Registered Nurse - Post Anesthesia Care Unit

McLaren Health Care • Bay City, MI

12h • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) collaborates with physicians to develop and implement a plan of care aimed at returning patients to optimal health. This role involves providing direct bedside nursing care, executing medical orders, and delegating tasks to ancillary staff such as Nurse Assistants, Patient Care Associates, and others. The nurse is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of the care plan and ensuring efficient resource utilization within the department. Key responsibilities include integrating evidence-based practices, coordinating nursing care, facilitating patient conferences, and addressing patient teaching needs for ongoing care and discharge. The role also emphasizes professional growth through continuous education and mentorship of new employees and students. In the PACU setting, the nurse acts as a team leader, managing time effectively, ensuring cost-effective resource use, and overseeing supply orders. Critical skills include performing various assessments, such as cardiac rhythms and airway management, to identify anesthesia-related issues. The nurse must also independently utilize and troubleshoot specialty equipment like blood glucose monitors, IV pumps, bladder scanners, ARJO lifts, and EKG machines, consulting with anesthesiologists or physicians when necessary.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing and holding a current license to practice in the state of Michigan.
• BLS issued by American Heart Association or Red Cross Certification
• Must satisfactorily complete the first available Basic Dysrhythmia course
• Must satisfactorily complete ACLS course within one year of hire/transfer (PPH/PACU/PMCS/ ENDO MINOR PROCEDURES)
• Six (6) months experience in an acute care setting or equivalent

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in Surgical Services area
• Proficient in IV starts.
• PALS (PACU)

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with physician to provide a plan of care that will return the patient to optimal health.
• Provides bedside nursing care and carries out medical orders.
• Delegates to and oversees Nurse Assistant, Patient Care Associate, OB Care Associate, Surgical Service Assistant, Nursing Clerk and Psychiatric Tech functions.
• Responsible for evaluating effectiveness of care plan.
• Integrates evidence-based knowledge into practice.
• Delegation and coordination of tasks and assignments of nursing care.
• Facilitates/participates in patient conferences.
• Identifies and provides the means to meet patients’ ongoing and discharge/transfer teaching needs by communicating with the appropriate resource persons and attending discharge/transfer planning conferences.
• Assumes the responsibility for professional growth by seeking out educational opportunities and utilizing programs in the hospital or elsewhere in the community.
• Teaches and/or guides professional and ancillary personnel.
• Precepts/mentors new employees and students.
• Functions as a team leader to ensure proper patient placement and delegation of assignments.
• Team leads as assigned, responsible for efficient time management of peers (and self), ensuring efficient, cost-effective use of dept. resources, and ordering of supplies (may be delegated).
• Possess ability to perform various assessment techniques, including cardiac rhythms and airway management, to identify potential/actual problems related to anesthesia and relevant surgical procedure.
• Consult anesthesiologist/physician when appropriate using assertive communication skills.
• Utilize and troubleshoot specialty equipment (blood glucose monitor, IV pumps, Bladder scanner, ARJO lift/slides, EKG machine) in an independent, safe manner.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level