PACU - Registered Nurse

PACU - Registered Nurse - Full Time - Days Locations

Cordele, GA 31015, USA

Under the leadership of the department Director, Surgical Services, the Registered Nurse - PACU is an active member of the department that collects data and provides comfort measures and care to post-operative patients. The PACU Nurse is responsible for providing care that is appropriate for the patient’s developmental age and is culturally sensitive. The PACU Nurse formulates an appropriate plan of care and analyzes the effectiveness of interventions while effectively interacting with patients, families and other health team members.

The PACU Nurse maintains standards of professional nursing. The PACU Nurse duties are of considerable difficulty and are based on scientific principles and standards of nursing practice.

• Education: Requires an Associate’s degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing or completion of a degree from an accredited nursing school.
• Experience: Requires up to one year of work-related experience, or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Licensure, Registrations &
  
  Certifications:
  
  Requires a current state license as a Registered Nurse and is listed in good standing with the state’s Department of Professional Credentialing. Requires a current certification in Basic Life Saving (BLS). (If BLS verification is not current upon hire, it must be obtained within the orientation period, PALS, and ACLS.)

• Obtains pre-surgery and surgical information, conducts an assessment of patient’s condition (physical, emotional, age, etc.), documents findings and, in conjunction with the medical notes, prepares a suitable post-operative plan of care and modifies the plan of care as appropriate given changes in the patient’s condition.
• Performs basic nursing skills and treatments as prescribed by the physician or as indicated by the patient’s condition.
• Receives post-surgical patients and assesses their conditions by monitoring vital signs, temperature, signs of pain, respiratory status, and informs the physician of any significant changes, complications or anomalies.
• Arouses the patient from anesthesia after surgery and monitors recovery.
• Monitors the patient’s pain level and administers pain medications as ordered, suggesting changes to medication based on the patient’s condition.
• Monitors surgical site(s) for excessive bleeding, discharge, swelling, hematoma, redness, etc., and provides post-surgical wound care to avoid potential infections or complications.
• Coordinates the delivery of care for post-anesthesia patients with the peri-operative team to meet physical, psychological, safety, rehabilitative and educational needs of patients and their family members.
• Renders professional nursing care, including administration of medicines and drugs, monitoring IVs and blood, monitoring EKG rhythms, and routine treatments as prescribed or as indicated by the patient’s condition.
• Uses professional judgment in treating patients and modifies the treatment and/or contacts the physician as appropriate.
• Provides patients and family members with post-surgical care instructions to help mitigate fears and to educate during the recovery process.
• Maintains records and charts of patients, reports pertinent information regarding the patient’s condition, medication given and treatments administered.
• Processes the release/discharge of patients to appropriate nursing units or prepares the patient for hospital release, obtains necessary release signatures and provides patients with their personal clothing and items securely stored during surgery.
• Participates in performance improvement studies and integrates performance improvement standards into patient care activities.
• Remains current on innovations, developments, new procedures and techniques in nursing care to provide quality nursing care services.
• Performs all associated duties relating to safety, infection control and performance improvement as part of CRHS’s efforts to provide quality care and services.
• Presents a professional image to CRHS’s nursing co-workers, clinical and medical staff, patients, families and visitors.
• Attends professional development programs and in-service training and meets the minimum requirement for continuing professional education.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.