JOB REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Education
- Holds an active Registered Nurse license and is eligible to practice in the state of Kentucky.
- Current BLS certification.
- Current PALS certification.
- Current ACLS certification.
- Basic EKG/Arrhythmia-identification.
Minimum Work Experience
- Minimum of one (1) year of work experience in PACU.
Required Skills
- Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
- Additional languages preferred.
- Basic computer knowledge.
FUNCTIONAL DEMANDS
Physical Requirements
Sitting - 1-15%
Walking - =>32%
Standing - =>32%
Bending/Squatting - 16-31%
Climbing/Kneeling - 16-31%
Twisting - 16-31%
Visual and Hearing Requirements
Must be able to see with corrective eyewear if needed.
Must be able to hear clearly with assistance if needed.
Color vision ability required.
Physical/Environmental requirements
Lifting - 0 -50 lbs, 50 or more with assistance
Carrying - 0- 50 lbs, 50 or more with assistance
Pulling - Up to 100 lbs
Pushing - Up to 100 lbs
OSHA
High potential for direct exposures.
LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES
Mission, Service and Values
Supports the hospital Mission, Service, and Values
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Essential Functions
- Approaches patient in a kind, gentle and friendly manner.
- Gives patient explanations and verbal reassurances consistently.
- Responds to patient’s inappropriate behavior in a therapeutic manner.
- Demonstrates knowledge of preoperative factors that alter immediate postoperative phase.
- Utilizes nursing procedures as a media for communication and interaction with patient.
- Identifies physical symptoms and changes and takes appropriate action in a timely manner.
- Completes treatments as ordered or within one (1) hour, if appropriate.
- Demonstrates knowledge of airway management and procedures and the ability to use the equipment.
- Demonstrates ability to assess cardio-respiratory systems for changes and provides appropriate treatment.
- Observes behavioral and physiologic changes due to medications, takes appropriate actions and documents.
- Adjusts and acts upon expectations of patient’s behavior, according to the effect medication has on patient.
- Demonstrates ability to provide specific care to postoperative neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.
- Carries out medical/surgical asepsis during treatments and special procedures.
- Carries out established techniques for safe administration of medications and parenteral fluids, according to hospital policies and procedures.
- Follows the seven (7) medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
- Carries out safety measures to prevent patient from harming him/herself or others.
- Coordinates patient care; gives explanations and teaching to patient/family, as necessary.
- Protects patient’s sensitivities and right to privacy.
- Demonstrates knowledge of anesthetic drugs, actions and side effects.
- Demonstrates knowledge of arterial lines, Swan-Ganz, spinal and epidural catheters and how to document.
- Demonstrates knowledge of regional anesthesia including but not limited to femoral nerve blocks, bier blocks, interscalene blocks, and TAP blocks.
- Demonstrates ability to make independent and intelligent nursing decisions in the care of the PACU patients.
- Obtains, documents and assesses vital signs every five (5) minutes for the first hour.
- Demonstrates ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
- Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
- Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
- Closely observes patient with minimal disturbance.
- Responds appropriately to patient in an emergency or physically distressful situation.
- Provides family with the opportunity for reciprocal communication with the nursing staff.
- Clearly documents in charting ideas, facts and concepts about the patient. Documentation is completed within shift; meets standards, policies and procedures.
- Communicates effectively and thoroughly the patient’s condition upon transfer from PACU to the receiving patient care unit Registered Nurse.
- Ability to perform waived testing (point-of-care testing) per Clinical Laboratory’s and the patient care unit’s policies and procedures.
- Ability to interpret results of waived tests; take appropriate action on waived tests results.
- Notifies physician of any abnormal lab/test results.
- Establishes and maintains effective communication and good working relationships with co-workers for the patient’s benefit.
- Maintains regulatory agency requirements, hospital and nursing policies, procedures and standards. Counts
- narcotics at the beginning and end of all shifts with Circulating Nurse, per policies and procedures.
- Makes decisions reflecting knowledge of facts and good judgment.
- Makes decisions reflecting knowledge of disease and surgical conditions and the care required.
- Makes decisions reflecting knowledge of dysrhythmias, followed by appropriate treatment.
- Completes specially assigned duties consistently and as schedule allows.
- Utilizes initiative; strives to maintain steady level of productivity; self-motivated. Organizes and manages activities reflecting due consideration for the needs of the department and staff.
- Demonstrates understanding and necessity of chemical and biological monitoring.
- Professional Requirements
- Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
- Completes annual education requirements.
- Maintains regulatory requirements.
- Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
- Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.
- Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly.
- Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
- Attends annual review and department in-services, as scheduled.
- Attends at least 75% of staff meetings annually, reads and returns all monthly staff meeting minutes.
- Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
- Actively participates in performance and quality improvement activities.
- Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
- Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department.