RN PreOp PACU II - Franklin Surgery Center

SCA Health•Bernardsville, NJ

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) PreOp PACU assesses patients before and after procedures and provides individualized perianesthesia care in accordance with facility policies, procedures, and standards of practice. The role includes monitoring patient status, managing recovery from different types of anesthesia, addressing pain and comfort needs, and supporting safe transfer and discharge readiness. The nurse develops and implements individualized plans of care, educates patients and their designated support persons, protects patient rights and privacy, and collaborates with teammates and other disciplines. The position also involves accurate documentation and handoffs, maintaining competencies, participating in quality improvement and team activities, and complying with facility policies.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
One year of preoperative or PACU experience.
Medical/surgical nursing experience.
Current state licensure in good standing.
Current BLS/BCLS certification or successful completion within 90 days of employment.
Current ACLS certification or successful completion within 90 days of employment.
When pediatric care is within the facility’s scope of services, current PALS certification or successful completion within 90 days of employment.

Responsibilities

Promote SCA Health’s mission, vision, and values.
Assess patients’ preoperative and postoperative status at required intervals, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, hemodynamic, pain, comfort, and mental status.
Interpret information from invasive and noninvasive monitors and apply relevant patient-transfer and discharge scoring criteria.
Develop and implement individualized perianesthesia plans of care, including management of recovery from general, monitored, regional, and local anesthesia.
Protect patients from injury, infection, and complications; maintain wound integrity, tissue perfusion, body systems, fluid balance, and normothermia as applicable.
Communicate patient status throughout the perianesthesia continuum and provide acute pain and comfort management as needed.
Administer medications safely using the 8 rights of medication administration.
Assess patient or support-person knowledge and provide education about expected responses, nutrition, medications, pain, comfort, wounds, and procedures.
Involve patients or designated support persons in decisions about care and rehabilitation.
Provide age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care while protecting patient rights, dignity, privacy, and confidentiality.
Evaluate patient progress, transfer care as needed, and provide accurate, concise, pertinent handoff reports.
Delegate tasks in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and job descriptions.
Document nursing care completely, accurately, and legibly.
Collaborate with other disciplines and participate in quality review and performance improvement projects.
Participate in performance appraisal, team meetings, trainings, and daily safety huddles.
Maintain required competencies and pursue professional growth.
Use problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills to foster effective working relationships.
Demonstrate fiscal responsibility, comply with facility policies and procedures, and perform other duties as assigned.