Registered Nurse PreOp PACU II - Palisades Eye Surgery Center

SCA Health•Bethesda, MD

About The Position

SCA Health is hiring a Registered Nurse for PreOp and PACU care at Palisades Eye Surgery Center. The nurse assesses patients before and after surgery, develops and implements individualized perianesthesia plans of care, monitors patient status, and supports safe recovery from different types of anesthesia. The role includes medication administration, pain and comfort management, patient education, protection of patient rights and privacy, and coordination of care across the perioperative continuum. The nurse documents care, provides accurate hand-off reports, collaborates with other disciplines, participates in quality and performance improvement activities, maintains competencies, and supports team safety and professional growth. The position requires compliance with facility policies and applicable nursing practice standards, along with performance of other assigned duties.

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 to practice.
Current BLS/BCLS certification or successful completion of a BLS/BCLS course within 90 days of employment.
Current ACLS certification or successful completion of an ACLS course within 90 days of employment.

Responsibilities

Promote SCA Health’s mission, vision, and values.
Assess patients’ preoperative and postoperative status, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, hemodynamic, pain and comfort, and mental status needs.
Interpret information from noninvasive and invasive monitors.
Apply relevant scoring systems and discharge criteria for patient transfer according to organizational policy.
Develop and implement individualized perianesthesia plans of care.
Prepare for and manage patient recovery from general, monitored anesthesia care, regional, and local anesthesia.
Protect patients from injury related to positioning, thermal sources, and extraneous objects.
Communicate patient status throughout the perianesthesia continuum of care.
Provide acute pain and comfort management as needed.
Administer medications safely using the eight rights of medication administration.
Maintain wound integrity, tissue perfusion, and the status of relevant body systems and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels.
Promote normothermia and protect patients from infection.
Manage comorbid conditions and fluids as prescribed.
Assess patient or support-person knowledge and provide education about psychosocial responses, nutrition, medications, pain and comfort, wound management, and expected procedure responses.
Involve patients or designated support persons in decisions about perioperative care and rehabilitation.
Protect patients’ rights, dignity, privacy, and confidentiality, and provide age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards.
Evaluate patient progress toward desired outcomes and transfer care as needed.
Provide accurate, concise, pertinent hand-off reports to teammates.
Delegate tasks in accordance with applicable nursing practice requirements, state laws, 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 appraisals, team meetings, trainings, and daily safety huddles.
Use problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills to foster effective working relationships.
Maintain required competencies and pursue professional growth.
Demonstrate fiscal responsibility, comply with facility policies and procedures, and perform other duties as assigned.