Registered Nurse (RN) - Post Anesthesia Care Unit

Hartford Healthcare•Manchester, CT

About The Position

The Registered Nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit provides high-quality, patient-centered direct and indirect care using the nursing process. The RN coordinates care with the interdisciplinary team, communicates relevant clinical information, and responds promptly to changes in patients’ conditions or treatment responses. The role provides age-appropriate care across the lifespan, supports safe patient outcomes, and promotes professional nursing practice through collegial support and interaction. The position reports to the Clinical Nurse Manager. The RN performs comprehensive, population-specific assessments and reassessments; develops and revises individualized plans of care; administers medications safely; documents care and patient responses; and educates patients and families. In the peri-anesthesia setting, the RN assists physicians with procedures, manages airways using appropriate equipment, assesses cardiorespiratory status, understands anesthetic medications, and provides accurate reports for safe transfer of care. The role requires graduation from an accredited nursing school, a current Connecticut RN license, and Basic Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification upon hire or within the introductory orientation period. Hartford HealthCare describes a competitive benefits program intended to support work/life balance, as well as career development and growth opportunities.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
Current Registered Nurse license in the State of Connecticut, maintained during employment.
Basic Cardiac Life Support certification upon hire or obtained within the new-employee introductory orientation period; maintain clinical competency during employment.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification upon hire or obtained within the new-employee introductory orientation period; maintain clinical competency during employment.
Effective verbal and written communication in English.
Basic computer skills.

Responsibilities

Perform population-specific comprehensive assessments and reassessments of patients’ psychosocial, physical, educational, cultural, and care needs.
Assess and reassess pain, use appropriate pain-management tools and techniques, educate patients and families, and document interventions and their effectiveness.
Develop and revise individualized plans of care based on assessments and patient responses, collaborating with other disciplines as needed.
Follow the five medication rights and reduce the potential for medication errors; administer medications appropriately based on patient age and clinical condition.
Provide patient care in a manner that optimizes safety and promotes positive outcomes.
Document the nursing process and patient responses to care in a timely manner using appropriate tools.
Use critical thinking and sound judgment to set priorities and delegate; remain flexible, organized, and effective under stressful situations.
Create and implement teaching plans for patients and families based on identified learning needs, and evaluate learning effectiveness.
Practice autonomously in accordance with evidence-based standards and pursue personal and professional development.
Serve as a professional role model and mentor.
Interpret patient-status data to identify age-specific needs and provide appropriate care.
Assist physicians with peri-anesthesia procedures, including cardioversion, insertion of peripheral and central monitoring lines, and epidural catheter placement.
Apply airway-management knowledge and use appropriate equipment.
Assess cardiorespiratory systems for changes and provide appropriate treatment.
Apply knowledge of anesthetic drugs, their actions, and side effects.
Provide an accurate, pertinent report of the patient’s condition for safe transfer of care.