Registered Nurse Surgery Center Per Diem
About The Position
This per diem Registered Nurse role is based at a surgery center in Houston, Texas. The center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The RN provides direct nursing care before, during, and after procedures, under the direction of the Facility Manager, Director of Nursing, and/or Charge Registered Nurse, following facility policies and procedures and supporting the organization’s mission, values, compliance requirements, and customer-service philosophy. Strong preference is given to candidates bilingual in English and Spanish. The role supports quality improvement, regulatory compliance, accurate records, and a safe facility environment. It includes patient assessment, education, monitoring, documentation, medication and IV moderate sedation administration as ordered, IV insertion, point-of-care testing, emergency response, and assisting physicians during procedures, including acting as a scrub technologist when needed. The RN also communicates with physicians, supports CQI activities, operates and inspects facility equipment, helps maintain medication and supply inventories, and participates in staff meetings, training, audits, surveys, and assigned projects. The work includes desk and computer tasks as well as direct patient care. It regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, and bending. With assistance, the employee may occasionally move patients and equipment weighing up to 200 pounds. The healthcare work environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials and radiation; protective gear may be required in procedure rooms for extended periods.
Requirements
- Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing (R.N.).
- Current appropriate state licensure.
- Current ACLS certification; BLS and ACLS course certifications successfully completed.
- Proficiency in IV insertion.
- Proficiency in cardiac rhythm recognition.
- Proficiency with computers and related software, including Microsoft Office.
- Experience with medical database software.
Nice To Haves
- Strong preference for bilingual English and Spanish.
- Associate's degree is desirable; a bachelor's degree is strongly preferred.
- Four to six years of related experience preferred.
- Experience in an office-based surgical center, ambulatory surgical center, vascular access, cardiac catheterization laboratory, or a combination of ASC, surgical, interventional radiology, and ICU/CCU or emergency department settings preferred.
Responsibilities
- Provide direct nursing care before, during, and after procedures according to physician orders, facility policies, and applicable regulations.
- Support organization quality standards, regulatory and accreditation requirements, and Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
- Obtain medical histories, discuss procedures, answer questions, and perform nursing assessments on the day of procedures.
- Educate patients and their families about post-procedure vascular access care and respond to patient concerns.
- Monitor patients before, during, and after procedures, including for complications or reactions related to moderate sedation and contrast media.
- Identify and communicate patient-related issues to facility management as needed.
- Complete accurate patient documentation from admission through discharge, confirm orders, consents, and lab work, and ensure records are completed before discharge.
- Administer medications and IV moderate sedation as ordered and in compliance with applicable policies and regulations.
- Maintain competency in emergency procedures and initiate CPR and other emergency measures as needed.
- Assist physicians during procedures, including acting as a scrub technologist while maintaining sterile technique.
- Transport patients as needed and perform point-of-care laboratory testing and IV insertion as ordered.
- Communicate with physicians, participate in CQI meetings, and assist with adverse-event reporting.
- Operate, inspect, and report issues with facility equipment and systems, and help maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary environment.
- Assist with medication, laboratory, supply, and equipment utilization and inventory, including checking expiration dates and documenting controlled substances and medication disposal.
- Examine emergency equipment and supplies, including regularly stocking the crash cart.
- Perform chart audits and assist with regulatory or accreditation surveys, action plans, and required implanted-device records.
- Participate in staff meetings, training, and orientation, comply with HIPAA policies, and complete other assigned duties.
