Pre-Op/PACU Registered Nurse

MedHQ; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

RIVA Surgery Center in Orcutt, CA is seeking a Pre-Op/PACU RN to provide comprehensive nursing care during preoperative and postoperative phases, including assessment, planning, and evaluation. The nurse supports policies, ensures safe recovery, and educates patients and families in a state-of-the-art facility.

The role emphasizes collaboration with the peri-operative team, adherence to HIPAA, and maintaining a compassionate, patient-centered environment while adapting to scheduling needs and

Qualifications

• Current California RN license and BLS certification; ACLS and PALS if applicable.
• Full command of the English language, both verbal and written.
• Willingness to serve as patient advocate during the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases of surgical care.
• Ability to meet the needs of the center as demanded by the surgical schedule, including overtime and schedule changes when necessary.
• Willingness to assist in the OR as necessary.
• May be expected to lift 25 pounds without assistance and move patients as needed.

Responsibilities

• Assess the patient's physical status through observation and interaction.
• Interpret diagnostic measures and review the chart for status.
• Plan for a safe, efficient environment for pre- and post-operative care.
• Implement nursing care and use resources cost-effectively.
• Evaluate outcomes and adjust interventions as needed.
• Maintain HIPAA privacy and patient confidentiality.

Skills

BLS certification

English fluency

Education

California RN license

Job description

RIVA Surgery Center is a new ambulatory surgery center located in Orcutt, CA. We are currently building our team and looking for dedicated, motivated professionals who are interested in being part of a new center from the beginning. This is a great opportunity to join a growing team, help establish a positive and collaborative work environment, and provide quality patient care in a state-of-the-art facility.

Position Summary

The Pre-Op/PACU RN provides nursing care to surgical patients during the preoperative and postoperative phases, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. This role provides safe, knowledgeable, compassionate, educative, individualized, and goal-directed care to patients and their families in the immediate post-anesthetic period, applying physiologic and psychosocial knowledge and skills to promote, restore, and maintain the patient's physiological processes in a safe, comfortable, and effective environment while helping the patient adapt to their surgical experience. The nurse supports the center's policies and procedures as well as its nursing philosophy.

Assessment

• Assess the patient's physical status through personal observation and interaction
• Assess the individual psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient and significant other
• Interpret diagnostic measures such as labs, chest x-ray, and EKG
• Review the patient's chart for an overview of status
• Consult with the peri-operative nurse who interviewed the patient pre-operatively

Planning

• Plan for a safe, efficient, effective, and clean environment for pre-operative and post-operative care
• Identify problems and plan action to resolve them
• Identify goals for the individual patient and communicate them to others involved in the patient's care
• Ensure the patient has appropriate discharge instructions, is accompanied by a responsible adult at discharge, and has the physician's phone number for the first 24 hours after surgery

Implementation

• Implement nursing care and resolve problems identified for the individual patient
• Use supplies, equipment, and resources to contain cost without compromising care
• Follow infection control and environmental safety practices
• Report and document information accurately and in a timely manner
• Use professional nursing judgment in the delivery of care and handle equipment safely

Evaluation

• Evaluate the results of nursing interventions and resolve problems accordingly
• Modify interventions to achieve goals if a previous intervention was not effective
• Evaluate your own nursing practice and seek ways of growing professionally

Interpersonal Relationships

• Recognize and use appropriate lines of communication
• Foster cooperative efforts in meeting the goals of nursing by sharing workload
• Communicate a positive and caring attitude toward the unit, peers, staff, and all other contacts
• Seek guidance, direction, and assistance where needed
• Convey ideas, concepts, and facts about patient care in a logical, understandable, and concise manner

Accountability

• Seek appropriate learning opportunities and demonstrate competence and expertise in nursing practice
• Take responsibility for professional nursing practice within the law and use judgment in determining nursing actions
• Maintain confidentiality of all patient and center communications and documents, and comply with all HIPAA privacy regulations regarding Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Act as patient advocate in the coordination of patient care and always maintain safety rules
• Know the location and use of Recovery Room and surgery equipment and supplies, including the emergency call system, oxygen, ventilator assistance equipment (airways, ambu bag), defibrillator, cardiac monitoring equipment, tracheostomy set, laryngoscope and endotracheal tubes, suction equipment, and emergency drugs and supplies specified by the Medical Staff; monitor emergency equipment
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of anesthetic agents and their actions, emergency drugs, impending complications, and emergency treatment of complications
• Follow recovery room guidelines
• Files incident reports for any unusual event involving a patient or staff member (such as falls, needlestick injuries, aspiration, allergic reactions, or disruptive behavior) and reports any actual or alleged abuse, harassment, or injury, per center policy.

Qualifications

• Current California RN license and BLS certification; ACLS and PALS if applicable
• Full command of the English language, both verbal and written
• Willingness to serve as patient advocate during the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases of surgical care
• Ability to meet the needs of the center as demanded by the surgical schedule, including overtime and schedule changes when necessary
• Willingness to assist in the OR as necessary
• May be expected to lift 25 pounds without assistance. Must obtain assistance when moving patients who are unable to assist, unless the patient is in a wheelchair or on a gurney. May be required to push patients in wheelchairs or on gurneys.