Staff Nurse - PACU

Licking Memorial Health Systems•Newark, OH

About The Position

The Staff Nurse works in the Outpatient Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), caring for immediate postoperative patients of all ages. The unit provides post-anesthesia care for ambulatory, inpatient, and critical care patients, supporting respiratory and cardiovascular stability and adequate control of pain and nausea. The nurse also coordinates outpatient surgery patients’ care with other healthcare providers. PACU nursing duties include providing intravenous access for medications, blood, and other blood products; delivering age-appropriate care from childhood through the geriatric population; and interacting effectively with patients, families, physicians, visitors, and other health system personnel. The nurse is accountable to patients and families for the care provided and to the Director of Outpatient Services for overall performance. The role includes attending internal and external meetings to stay current with literature and meeting the criteria for the organization’s core values and competencies. On-call hours are required, averaging four call days per staff member per schedule, with the number varying based on coverage needs.

Requirements

Current State of Ohio RN licensure.
Keep current with new technology and new drug information.
Maintain HCP certification.
Maintain inventory of equipment and supplies.
Work independently.
Maintain customer service by supporting and demonstrating Service Excellence within the department and throughout the organization.

Responsibilities

Develop an LMH-formulated nursing plan of care for patients.
Evaluate patient care outcomes using Process Improvement.
Use Epic for patient documentation.
Document accurately on specialized forms and ensure departmental documents are controlled.
Demonstrate understanding of IV medication therapies and other treatments.
Follow policies and procedures specific to IVs, implanted ports, and PICC lines, and be proficient in accessing them.
Perform concurrent chart review, chart disposition, and reconciliation of orders and patient charges.
Provide accurate clinical information to ancillary support services, such as hospital and physician coders, for billing purposes.
Enter charges correctly.
Assist with data collection and entry for Process Improvement and other quality activities.
Care for immediate postoperative patients across all age ranges and support respiratory and cardiovascular stability and control of pain and nausea.
Coordinate outpatient surgery patients’ care with other healthcare providers.
Provide age-related care from childhood through the geriatric population.
Maintain effective interpersonal communication with patients, families, physicians, visitors, and other health system personnel.
Attend internal and external meetings to stay current with literature.
Meet criteria and factors required of core values and competencies.
Participate in required on-call coverage, averaging four call days per schedule.