Job Title
Registered Nurse - Pre-Admission Testing / Surgical Day Care
Job Summary
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Registered Nurse for a Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) and Surgical Day Care (SDC) role in Gardner, Massachusetts. This position is integral to ensuring patients are thoroughly prepared for surgical procedures, providing comprehensive assessments, education, and coordination of care in the pre-operative phase.
The successful candidate will play a crucial role in patient safety and satisfaction by conducting detailed pre-operative assessments, coordinating necessary ancillary tests, reviewing medical records, and providing essential patient and family education. This role also involves post-operative follow-up, ensuring continuity of care and addressing patient needs after discharge from Surgical Day Care.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform comprehensive nursing assessments and reassessments, developing, implementing, and evaluating patient-centered plans of care.
- Provide direct patient care in accordance with established standards of care, practice, protocols, and policies.
- Conduct pre-admission testing for Surgical Day Care patients, including performing blood draws and EKGs.
- Coordinate ancillary testing and review pre-operative orders, consulting with surgeons and anesthesiologists to ensure appropriate tests are ordered per guidelines.
- Review test results, identify abnormalities, and communicate critical findings to the surgical team and primary physicians prior to surgery.
- Ensure completeness of preoperative charts, verifying all required documentation such as consent forms, H&P, and lab results.
- Administer medications and intravenous therapy safely and accurately, adhering to physician orders and established protocols.
- Assess and reassess patient pain levels, documenting responses to interventions and notifying physicians as needed.
- Complete medication reconciliation documentation for use by the attending physician.
- Provide thorough, timely, and accurate documentation of all pertinent patient data, interventions, and responses.
- Deliver timely and comprehensive patient reports to other healthcare team members to ensure continuity of care.
- Provide patient and family education based on identified learning needs, readiness, and potential barriers.
- Collaboratively plan and prepare patients and families for discharge, incorporating necessary support systems and resources.
- Appropriately delegate and supervise nursing interventions performed by other team members.
- Prioritize patient care effectively, recognizing the need for emergency intervention and seeking appropriate resources.
- Proactively identify risks to patient safety, contributing to error reduction and appropriate incident reporting.
- Provide emotional support to patients undergoing surgery and initiate post-operative phone calls to Surgical Day Care patients.
Required Qualifications
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
- Minimum of one (1) year of acute care nursing experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience in Surgical Day Care (SDC), Pre-Admission Testing (PAT), Endoscopy, or Operating Room (OR) settings.
- Current IV certification.
Skills & Competencies
- Proficiency in peripheral IV insertion and comprehensive nursing assessment.
- Ability to perform blood draws and EKGs.
- Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and prioritization skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for patient education, team collaboration, and documentation.
- Competence in safe medication administration and IV therapy.
- Adept at pain assessment and management, and medication reconciliation.
- Ability to interpret diagnostic results and communicate findings effectively.
- Strong commitment to patient safety and ethical practice.
- Capacity to provide emotional support and patient-centered care.
- Ability to delegate tasks and supervise other healthcare personnel effectively.
Shift Details
- Shift Type: Nights (NOC)
- Shift Duration: 8 hours
- Days per Week: 5 days
- Contract Length: 13 weeks
- Start Date: July 13, 2026
- Call Requirements: Not specified.
- Weekend Rotations: Not specified.
Licensing Requirements
- Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in Massachusetts (MA).
- Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
- Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.