POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible to the Director of Surgical Services, Unit Director/Manager, Clinical Supervisor and/or designee for overall nursing practice. Provides professional nursing care based on current perioperative nursing knowledge through the use of Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) Standards and Recommended Practice for Perioperative Nursing.  Care includes the use of the nursing process through assessment of the patient and pertinent health data, analysis of collected data based on perioperative nursing theory and experience, development of a plan of care to meet those needs, implementation of nursing interventions based on current practice standards and evaluation of patient care outcomes for the pediatric through geriatric age population.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education:

1. Completion of an accredited registered nurse program required; BSN preferred.
2. A trauma nurse course is required within one year of assignment to the department.

Experience:

1. Previous RN experience preferred.
2. Charge qualified preferred.
3. Prior Operating Room experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

1. Effectively functions as a team member and as a liaison between patient and staff.
2. Supports and encourages harmonious communication skills.
3. Job requires strong verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills.
4. Communicates in highly professional manner at all times.
5. Demonstrates a high level of mental and emotional tolerance and even temperament when dealing with ill people; uses tact, sensitivity, sound judgment and a professional attitude when relating with patients, families, and co-workers at all times.
6. Knowledge of peri-operative nursing practices. (AORN)
7. Demonstrates mental and emotional tolerance and even temperament when dealing with patients, families, providers and other staff members.
8. If there are no candidates who possess the preferred qualifications for the positions, the candidate will be considered and education/training will be provided.  Mount Nittany Health will provide an in-house 6 month Operating Room course.
9. Must begin the in-house Operating Room course upon transfer/hire into the Operating Room.
10. Accepts responsibility and accountability for maintaining knowledge, skills and competency in peri-operative nursing, remaining current on concepts, trends, scientific advance, biomedical equipment and ethics related to peri-operative nursing.

License/Certification/Registration:

1. Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania.
2. Meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) and renews BLS every two years.
3. Relevant certification preferred upon hire. See the Registered Nurse addendum for each specific unit.
4. After four months from the hire/transfer date, meets the American Heart Association's standards for Healthcare Provider Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and renews ACLS every two years.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receive supervision from the clinical supervisor and Director of Surgical Services.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

The Registered Nurse will only have supervision of others while serving as Charge Nurse.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Assesses the physical and psychological status of each patient scheduled for surgical intervention.  Assessment shall include but is not limited to patient identification, type of surgery, allergies, pertinent medical and surgical health data, and conditions and limitations that may have a potential negative physiological response to surgical interventions.
2. Promotes excellent customer service through a strong commitment to Mount Nittany Medical Center standards of service excellence.
3. Develops a plan of care based on an ongoing assessment of the patient in the holding area, operative suite and post-operative setting.
   1. The Plan of Care:
      1. Identifies strengths and weaknesses and methods of adapting to current surgical interventions.
      2. Updates plan constantly to meet existing or potential problems of the patient.
      3. States goals and nursing interventions based on the assessment of the patient experiencing surgical intervention.
      4. Ensures supplies and equipment for the care of the surgical patient are readily available and functional.
      5. Ensures the creation and maintenance of a sterile field through the procedure based on principles of asepsis.
4. Implements perioperative nursing techniques and responds appropriately to natural physiological changes during the operative procedure per Mount Nittany Medical Center policies and procedures and AORN standards by:
   1. Recognizing changes in health care status and directs appropriate care to provide for patient safety.
   2. Applying principles of aseptic technique, surgical technique, electrical, chemical and laser safety, positioning, and patient care management.
   3. Utilizing knowledge in clinical performance by applying technical, interpersonal, educational, leadership and communication concepts.
   4. Demonstrating care and disposition of surgical specimens, cultures, foreign bodies.
   5. Documenting individualized changes in plan of care.
5. Implements health education by:
   1. Providing information to the patient and family relating to specific surgical nursing functions and physical aspects of the operating room through effective preoperative teaching.
   2. Documenting patient interactions appropriately.
6. Accepts responsibility and accountability for maintaining knowledge, skills and competency in perioperative nursing by:
   1. Maintaining an awareness of professional issues.
   2. Remaining current on concepts, trends, scientific advances, biomedical equipment and ethics related to perioperative nursing.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Perform other duties as assigned to assist in the daily operations of surgical services and sterile processing.