Registered Nurse- Pacu- Full Time

Meadville Medical Center•Meadville, PA

About The Position

Coordinate total Phase I Post-Anesthesia nursing care for patients utilizing ASPAN and ASA Standards, and the nursing process; participate in patient and family teaching; provide leadership while working cooperatively with other health care providers.

Requirements

Professional knowledge of nursing theory and practice at a level normally acquired through completion of an accredited School of Nursing.
Current State Nursing License.
Working knowledge of ASPAN and ASA Standards at completion of orientation.
ACLS and PALS Certification within 6 months of employment.
Recredentialing of Unit Specific skills annually.
Completes/maintains biannual ACLS certification.
Completes/maintains biannual PALS certification.
Completes annual housewide and PACU specific recredentialing.
Analytical skills necessary to develop and implement a plan for nursing care appropriate to the patient, and to solve problems concerning patient’s mental or physical well-being.
Ability to concentrate and prioritize, plan and perform professional nursing care, resolve patient care problems, and interact with patients, families, and other team members - often during stressful situations.
Ability to initiate and interpret physiological monitoring and perform emergency treatment to include: a.Noninvasive BP monitoring b.Pulse oximetry c.Cardiac monitoring d.Hemodynamic monitoring Respiratory ventilation -- Ambu bag and ventilator Defibrillation Malignant Hyperthermia Protocol
Within one year of being in the position, must complete the Trauma Nursing Core Certification (TNCC). Thereafter, must complete 8 hours of trauma continuing education annually.

Nice To Haves

Recommend - previous experience in Med/Surg nursing, ICU experience, Coronary Care Class, CPAN Certification.

Responsibilities

Identifies patient upon arrival to PACU by name band and verbal report from Anesthesia provider.
Reports pertinent observations, changes, and reactions regarding patients to the appropriate person (physician, manager, charge nurse, supervisor, etc.)
Records these observations, changes and reactions accurately, concisely and legibly.
Reports relative perioperative information to licensed nurse using SBAR method upon discharge from PACU.
Documents on patient record observations, changes and reactions and reports them to the appropriate person (physician, supervisor/manager, charge nurse etc.)
Communicates with patient’s family and physician changes in patient’s condition while in PACU.
Assesses the patient’s condition and nursing needs.
Develops and implements individual plan of care.
Makes revisions as patient’s condition and needs change.
Completes nursing assessment upon admission to the unit.
Develops and implements a nursing plan of care according to patient’s assessed needs.
Revises care plan as condition needs change.
Utilizes services of ancillary departments, as ordered, to meet the needs of the patients.
Maintains the standards of nursing care within the guidelines of the nursing department, PNA, ASA, and ASPAN Standards.
Demonstrates knowledge of standards of nursing care when implementing the plan of care including PNA, ASA, and ASPAN Standards.
Demonstrates knowledge of, implements and adheres to PACU specific, Administrative and Nursing policies and procedures.
Administers, directs, supervises and evaluates nursing care provided to post-anesthesia patients.
Directs and supervises other team members.
Confers with other team members about patient’s condition.
Documents patient’s condition as needed on patient record.
Provides direct professional nursing care.
Participates in Unit Q.A.
Implements appropriate PACU physician orders pertaining to PACU care.
Administers medications, including IV’s according to hospital policy and procedure.
Documents medications according to hospital procedure.
Obtains ordered medication from Pyxis and documents on PACU record.
Documents controlled substance waste according to MMC policy.
Demonstrates cost-conscious use of supplies; maintains equipment in a clean and safe manner.
Participates in the orientation of new staff and in the clinical experience of students, interns and/or residents.
Maintains skills in the assessment, treatment, and care appropriate to the unique needs of the post-operative patient (i.e. age groups, disease process of the patient).
Communicates with patient based on growth and developmental needs of individual.
Demonstrates gentle speech and handling of infant/toddler.
Permits child to have security object.
Modifies speech tone; permits hearing devices.
Speak clearly to facilitate hearing in aging adult.
Includes interpreter, family member, significant other to translate/sign for hearing impaired patient.
Includes information for parent / guardian about what to expect in perioperative process.
Identifies patient’s correct parent or guardian by matching patient name band to that worn by responsible adult.
Observed matching patient name band to that of responsible parent/guardian.
Identifies patient at risk for falls.
Follows hospital protocol to avoid restraint use whenever possible.
Assesses pain intensity utilizing scale appropriate for age.
Utilize FLACC or CRIES scale for infant pain assessment.
Utilize FACES pain scale for the pediatric patient.
Utilize numeric pain score for non-verbal pain scale for adolescent, adult, geriatric.
Recognize presence of pain and document findings in the non-communicated patient.
Identifies appropriate equipment for age/size of patient.
Applies appropriate size NIBP cuff.
Applies appropriate size pulse oximeter probe to promote adequate oxygenation.
Utilizes appropriate oxygen therapy for age.
Places pediatric patient in side-lying position.
Inserts correct sized nasal/oral airway.
Effectively applies correct sized BVM.
Recognize signs of decreased endurance.
Applies supplemental oxygen as needed.
Recognize normal physiological differences based on age.
Recognize and report findings that are outside the normal range.