REGISTERED NURSE, RN - PERIOPERATIVE

Independence Health System•Latrobe, PA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care for a designated group of patients. The RN coordinates, directs, and participates as an effective member of the interdisciplinary health care team to support efficient unit operations and positive patient outcomes. The position floats between the short stay unit and recovery room and participates in an on-call rotation to provide postoperative patient care 24/7. Work schedules are based on operational needs and may include rotating shifts, standby, and on-call duties. Local travel between system locations may be expected. In the Short Stay unit, the RN assesses, monitors, and educates patients before and after procedures; provides procedure-related information to patients and families; and initiates discharge after physician approval, reviewing instructions and providing educational materials. The RN cares for patients receiving blood transfusions, therapies, and nursing service visits, and administers transfusions according to established policies. The RN also assists clinicians during procedures, including bronchoscopy, PEG tube changes, and anesthesia nerve blocks; performs preoperative preparation and site identification; assists with moderate sedation in accordance with ACLS and hospital guidelines; and handles specimens appropriately. Other duties include opening and closing the unit as assigned and checking the crash cart when the unit is open. In the Recovery Room, the RN coordinates patient-care education tailored to patient and family needs, including age, culture, learning barriers, and readiness to learn. The RN ensures written postoperative orders are available before PACU discharge, reviews them with the receiving unit to support continuity of care, and stays current on procedures, treatments, medications, and equipment related to postoperative care. Across both areas, the RN maintains professional knowledge, follows nursing standards and applicable regulations, protects patients and employees through infection-control and medication-safety practices, documents and communicates care, protects confidential information, provides compassionate support, promotes patient independence, and collaborates with the health care team. The role also includes maintaining a safe work environment, supporting equipment operation and inventory, and maintaining nursing supplies. The position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, though the RN may coach and mentor other department positions.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.
Current Basic Life Support certification from an American Heart Association-approved CPR and AED curriculum.
Current PALS certification or completion within one year of hire or transfer into the department.
Current ACLS certification or completion within one year of hire or transfer into the department.
Act 33 clearance with renewal.
Act 34 clearance with renewal.
Act 73 FBI clearance with renewal.
Strong leadership ability and organizational skills.
Independent and critical-thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of the legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
A nursing refresher course may be required if the employee has not worked in an acute care setting during their most recent three consecutive years of professional employment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
One year of critical care or PACU experience.

Responsibilities

Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for a designated group of patients.
Coordinate, direct, and participate in the interdisciplinary health care team to support unit operations and positive patient outcomes.
Float between the short stay unit and recovery room and participate in the on-call rotation for postoperative care.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge through education, professional publications, networking, and participation in professional societies.
Provide quality care in accordance with therapeutic standards, patient outcomes and goals, hospital policies, nursing standards, and applicable regulations.
Follow infection-control, medication administration and storage, and controlled-substance policies and protocols.
Document patient care and communicate actions, irregularities, and ongoing needs to maintain continuity among nursing teams.
Protect patient confidentiality and build rapport with patients and others to identify care requirements.
Provide emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients and families, and teach patients and families about conditions, medications, and self-care.
Maintain a safe and clean work environment and resolve patient problems using multidisciplinary team strategies.
Communicate and collaborate with health care teams, participate in continuous quality improvement and problem-solving, and contribute to team efforts.
Support equipment operation through preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repair requests, inventory, and evaluation of equipment and techniques.
Maintain nursing supply inventory, anticipate needs, order supplies, verify deliveries, and use supplies appropriately.
Assess, monitor, and educate short stay patients before and after procedures, providing procedure-related information to patients and families.
Initiate discharge after physician approval, review discharge instructions, distribute educational materials, and discharge patients with a responsible adult.
Prepare, assess, and discharge patients receiving blood transfusions, therapies, and nursing service visits; administer transfusions and document series visits according to established guidelines.
Assist allied health professionals and clinicians during procedures, perform preoperative preparation and surgical-site identification, assist with moderate sedation in accordance with ACLS and hospital guidelines, and handle specimens appropriately.
Open and close the Short Procedure Unit as assigned and check the crash cart when the unit is open.
Develop and coordinate patient-care education in the PACU tailored to patient and family needs.
Ensure written postoperative orders are available before PACU discharge and review them with the receiving unit.
Stay current on procedures, treatments, medications, and equipment relevant to postoperative patient care.
May coach and mentor other positions in the department.