Responsible for providing safe, effective, and high-quality patient- and family-centered care during the intraoperative phase, ensuring optimal surgical outcomes and supporting the surgical team in delivering care to all patient populations within the perioperative services department.
Primary Responsibilities
- Assess patient status throughout the perioperative episode of care.
- Develop an individualized perioperative patient plan of care by implementing policies and procedures.
- Protect patient from injury caused by extraneous objects and chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal sources.
- Demonstrate safe operation of equipment and machinery, following procedures for reporting and correcting unsafe situations.
- Speak up about safety concerns, acting as the patient’s advocate.
- Handle specimens according to facility policy and procedures.
- Adhere to standard precautions, including the use of personal protective equipment.
- Comply with the Universal Protocol and facility site validation and time-out policy.
- Communicate the patient’s current status to relevant parties throughout the continuum of care.
- Administer medications safely and correctly using the eight rights of medication administration.
- Practice and monitor aseptic technique.
- Implement the plan of care, including interventions to maintain patient tissue perfusion, organ system stability, and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance.
- Ensure surgical instruments and scopes are prepared, working, and troubleshoot malfunctions.
- Perform interventions to maintain normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period.
- Perform interventions to protect the patient from infection.
- Assess the knowledge level of the patient or designated support person.
- Provide education regarding psychosocial response, nutrition, medication, pain management, and expected postoperative responses.
- Involve the patient or support person actively in decisions affecting perioperative care and rehabilitation.
- Protect the patient’s rights, dignity, and privacy.
- Provide age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice.
- Evaluate patient progress toward outcomes.
- Transfer care as applicable.
- Provide concise and pertinent hand‑off reports to teammates.
- Delegate tasks according to the State Nurse Practice Act, board of nursing, or professional registration requirements.
- Document episodes of care accurately, timely, completely, and legibly.
- Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration with team members and stakeholders.
- Serve as a multidisciplinary team member in patient-care planning.
- Participate in quality review and performance-improvement projects.
- Use problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills to foster effective work relationships.
- Maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.
- Comply with all KU MedWest Ambulatory Surgery Center policies, regulatory, accreditation standards, and professional guidelines.
- Participate actively in team meetings, trainings, and daily safety huddles.
- Demonstrate fiscal responsibility.
- Perform all other assigned duties.
Education, Experience, and Licensure
- Graduate of an accredited nursing school.
- One year of GI, OR, and/or medical/surgical nursing experience preferred.
- Current state nursing licensure in good standing.
- Successful completion of Basic Life Support (BLS) or Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) within 90 days of employment, or current BLS/BCLS certification.
- Successful completion of Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) within 6 months of employment, or current ACLS certification.
Working Requirements/Physical Requirements
- Exposure to blood, body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, and repetitive motions.
- Pushing and pulling heavy objects.
- Full range of body motion, including handling and lifting patients and equipment.
- Hand-eye coordination.
- Standing and walking for extended periods.
- Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 lb.
- Corrected vision and hearing within normal range.
- Working irregular hours.
We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status, or genetic information.