Registered Nurse (RN) - PACU

Northwell Health•Mount Kisco, FL

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) provides age-specific care to an assigned group of patients using the nursing process, including assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The nurse collaborates with physicians and other health team members to coordinate and implement procedures and treatments, and uses clinical judgment and leadership skills to coordinate care and direct or delegate activities of the patient care team. The role includes assessing patients’ physical, psychosocial, developmental, and educational needs; developing and revising individualized plans of care; implementing and evaluating treatment; administering medications safely; maintaining accurate documentation; and communicating changes in patient condition to the care team. The nurse also supports patients and their significant others, participates in discharge planning and education, and contributes to evaluating and improving care quality.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing.
Current license to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State.
Must be enrolled in an accredited BSN program within two years of job entry and obtain a BSN degree within five years of job entry.
Specialized certifications as needed.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing preferred.

Responsibilities

Interview patients, explain policies and procedures, review charts, and answer questions courteously.
Assess patients’ gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, neurological, mobility, sensory, skin, pain, psychosocial, developmental, and educational status.
Develop, document, implement, reassess, and revise individualized plans of care and patient outcome goals in collaboration with physicians and other health team members.
Identify patient problems, determine care priorities, coordinate appropriate supplies, equipment, and medications, and maintain patient safety precautions.
Administer prescribed treatments and medications safely and correctly, and assist physicians with treatments and diagnostic procedures.
Use clinical judgment to delegate assignments, provide direction to care team members, and ensure assignments are completed in a timely manner.
Perform decubitus care, preventive skin care, simple dressings using aseptic technique, warm and cold compresses, irrigations, and other necessary skin-care procedures.
Monitor and document patient condition, treatment, activity, response to interventions, and psychological status in accordance with departmental policy.
Respond rapidly and effectively to emergency situations and maintain a calm, quiet, restful atmosphere.
Provide emotional support and communicate effectively with patients, families, and caretakers.
Participate in patient and family education, explain conditions as indicated, teach about medication and food interactions, and evaluate the effectiveness of teaching.
Plan for discharge, provide discharge instructions, and coordinate referrals and post-hospital care as appropriate.
Measure and document care effectiveness, perform variance analysis related to outcome data, and design, implement, and evaluate systems to improve unit care.
Perform related duties as required.