REGISTERED NURSE, RN - PERIOPERATIVE

Independence Health System•Latrobe, PA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care for a designated group of patients. The nurse coordinates and participates as an effective member of the interdisciplinary health care team, contributing to unit operations and positive patient outcomes. This position floats between the short stay unit and recovery room and participates in an on-call rotation to provide postoperative patient care 24/7. In the Short Stay Unit, the nurse provides pre- and post-procedure assessment, monitoring, education, and discharge care; prepares and cares for patients receiving transfusions, therapies, and nursing visits; administers transfusions; and assists clinicians during procedures, including moderate sedation, as permitted by applicable licenses and certifications. The nurse also performs indirect care and unit-operation duties. In the Recovery Room, the nurse supports postoperative patient care and education, coordinates care activities that promote health and self-care, ensures postoperative orders are available and reviewed for continuity of care, and stays informed about developments in procedures, treatments, medications, and equipment. The role may include rotating shifts, standby, on-call work, and local travel between system locations. There are no direct supervisory responsibilities, though the nurse may coach and mentor others.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through an American Heart Association-approved CPR and AED curriculum.
Strong leadership ability and organizational skills.
Independent and critical-thinking skills and sound judgment.
Knowledge of the legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Current PALS certification or completion within one year of hire or transfer into the department.
Current ACLS certification or completion within one year of hire or transfer into the department.
Act 33 clearance with renewal.
Act 34 clearance with renewal.
Act 73 FBI clearance with renewal.
A nursing refresher course may be required if the employee has not worked in an acute care setting during their most recent three consecutive years of professional employment.
Ability to participate in rotating shifts, standby, and on-call scheduling based on operational need.
Ability to travel locally between system locations as needed.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
One year of critical care or PACU experience.

Responsibilities

Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for a designated group of patients.
Coordinate and participate in interdisciplinary care and contribute to efficient unit operations and positive patient outcomes.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge through education, publications, professional networks, and professional societies.
Assure quality of care by following therapeutic standards, monitoring outcomes against goals, recommending adjustments, and adhering to applicable nursing and regulatory standards.
Follow infection-control, medication administration and storage, and controlled-substance policies and procedures.
Document patient care and communicate actions, irregularities, and continuing needs to maintain continuity among nursing teams.
Protect patient confidentiality and establish rapport to identify patient care requirements.
Provide emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients and their families; teach patients and families about conditions, medications, and self-care; and answer questions.
Maintain a safe and clean work environment and resolve patient needs through multidisciplinary teamwork.
Maintain cooperative relationships among health care teams, communicate information, respond to requests, and participate in continuous quality improvement and problem solving.
Ensure equipment operation by completing preventive maintenance, troubleshooting malfunctions, arranging repairs, maintaining inventories, and evaluating equipment and techniques.
Maintain nursing supply inventory by checking stock, anticipating needs, ordering and expediting supplies, verifying receipts, and using supplies appropriately.
In the Short Stay Unit, assess, monitor, educate, and provide age-specific pre- and post-procedure care to patients and families.
Review discharge instructions and educational materials with patients and families, and discharge patients with a responsible adult following physician approval or order.
Prepare, assess, and discharge patients receiving blood transfusions, therapies, and nursing service visits; administer transfusions according to policy, initiate series visits according to guidelines, and document series visits accurately.
Assist physicians and other allied health professionals during procedures in accordance with applicable licenses and certifications; pre-op patients, verify patient/procedure/surgical site, assist with moderate sedation according to ACLS and hospital guidelines, and handle specimens appropriately.
Adapt to changing perioperative team needs and perform assigned indirect care duties, including opening and closing the Short Procedure Unit and checking the crash cart when the unit is open.
In the Recovery Room, develop and coordinate patient education and care activities that promote and maintain health, foster self-care, and improve outcomes.
Tailor PACU education to patient and family needs, including age, culture, learning barriers, and readiness to learn.
Ensure written postoperative orders are available before PACU discharge and review them with the receiving unit to support continuity of care.
Stay current on procedures, treatments, drugs, and equipment relevant to postoperative patient care.
Participate in the on-call schedule to provide postoperative care 24/7 and perform other related duties as assigned.
May serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.