Registered Nurse - Surgical Services

At Mahaska Health, the Surgical Services Registered Nurse plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality patient care in a hospital setting, particularly within the surgical department. In this critical position, nurses are responsible for providing compassionate and competent care to patients undergoing surgical procedures, ensuring their safety and comfort throughout the entire process. The Surgical Services Registered Nurse collaborates with a multidisciplinary team, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare professionals, to develop and implement individualized care plans tailored to the specific needs of each patient. This role requires a deep understanding of surgical protocols, aseptic techniques, and postoperative care, along with the ability to respond effectively to emergencies and complications that may arise during surgery. 

$10,000 Sign-on Bonus

There will be on-call requirements for some of the open positions. Must be able to respond within 20 minutes. 
Hours: Full-time – Days (4 10-hour shifts)

Essential Job Functions include but are not limited to:

• Provide direct patient care to surgical patients before, during, and after procedures.
• Assess and document the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social dimensions of patients on admission.
• Monitor patient vital signs and response to anesthesia and surgical interventions.
• Assist the surgical team during procedures by providing necessary instruments and supplies.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to develop and implement individualized care plans for patients.
• Ensure compliance with infection control protocols and maintain a sterile environment in the operating room.
• Document nursing assessments, interventions, and patient outcomes accurately in the electronic health record.
• Establish treatment priorities based on medical and nursing diagnoses.
• Initiate, implement, and modify an interdisciplinary plan of care individualized to each patient's assessed needs including family.
• Utilize all available resources in planning care and consult as necessary with physicians, supervisors, and interdisciplinary services.
• Provide ongoing reassessment and documentation of the patient's status.
• Perceive patient problems and/or complications through assessment skills and implement appropriate action.
• Safely prepare, administer, and document medications and IV therapy.
• Assess for and provide patient and family education at their level of understanding regarding disease process and treatment plan.
• Clean and prepare instruments for re-sterilization, wrap packages, and cases, and sterilize/process according to the recommendations for specific instruments/equipment.
• Clean/disinfect all non-sterile instruments/equipment.
• Operates autoclave and performs routine cleaning according to manufacturer guidelines.
• Performs routine biologicals – autoclave and Steris.
• Assist nursing staff with patient care in the operating room, PACU, and ODS as directed (oxygen set-up, Bair Hugger, obtaining IV pump and/or vital sign monitors, emptying/measuring any drainage device using proper technique).
• Assist with room turnover between cases
• Organize workload effectively to accomplish care in a timely manner.
• Utilize charting methods as approved by the Mahaska Health Partnership.
• Accurately transcribe and communicate oral and written physician orders.
• Communicate pertinent information regarding patient’s status to appropriate interdisciplinary team members, in a timely manner.

Requirements include but are not limited to:

• A graduate from an accredited school of nursing and currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in the state of Iowa (or) a graduate from an accredited school of nursing and currently licensed as a Registered Nurse able to work in the state of Iowa.
• Required to be current in BLS (Basic Life Support) by the standards of the American Heart Association.
• Required to be certified in ALS (Advanced Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) within 1 year of hire.
• Required to show proof of having completed Mandatory Reporter course at the time of hire or attend within 6 months of start date.
• Must adhere to all training requirements as mandated by Federal, State, and Professional licensure and regulatory standards.