RN Pre/Post Anesthesia Care Unit PACU - Temp Backfill

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The HCW shall provide support services by maintaining comprehensive knowledge and skills in professional nursing care, addressing the needs of critically ill patients. They will assist pain management physicians with procedures, conduct perioperative screenings, and manage pain clinic templates, equipment, and supplies. Additionally, they will ensure compliance with safety and infection control standards, provide effective communication and collaboration within the healthcare team, administer medications and treatments, and maintain accurate documentation. The HCW will also coordinate patient care to achieve optimal outcomes and participate in the orientation, training, and ongoing education of new personnel.

Current, active, full, and unrestricted license to practice nursing in accordance with State Board requirements. Nurse applicants shall be a current U.S. Registered Nurse. License cannot be under investigation nor have any adverse action pending from a Nursing State Board or national licensing/certification agency.

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing acceptable to the Surgeon General, HQ USAF is mandatory.

• Provides professional nursing care to patients undergoing surgery. Prepares patients room and circulates for surgical procedures within multiple specialties to include orthopedics, general surgery, podiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, plastics, otolaryngology, urology, oral maxillofacial, and pediatric dentistry. Establishes and utilizes a checklist to plan, implement, and evacuate care for surgical patients for conformity to all national standards for ensuring safety for the patient and all personnel. Assembles the type and quantity of material and special equipment needed for daily procedures and possible emergencies. Responds to surgical emergency requirements such as cardiac, pulmonary, or respiratory failure and hemorrhage.
• The Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) provides recovery services for a diverse patient population, ranging from infants (defined as 29 days to one year old) to geriatric patients, who have undergone surgical or procedural interventions requiring general anesthesia or at the anesthesia provider's discretion. The PACU supports a wide range of surgical specialties, including General Surgery, Oral Surgery, Obstetric/Gynecology Surgery, Orthopedic/Podiatry Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Urology, Gastroenterology, and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, as well as Pediatric Dental Surgery. The unit also assists with regional nerve blocks when staffing allows. Annually, the PACU manages approximately 1900 encounters. Work schedules vary between 0600 and 1800, Monday through Friday, to accommodate patient care needs, and flexibility is required. Patient Care Encounter Notes are to be completed prior to end of shift within electronic health record. The PACU does not recover neonates (children less than 29 days old).
• Maintains open communication lines, both interdepartmentally and interdepartmentally, to provide for total needs of the patient. Conducts preoperative and postoperative visits. Discusses with patients and informs them of what to expect during surgery. Consults with the operating surgeon and establishes priorities of care for each patient entering the surgical suite. Coordinates with other hospital units to include recovery room, intensive care, obstetrics, and nursing units on patient's progress and any special equipment or supplies needed for the patient returning from surgery.
• Conducts and instructs personnel in preparing, sterilizing, and caring for equipment and supplies. Coordinates an ongoing education program to update knowledge and skills of decontamination and sterilization practices.
• Provides care based upon the assessed needs of the patient in relation to the proposed procedure.
• Provides pre/post anesthesia nursing care, for all types of patients admitted to the surgical suite for surgical intervention. Includes elective, urgent and emergency procedures on patients of all ages.
• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates nursing care for all surgical patients including newborns, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly; disabled to include visually and hearing impaired; and individuals of varying ethnic and religious backgrounds to include those who do not speak or understand English. Participates and complies with quality and process improvement activities and events to ensure compliance with national standards and guidelines.
• Knowledge of a variety of pharmacological agents used in patient, side effects, and complications of their use as well as the accurate administration of the pharmacologic agent including dosage calculations as required.
• Knowledgeable of laboratory test values.
• Contractor employee will ensure all required credentials and required training remain up to date at all times.
• Administers medications, electrolytes, fluids, blood, and blood products.
• Ensures a safe work environment, employee safe work habits and patient safety in accordance with regulatory agencies. Adheres to perioperative, infection control, and safety policies and procedures.
• Safely operates and monitors specialized therapeutic and resuscitative equipment.
• Skilled in setting up and monitoring specialized medical equipment such as IV infusion pumps, cardiac monitoring devices, EKG units, oxygen analyzers, and other unit specific equipment.
• Effectively communicates and collaborates with a diverse group of people. Informs the healthcare team of plans/actions. Educates the patient/family and organization members. Effectively uses appropriate communication format in addressing professional issues.
• Excellent written communication skills to perform accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity in accordance with requirements.
• Knowledge of computer operations and proficiency in the use of basic word processing, data entry and automated medical records.
• Must be able to synthesize data from a variety of sources and make appropriate clinical decisions.
• Coordinates patient care through a continuum and facilitates the achievement of optimal outcomes in relation to care, quality and cost effectiveness.
• Ensures compliance with standards of care and practice in accordance with all established national and local policies, procedures, and guidelines used in the medical treatment facility. Provides care within ethical and legal boundaries.
• Recognizes medical emergencies and responds appropriately. Initiates CPR if required. Assists surgical team in administering advanced cardiac life support measures when necessary.
• Participates in the orientation and training of newly assigned personnel, as appropriate.
• Serves and participates in committees, functions and other meetings as directed. Provides relevant and timely information to these groups and assists with decision- making and process improvement. Participates in customer service initiatives and medical readiness activities designed to enhance health services.
• Completes orientation and competency verification programs in accordance with unit guidelines.

A minimum of 12 months of in-patient care unit or pre/post anesthesia care experience is mandatory in an in-patient care unit or pre/post anesthesia care assignment. Experience must include all phases of assessing and monitoring changes in the physical and psycho/social needs of patients utilizing the nursing process, preparing patients for surgery, and educates and counsels patient and/or caregiver with provisions for follow-up.

• The duties include but are not limited to the following: