RN, PACU
Company: CARTI
Location: Little Rock
Posted on: October 25, 2024
Job Description:
Description
JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for the delivery of safe, effective, and
quality patient-family centered care in the post anesthesia care
unit and other areas of perioperative services for all patient
populations. The PACU nurse will provide care for post-operative
patients recovering from general, regional, and local anesthesia.
Responsible for observing and treating a post-operative patient,
ensuring safe emergence from anesthesia. Documentation and patient
education are key components of the PACU nursing role.
SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Support the mission, vision, and values of the
organization.
- Assess patient's postoperative status at intervals according to
facility or health care organization policies and procedures to
include the patient's:
- Cardiovascular system.
- Respiratory system and airway management needs.
- Neurological system.
- Hemodynamic stability.
- Pain and comfort needs.
- Mental status.
- Interpret information accurately from various noninvasive and
invasive monitors.
- Describe the underlying pathophysiology of commonly encountered
disease processes.
- Describe the physiology associated with various anesthesia
techniques and surgical or procedural interventions.
- Apply the relevant scoring system/discharge criteria for
patient transfer (e.g., Aldrete Score, Modified Aldrete Score
[i.e., PARSAP], Post Anesthesia Discharge Scoring System [PADSS],
White) score accurately as defined by organizational policy.
- Develop an individualized peri anesthesia plan of care.
- Implement the plan of care including the following
interventions:
- Managing patient recovery from anesthesia - general.
- Managing patient recovery from anesthesia - monitored
anesthesia care.
- Managing patient recovery from anesthesia - regional.
- Managing patient recovery from anesthesia - local.
- Protecting patient from injury caused by positioning, thermal
sources, and extraneous objects.
- Communicating the patient's status throughout the peri
anesthesia continuum of care.
- Providing acute pain and comfort management as needed.
- Administering medications correctly by implementing the
7-rights of safe medication practices (i.e., right patient, right
medication, right dose, right time, right route, right indication,
right documentation).
- Performing interventions to maintain the integrity of the
patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline
levels.
- Performing interventions to maintain the status of the
patient's genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal,
endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems,
and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline
levels.
- Performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or
returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate
postoperative period.
- Performing interventions to protect patient from
infection.
- Managing patient's other co-morbid conditions as
applicable.
- Managing patient's fluid as prescribed.
- Assessing knowledge level of patient or designated support
person and providing education regarding the expected psychosocial
response, nutritional management, medication management, pain and
comfort management, wound management, and expected responses to the
operative or invasive procedure.
- Involving patient or designated support person actively in
decisions affecting his or her perioperative plan of care and the
rehabilitation process.
- Protecting patient's rights, dignity, and privacy.
- Providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care
within legal standards of practice; and
- Providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the
setting.
- Evaluate the patient's progress toward attaining outcomes.
- Transfer care as needed.
- Delegate tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act (if
applicable), state board of nursing or professional registration
requirements, state laws, and job descriptions.
- Document nursing care completely, accurately, and legibly.
- Collaborate effectively with other disciplines as needed.
- Participate in quality review and performance improvement
projects.
- Participate in the performance appraisal process.
- Use critical thinking, problem-solving and conflict resolution
skills to foster effective work relationships with team
members.
- Maintain required competencies.
- Pursue professional growth and participate in a professional
organization.
- Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and
confidentiality of individuals and health information.
Requirements
EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, LICENSURE, REGISTRATION:
Required:
- Graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
- Associate degree in nursing required, bachelor's degree
preferred
- Current registered nurse licensure in state of employment
- Two years post anesthesia care experience
- Proficient in electronic medical record documentation
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
Preferred:
- Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) or Certified Ambulatory
Peri anesthesia Nurse (CAPA) certification
- Basic computer skills (e.g., Microsoft - Word) WORKING
CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Physically demanding, high-stress environment
- Exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases,
chemicals and other hazardous materials, radiation, and repetitive
motions
- Pushing and pulling heavy objects
- Full range of body motion including handling and lifting
patients
- Manual and finger dexterity
- Hand and eye coordination
- Standing and walking for extensive periods of time
- Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds
- Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range
- Working under stressful conditions REASONING ABILITY:
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of
concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization
exists.
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in
written, oral, or schedule form. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
- Must interact and communicate both verbally and in written
form.
- Must interact and exchange information regarding patients with
physicians and other departmental personnel, and outside agencies
on a frequent basis while respecting the confidentiality of patient
information. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those
that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the
essential functions of this job.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is
regularly required to talk or hear.
- The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, use
hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and
reach with hands and arms.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close
vision and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment involves potential exposure to blood and body
fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals and other hazardous
materials, radiation, and repetitive motions while performing the
essential functions of this job. Team members are offered
appropriate vaccinations and safety training.
Keywords: CARTI, Conway , RN, PACU, Healthcare , Little Rock, Arkansas
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