Registered Nurse, RN - Perianesthesia (Periop/PACU)

GENERAL SUMMARY

The professional registered nurse possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary for the delivery and management of patient care from admission through discharge. The professional registered nurse is knowledgeable of current trends in healthcare including but not limited to advances in technology, pharmacology, treatment care modalities, quality and patient safety. The professional registered nurse serves as a patient and family advocate while facilitating a cooperative and collaborative environment among all health care providers. The professional registered nurse is responsible for the planning, delivery and management of patient/family centered care utilizing the nursing process and adhering to the standards of nursing practice embedded in research, evidence based practice and/or best practices. The professional registered nurse at Tufts Medical Center provides clinical excellence, which fosters and supports an environment central to our patient and family centered model of care.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Nursing Process:  Utilizes theoretical and evidence-based knowledge in partnering with patients and their families to assess, plan, implement and evaluate age appropriate care.  

Assess:

1. Collaborates with patient, family/significant others and other disciplines to identify expected outcomes based on synthesis of data and diagnosis

2. Identifies cultural needs (i.e. language, etc) to develop a care plan that enhances the health care experience

Plan:

1. Develops individualized outcomes-based care plans incorporating the patient and family’s readiness and barrier to learning

2. Orchestrates and validates a plan of care for each shift

3. Initiates interdisciplinary patient/family meetings to facilitate communication regarding the plan of care.

4. Communicates and coordinates the patients discharge plan utilizing unit-based and community resources to ensure a seamless transition for the patient and their family

5. The plan of care utilizes principles and concepts of project, organizational or systems management

Implement:

1. Implements the plan in a safe and timely manner

2. Documents the implementation and any modifications, including changes or omissions, of the identified plan

3. Collaborates with nursing colleagues and others to implement the plan

4. Utilizes evidence-based interventions and treatments specific to the diagnosis or problem

5. Provides and coordinates health teaching which is required by individuals, families and groups to maintain an optimal level of health

6. Documents per hospital and regulatory requirements/policies, all aspects of care, including but not limited to, treatments/procedures performed and patient response

Evaluate:

1. Evaluates the effectiveness of the planned strategies in relation to patient responses and the attainment of expected outcomes and knowledge

2. The nurse uses the evaluation process to update the plan of care as dictated by the patient response and/or if desired outcomes have not been achieved

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE:

Clinical Practice:  The professional registered nurse demonstrates and applies the skill and judgement necessary to implement the nursing plan of care, nursing interventions and procedures necessary for the care of the patient and family based upon critical thinking skills and a spirit of inquiry.

The plan of care is evidence based and utilizes research when appropriate

1. Incorporates new knowledge and strategies to initiate change in nursing care practices

2. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide age appropriate culturally and ethnically sensitive care to all patients and families

3. Performs procedures and treatments using nursing knowledge and judgment, according to established unit/practice area guidelines and professional standards

4. Safely administers and assesses the patient response to medication utilizing essential knowledge of pharmacology and Hospital and Department Standards of Care

5. Maintains clinical competency with respect to technology and utilizes equipment in a safe manner

6. Performs as an advocate and as an educator for patients and families

Quality:  The professional registered nurse provides high quality in an efficient and a safe manner. The professional nurse utilizes data trends to support and improve clinical practice.

1. Participates in hospital and/or unit based patient safety and quality activities and uses principles to support and improve patient outcomes (unit-based, hospital-wide, The Joint Commission, N