Registered Nurse - Surgery ENCORE (FTD)

Position Summary:

This professional staff person is responsible for performing assessments, developing a plan of care and implementing and evaluating the care. The RN-Critical administers medications and treatments as ordered by physicians and in keeping with the current clinical nursing practice. Also responsible for directing, monitoring and evaluating the care delegated to non-licensed personnel. The RN-Critical leads the interdisciplinary care team for patients with primarily cardiovascular disease. In addition, the RN-Critical performs a range of technical services in a cross-functional mode to comprehensively serve patient needs. Assumes (under the direction of the Laboratory) responsibility for patient specimen testing, quality control, quality improvement and equipment maintenance.

Patient Care:

• Provides competent direct care and ensures the provision of a safe and comforting environment resulting in a high level of patient satisfaction.
• Provides education to patients/families/significant others, incorporating population-specific criteria and assessment of readiness to learn.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Maintains standard precautions.
• Maintains all necessary documentation.
• Facilitates discharge plan in collaboration with interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to use necessary patient care equipment.
• Coordinates response of the interdisciplinary team to emergency situations.
• Performs Point-of-Care procedures in a timely manner according to established policy and procedure. Documents required information and complies with all Point-of-Care quality control standards.

Staff/Unit Responsibilities:

• Meets the on-call responsibilities as defined in the departmental policies and procedures manual.
• Maintains equipment and supplies.
• Fosters an environment conducive to the dynamic changing pace of today’s technology through continuous review and assessment of perioperative care.
• Assists in teaching families/significant others of patients the information needed for successful perioperative care.
• Prepares operating room and equipment by opening sterile supplies and instrumentation for procedures to be performed.
• Assumes responsibility to maintain sterile technique and apply principles of infection control and medical ethics.
• Functions as a Scrub Assistant when needed; is able to assume primary and secondary scrub duties.
• Assists with specific and safe positioning of patient on OR table.
• Anticipates needs of the surgeon with little or no prompting.
• Counts sponges and related items with circulating nurse before and during surgical procedures.
• Assists operative team with donning sterile gown/gloves and applying sterile drapes to the surgical field.
• Cares for surgical specimens on the sterile field.
• Maintains sterile field in an organized manner so anyone can utilize it at any time during the procedure.
• Assists in transportation of the patient.
• Settles patient after procedures and provides accepting RN with concise reports on the patient.
• Ensures that patient has an H & P documented by a physician according to appropriate standards prior to procedure.
• Ensures that patient has a signed consent present in the chart prior to procedure.
• Delegates appropriately to non-licensed staff in accordance with job description, license requirements and standards of practice.
• Utilizes resources in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
• Participates in developing other staff and affiliating students.
• Maintains and develops own professional competencies.
• Maintains unit-based competencies.
• Maintains and promotes a team spirit through active cooperation and collaboration.
• Assists in interdepartmental service coordination.
• Actively participates in the Performance Improvement program.
• Assumes a leadership role in the maintenance of the patient-focused care delivery system.
• Assists in directing and guiding staff in the coordination of unit operations.
• Supports the multi-skilled worker environment (i.e., cross training).
• Demonstrates willingness to assist other areas of the hospital, as needed.
• Cross-trains and willingly works in other areas of the hospital, accepting assignments within competency level.
• Effectively applies prioritization and time management to pati