyond own work environment and incorporates into practice the new knowledge and skills acquired.
- Promotes an environment conducive to professional practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and patient and staff safety.
- Supports Shared Decision Making by unit committee membership or by supporting and helping fellow co-workers attend committee meetings and/or work on SDM projects.
- Participates in staff meetings and unit activities.
- Uses opportunities in the clinical setting to teach and support others, one-on-one or in groups.
- Begins to provide leadership for problem solving and goal formation.
- Negotiates for a win-win solution.
- Delegates aspects of care to other nursing personnel in order to meet patient needs and to maximize team performance.
- Helps assistive personnel organize and set priorities for work.
- Monitors completion of tasks that are assigned or delegated to the patient care team.
- Promotes collaboration and cooperation among physicians, nursing staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
- Contributes to effective communications among all team members.
- Begins to display conflict resolution and negotiation skills to maximize team performance.
Requirements
- Diploma Program Required or Associates Degree Required.
- Bachelors Degree Nursing (BSN) Preferred.
- Less than 1 year Relevant experience Required.
- Licensed Registered Nurse Upon Hire Required or Registered Nurse Multi State License Upon Hire Required.
- Basic Life Support Upon Hire Required.
