About the role:

The Registered Professional Nurse is responsible and accountable for prescribing, delegating and coordinating all nursing care as defined by The New York State Nursing Practice Act. The peri-anesthesia patient is systematically assessed. A comprehensive plan of care is developed, individualized, and implemented to achieve optimal patient outcomes as the patient progresses through the peri-anesthesia continuum.

Responsibilities:

• In accordance with professional nursing standards and practices, the PACU nurse will provide nursing care to all immediate post-anesthesia and post-procedure patients .
• Assesses patient’s physical, social, behavioral, and mental status through direct observation, interview, and medical record review.
• Performs initial physical assessment upon admission to PACU and performs ongoing assessment and documents relevant data.
• Compares all assessment data to the patient’s previous condition and to established norms.
• Determines patient outcomes based on the patient’s health problems and surgical procedure toward which post-anesthesia nursing care is directed.
• Includes assessment from history and data collection as obtained from the patient and/or care providers.
• Utilizes observational skills to assess patient’s needs.
• Documents a nursing assessment to include psychosocial, environmental factors, educational level, and needs.
• Obtains and reviews available data base and any data collected by other members of the health team (medical/surgical/other history, physical exam mental status, and physician referrals).
• Performs other duties as required.
• Planning
• Develops an individualized plan of care in order to assist the patient to return to a safe physiological level after an anesthetic agent in the immediate postanesthetic phase.
• Identifies and addresses needs for admission based on acute medical/surgical diagnoses and presenting physical/psychological symptoms
• Identifies and addresses patient level of education and learning needs.
• Makes appropriate referral to other disciplines and documents same.

Skills :

• Required Skills & Experience:
• Minimum two (2) years' Critical Care nursing experience
• Management of clinical skills in the provision of nursing care and management of the patient including but not limited to:
• Identification of symptoms
• Management of the disease entity
• Treatment modalities
• Administration of medications
• Monitors surgical site, drains, dressings, and patency of tubes, catheters, and intravenous lines
• Monitors, maintains and/or intervenes to improve respiratory and circulatory function.
• Maintains physiological homeostasis by continued awareness of patient’s changing condition during the post-anesthesia period.
• Intervenes appropriately in emergencies utilizing crisis intervention.
• Utilities critical thinking in assessment of patients and in interventions
• Utilizes infection control procedures and protocols.

Experience:

Minimum 2 years experience in an Endoscopy Unit, PACU, Operating Room, or Critical Care setting.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing
• Required Certifications & Licensure:
• Current NY State RN License
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)
• ACLS
• PALS