PRE-OPERATIVE DUTIES
- Manage patients’ admission processes to preoperative department in a hospital
- Assess the status of patients’ health in pre-op and ensure accuracy of identification wristband
- Ensure that operative and informed consents are in order
- Determine the surgeon and procedure being carried out
- Take and record vital statistics of patients to ensure readiness for surgical procedure
- Initiate IVs and ensure that patients are informed about the procedure and attending medical staff
POST-OPERATIVE DUTIES
- Assess patients’ condition after a surgery has been performed
- Ensure that all vitals are within normal range
- Log all findings in patients’ files
- Answer patients’ questions and ensure that they are kept comfortable
- Make sure that all relevant IVs are in check
- Develop individualized care plans based on each individual patient’s condition
- Ensure that the all nursing activities are carried out in accordance to individual patient care plan
- Monitor patients for condition changes and report any changes to the doctor
- Initiate patient education programs to ensure that both patients and families are educated on procedures and medications
- Determine when patients are ready to be moved to their rooms
- Perform intervention duties in cases of post-operative emergencies
- Record sedation levels and body temperature
- Manage blood and fluid transfusions and draw specimens
- Ensure that the post-operative space is clean and sanitized
- Change bandages and dress surgical wounds
#USP-RN
Required Skills
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
- Current Texas Nursing License
- Current BLS, ACLS and PALS
- MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN PRE-OP/PACU
- Strong knowledge of surgical procedures and management of the surgical patient
- Understand principles of aseptic technique and their implementation
- Ability to care for patients from infancy to geriatrics
- Knowledge base to recognize, evaluate, solve problems and correct errors
- Ability to quickly adapt to changing condition of the patient when needed
- Excellent teaching skills
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Demonstrate strong professional and ethical behavior
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, physicians and fellow employees. (TEAMWORK)
- Strong customer service skills
- Demonstrate accountability, creativity, innovation and be receptive to change
- Possess basic knowledge of Performance Improvement ideology
Required Experience
- Previous experience working in an ambulatory surgical setting preferred.