Registered Nurse - Perioperative Services

Meeker Memorial Hospital & Clinics•Litchfield, MN

9d•$38 - $59•Onsite

About The Position

The Perioperative Registered Nurse at Meeker Memorial Hospital provides comprehensive care to patients and families throughout the perioperative continuum, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care; phase 1 and 2 recovery; and special procedures such as endoscopy, epidural steroid injections, and conscious sedation. The role operates in a close-knit, fast-paced clinical environment and focuses on patient safety and optimal outcomes. Successful nurses in this role are problem-solvers, multitaskers, and communicators who contribute to the clinical team. The RN provides care across multiple perioperative phases and may work across specialties including orthopedics, general surgery, and endoscopy. Duties include patient assessment and education, operating-room preparation and coordination, monitoring and documentation, recovery care, and discharge instruction. The nurse may function independently in pre-admission screening, total joint teaching, operating-room circulation, patient admission and discharge, recovery, sedation administration, and—when qualified—charge nurse duties. The role requires current Minnesota RN licensure and BLS certification or the ability to obtain it within 60 days. ACLS and PALS must be current or obtained during orientation and before working independently on the unit. An associate degree is the stated minimum; a BSN is preferred. The position is part-time, with a listed hourly salary range of $38.03–$58.58. The job is located at the Legal Address in Litchfield, Minnesota, and the listed shift is “Any.”

Requirements

Minimum of an associate degree as a Registered Nurse; a four-year degree/BSN is preferred.
Current Minnesota RN license.
Current BLS certification or ability to attain it within 60 days.
Current ACLS certification or ability to attain it during orientation and before working independently on the unit.
Current PALS certification or ability to attain it during orientation and before working independently on the unit.
Prefer six months to one year of related experience and/or training.
Working knowledge of surgical instrumentation and equipment, conscious-sedation medications, anesthetic agents, airway management, cardiac rhythms and interventions, and cardiac monitors.
Knowledge of healthcare policies, regulations, legal and ethical standards, patient rights, privacy requirements, and HIPAA.
Ability to assess patients, interpret patient data, develop and implement patient-centered care plans, monitor vital signs, and conduct physical examinations.
Ability to administer medications safely and accurately, perform dosage calculations, provide wound care, insert IVs, and perform other clinical procedures; knowledge of basic life support and first aid.
Understanding of infection-control protocols, safety procedures, exposure control, and bloodborne and airborne pathogen precautions.
Effective communication with patients, families, and healthcare teams, including explaining complex medical information clearly and adapting communication to different audiences.
Problem-solving, sound clinical judgment, and the ability to make timely decisions under pressure, adapt to changing conditions, and work independently with limited supervision.
Ability to supervise and delegate tasks to nursing staff and mentor or guide junior nurses.
Attention to detail in medication administration, procedures, clinical documentation, and use of EHR systems.
Ability to provide culturally respectful, equitable care and address unconscious bias.
Ability to work independently in a Critical Access Hospital or rural hospital environment and to incorporate AIDET into professional practice.
Ability to respond quickly to emergencies and participate in disaster-response protocols.
Ability to work with interdisciplinary teams and provide care to specific patient populations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, secure messaging, collaborative tools such as Microsoft Teams or Google Workspace, Paycom, applicable information systems, emergency-preparedness websites/MNTraInternet software, order-entry and order-processing systems, and EHR systems such as EPIC.
Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations, interpret graphs and clinical measurements, and use EMR and care-documentation tools to analyze data trends.
Ability to lift, move, and position patients and equipment.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including frequent lifting or moving up to 25 pounds and occasional lifting or moving up to 35 pounds; lifting or moving more than 35 pounds requires an assistive device or team-member assistance.
Ability to meet job performance expectations and comply with MMHC policies, procedures, compliance standards, training, and regulatory requirements.

Nice To Haves

BSN.
One year of acute-care experience, such as ICU or Med/Surg.
Successful completion of a perioperative nursing course or prior perioperative experience in preoperative or postoperative care, recovery, sedation, or operating-room circulation.
Previous experience in a Critical Access Hospital.
Knowledge of Critical Access Hospital-specific regulations and rural health challenges.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive physical and psychological preoperative assessments, interview patients, and ensure required laboratory work, documentation, consents, and tests are complete and available.
Educate patients and families about the surgical process, recovery expectations, pain management, wound care, medications, and follow-up appointments; provide emotional support.
Prepare the operating room and ensure instruments, supplies, and equipment are sterile, functional, and ready for procedures.
Coordinate nursing care in the operating room, advocate for the patient, support the surgical team, manage supplies, and maintain the sterile environment from outside the sterile field.
Monitor patient vital signs and condition, assist the anesthesia provider, and document procedures and patient status accurately and in real time.
Respond promptly to surgical emergencies and complications using critical thinking and, when needed, minimal supervision.
Care for patients recovering from anesthesia and monitor for complications, including hypoxia, pain, nausea, and blood-pressure fluctuations.
Provide perioperative care across relevant phases and potentially multiple surgical specialties, including pre-admission screening, total joint teaching, operating-room circulation, admission and discharge, recovery, and sedation administration.
Apply infection-control principles, including aseptic technique, and comply with applicable clinical, safety, regulatory, and hospital standards.
Collaborate and communicate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, support staff, patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams.
Document clinical services accurately and promptly in the EHR and maintain accurate patient records.
After six months of successful employment, may serve as charge nurse, support quality-improvement measures, assess department activity and staffing needs, serve as a resource to staff and providers, monitor adherence to policies and procedures, and help direct the daily surgery schedule.
Attend mandatory education, department training, and meetings; maintain confidentiality, appropriate attire and identification, and required attendance standards.
Participate in emergency, shelter-in-place, and disaster-response protocols as needed.