Registered Nurse/RN - PACU

Overview

Our Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) provides recovery services for the NMC Operating Room. The team promotes patient-centric care that emphasizes high quality outcomes and excellent patient experience during the immediate post-operative period. Patient population includes infants through geriatrics. The pediatric nurse to patient ratio is 1:1 and the adult ratio is 1:2. The unit is located on the South wing of Northport Medical Center. Hours of service are 7:00a – 7:00p Monday – Friday with an RN on call 24/7 for urgent, emergent cases. Our unit is comprised with RNs. We have a nurse manager and charge nurse in leadership for the unit. Our staff also manage the holding room, which is located adjacent to PACU. The holding room is the last checkpoint before a patient goes into surgery. We complete a surgical safety checklist, communicate with the surgeon and OR team on any deficiencies and provide an opportunity for the anesthesia team to place regional anesthesia blocks prior to surgery. The unit is comprised of RNs and is open 6:00a -5:00p Monday – Friday. We strive to not only exceed our quality outcomes but provide the best surgical experience for our patients.

Responsibilities

Plans, coordinates, and directs quality, compassionate care by maintaining standards of professional nursing practice and creating positive therapeutic relationships with patients/families. Supervises LPNs, PCAs, PCAs/US, US, Ortho Techs and other non-licensed staff.

Assesses condition on each assigned patient on admission and on an ongoing basis to include but not limited to the patient’s physical condition, psychological status, social status, spiritual and cultural needs, pain assessment/management, nutritional and functional status, developmental or age related factors, and discharge planning needs.

Plans, provides, and documents patient and/or significant other education based on physical, behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors, after identifying barriers to learning.

Evaluates and regularly reevaluates patient care; coordinates care planning with patient, family, providers and other disciplines to achieve patient-centered outcomes.

Assigns and delegates nursing care to team members in accordance with the patient’s needs and the capabilities of the team members.

Applies safety principles when performing care

Accurately documents observations, care provided, and changes in care plan.

Provides accurate handoff reports and participates in unit based huddles

Assists in performance improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.

Performs initial and annual competency per job class.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Current approved Alabama Board of Nursing RN license or multi-state license required or ability to obtain prior to start. Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required. BSN preferred, minimum Associates required. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

 

Required within 6 months of start date:  American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted

 

Cardiac/Critical Care:

• ACLS

Emergency Department-both campuses:

• ACLS
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Emergency Department – Regional Campus only:

• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)

Perioperative:

• ACLS
• PACU –PALS; ACLS

Women’s/Children:

• NICU –Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP)
• Labor & Delivery –ACLS, NRP, and Intermediate Fetal Monitoring
• Mother