POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible to the Director of Perioperative Services and Unit Manager and/or designee for overall nursing practice. Provides professional nursing care based on current nursing knowledge through the use of the American Society of Post Anesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) Standards during the Post Anesthesia Phase I and Phase II and transfer to the receiving patient care unit.  The nursing roles during this phase focus on providing a transition from a totally anesthetized state to one requiring less acute interventions.  This includes use of the nursing process through assessment of patient's needs, development of a plan to meet those needs, implementation of nursing interventions and evaluation of the effectiveness of the nursing care and other treatment measures to achieve optimal patient outcomes on discharge from the Post Anesthesia Care Unit for the pediatric through geriatric age patient.

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 PACU and Critical Care 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.

License/Certification/Registration:

1. Current Pennsylvania RN licensure.
2. Meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) and renews BLS every two years.
3. 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.
4. After six months from the hire/transfer date, meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and renews PALS every two years.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receives minimal supervision from Operations Manager.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

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

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Performs the initial assessment of the patient's condition, differentiates the severity of patient problems and prioritizes patient care based on data from the physical evaluation, the anesthesia personnel operative report and the medical record.
2. Develops and coordinates a plan of care based on an ongoing assessment of the patient, knowledge of anesthetic agents and post-anesthesia patient care, post-operative care related to the surgical specialty and anticipation of problems which may develop in the immediate post-anesthesia period by:
   1. Initiating appropriate nursing interventions and physician orders identified including maintaining a patent airway and optimal oxygen saturation.
   2. Utilizing established modalities of pain management to assist the patient toward optimal comfort.
   3. Collaborating and communicates with the patient, family or S/O, physician and other health care providers as appropriate.
   4. Ensuring that supplies and equipment for emergency care of patients are readily available and in working order.
3. Continuously evaluates the patient's progress toward the achievement of PACU discharge guidelines, determines the effectiveness of nursing interventions and revises the plan of care as necessary by:
   1. Utilizing PACU guidelines for discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit.
   2. Communicating a post-operative report to the receiving nurse and assures safe patient transportation to the receiving patient care unit.
4. Accepts responsibility and accountability for maintaining knowledge, skill and competency in Post-Anesthesia nursing on an ongoing basis including but not limited to successful completion of:
   1. Unit competencies
   2. Concepts, trends, scientific advances, biomedical equipment and ethics related to Post-Anesthesia Nursing.
   3. Maintaining an awareness of professional issues.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Performs related and miscellaneous duties as assigned.