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Surgery Partners Careers•Homewood, AL

About The Position

GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES : To provide total patient care by utilizing the nursing process and implementing the standards of peri-procedure nursing. To assume the leadership role for the operating/procedure room team and the management of the operating/procedure room during the intra-procedure period. Responsibilities: POLICY: A qualified licensed Registered Nurse will be assigned as Circulating RN on each procedure. PROCEDURE: Receives report and room assignment. Performs hand scrub according to procedure. Prior to first scheduled procedure of the day, damp dusting horizontal surfaces: includes tables, equipment, overhead spotlights, and other ceiling and wall mounted equipment; and damp dusting using clean cloth moistened with cleaner/disinfectant or alcohol. Prepares the Room: Checks: lights, suction, electrosurgical unit, clocks, and other mechanical equipment in room. Arranges furniture in room to facilitate the procedure; obtains additional furniture as needed. Prepares for Procedure: Assists Scrub person in opening sterile supplies and instrumentation. Removes all additional supplies from case cart; places on shelf of circulating table. (Allows case cart to be used for patient-contaminated equipment while keeping clean/sterile supplies readily available.) Assists scrub person into gown. Performs initial count with Scrub person according to procedure and documents on peri-procedure record. Prepares patient equipment, i.e., bovie pad, prep tray, positioning materials, etc. Provides patient care: Assesses the patient in the pre-procedure holding area Introduces self to patient Verifies patient identification, procedure, procedure site, allergies Checks chart for completion Determines additional protective equipment needed according to criteria for "Standard precautions." Verifies that the physician, assistant and anesthesia personnel are available and ready to proceed. Transports patient to the designated operating/procedure room. Positions patient on operating/procedure table, checks for body alignment and comfort; offers warm blanket. Calls for the attending physician and/or assistant if they wish to speak with the patient prior to anesthesia. Stands by the patient during induction; assists anesthesia personnel as necessary. Assists the physician in the positioning of the patient as necessary. Supports and pads areas of pressure. Uses safety straps and/or tape for stabilization. Turns on and positions surgical spot light. Places electrosurgical ground pad on patient according to procedure. Performs sterile skin prep according to procedure. Assists with draping as necessary. Assists scrub person in positioning mayo stand, ring stand, and back table. Connects electrosurgical unit cord and suction. Turns on electrosurgical unit; informs attending physician of settings. Positions sponge buckets. Dons gloves and/or uses instrument to position soiled sponges on sponge bucket rim and bags according to procedure. Provides necessary sterile supplies as needed. Monitors operative/procedure field for breaks in technique. Confines and contains contaminated articles/areas. While wearing gloves: place used items on case cart; and clean up blood spillage/tracks, etc. with clean cloth and cleaner/disinfectant. Communicates need to holding area for next patient readiness. Initiates closing counts. Identifies specimen with the attending physician, labels containers and completes lab request form. Completes procedure nursing records and charge forms. Records intraoperative medications, dose, and time of administration. Records implants. Provides dressing material to Scrub person; assists in applying dressing as necessary. Moves waste and linen hampers to the field. Removes ground pad; checks and documents skin condition. Dons gloves; assists anesthesia personnel as necessary during extubation and emergencies. Notifies the recovery area nurse that patient will be arriving soon; alerts them to any needed equipment. Assists anesthesia care provider in transferring the patient to the recovery area. All procedure records, patient x-rays and specimens are to accompany patient to the recovery area. Gives report to recovery area nurse: Patient's name Patient allergies Procedures performed Provides contributing intra-procedure information, i.e., drains, catheters, etc. Reports medications given intraoperatively States physical limitations States impairments resulting from the procedure Reports patient's pre-procedure level of consciousness Communicates necessary equipment needs Reports other pertinent information. Places x-rays, specimens and procedure records in designated locations. Washes hands. Checks with Administrative Director/designee for changes in case or room assignment. Proceeds to the pre-procedure holding area to assess the next patient and review chart. Communicates with team members to determine room status; assists with room cleaning and set-up as necessary. Communicates with nurse running the schedule of the room status concerning on-time, delay or early completion. If it is necessary to leave the operating/procedure room during the procedure, inform the scrub person and anesthesia personnel. Unnecessary traffic in and out of the room should be discouraged to minimize human bacterial shedding and curtail air turbulence. FOR CARDIAC ARREST: Pushes Code Blue button Dials All Page and announces Code Blue and room on intercom. Stays in room. Signals for assistance. Assists physicians and limits traffic in room. Follows Code Blue policy/procedure. PREPARATION FOR NEXT DAY: Check the next day's assignment. Assemble equipment and supplies needed for those cases. Handle questions concerning special requests and routine needs. Check and restock supply cabinet, drawers and anesthesia machine in accordance with routine stock supply requirements.