Perioperative RN

For the past 85 years, Stephens County Hospital has been a trusted name in the community, striving for excellence and delivering professional and compassionate care. Our dedicated staff of approximately 475 employees has a heart for healthcare and realizes how precious the gift of good health can be. Stephens County Hospital is a 96-bed acute care hospital located in Toccoa, Georgia, nestled in the beautiful foothills of Northeast Georgia. Our family-oriented community offers many cultural and civic opportunities as well as numerous outdoor activities. The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and is a member of the Georgia Hospital Association, American Hospital Association, and Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

About the role

The Perioperative Staff Nurse is responsible for direct and indirect nursing care and the direction of other nursing care providers. This full-time, day-shift position provides care to patients across all age groups, including infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes cephalo-caudal approach to physical assessment and develops assessments including nutritional screening, fall/risk, functional, pain, skin integrity, cultural/spiritual, psycho-social, DVT risk, suicide, and pneumococcal/flu.
• Identifies complex problems in assessments and initiates the plan of care using nursing problems when appropriate.
• Notifies physician and charge nurse of pertinent assessment findings and reviews/updates the plan of care to reflect changes in patient status.
• Reassesses patient on the morning of surgery using a cephalo-caudal approach and notifies the surgeon, anesthesia, and charge nurse of pertinent findings.
• Demonstrates competency in clinical skills and knowledge pertinent to the practice and education of the Registered Nurse.
• Implements physician’s orders promptly and monitors the patient’s condition, documenting vital signs, alertness, mobility, and wound/operative site condition.
• Reports abnormalities or instability in the patient’s condition to appropriate personnel in a timely manner.
• Ensures readiness of the chart for procedures or surgery, including pre-op checklists, labs, EKG, x-rays, and documentation.
• Coordinates patient care and preparation for procedures, treatments, or surgery, including proper prep, dress, and premedication.
• Assesses the patient upon return from surgery or procedures and documents findings.
• Performs verification (time out) prior to invasive procedures as designated by policy.
• Responds appropriately and timely to clinical alarms (IV pumps, monitor alarms, bed alarms, etc.).
• Implements the Pain Management program and performs/document hourly rounding as appropriate.
• Ensures the patient’s hygienic needs are met (AM/PM care, toileting, etc.).
• Implements and monitors restraint use per policy and consults other disciplines as indicated by assessment findings.
• Administers emergency resuscitation of patients in cardiac arrest and implements/maintains fall risk precautions.
• Confirms two patient identifiers (name, date of birth, and/or hospital number) when providing care and specimen collection.
• Administers medications safely and timely, documenting administration and patient response, and adheres to the 5 “R”s of medication administration.
• Demonstrates knowledge of drugs used, identifies/reports adverse drug reactions, and adheres to medication reconciliation and security policies.
• Performs venipuncture, maintains/accesses central lines/PICCs, administers blood products, and checks/document IV/INT status per policy.
• Obtains narcotics from PYXIS/Pharmacy, documents administration/wastes, and assesses/monitors PCA patients per policy.
• Gathers information pertinent to medications ordered (actions, purpose, dosage, route, side effects, nursing implications).
• Performs real-time documentation, conforming to department standards and recording nursing actions accurately in the medical record.
• Provides the patient with explanations of their condition and written information when possible, and participates in pre/post-operative teaching.
• Includes family/significant others in health teaching and plans for discharge, reviewing home care instructions.
• Initiates consultation with other healthcare professionals and communicates effectively with patients, families, and staff.
• Delivers concise, pertinent reports at shift changes and utilizes effective communication skills.
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability, rotating to other shifts/units as needed, and supports nursing division policies.
• Assumes relief charge nurse, team leader, or patient care responsibilities as necessary and supervises subordinates effectively.
• Acts as a liaison between physicians, patients, visitors, and staff, and demonstrates critical thinking and prompt decision-making.
• Uses physician preference cards, follows prescribed procedures, and controls verbal/tactile stimuli during anesthesia induction.
• Performs surgical prepping according to policy, initiates “Time Out Verification,” and applies proper principles for patient positioning.
• Anticipates needs of the patient, scrub nurse, and surgical team, ensuring equipment is assembled and ready for use.
• Provides accurate care and handling of specimens/cultures, labels appropriately, and directs/assists in accounting for sponges, needles, and instruments.
• Reports needed repairs to the Perioperative Supervisor and ensures unsafe equipment is not used.
• Demonstrates principles of aseptic technique, sterilization methods, and corrects other team members as needed.
• Adapts to emergency situations with skill and speed, labels all medications/solutions not in original containers, and uses correct scrubbing/gowning/gloving techniques.
• Knows functions/names of instruments, proper draping techniques, and assists in prepping/draping patients as necessary.
• Assists the surgeon as a scrub nurse, maintains aseptic technique, and participates in count verification of needles, sponges, and instruments.
• Participates in Nursing Service Quality Improvement activities, including QI studies and monthly monitoring.
• Participates in the orientation of new employees and obtains certification in ACLS, PALS, NALS, or area of practice.
• Utilizes universal precautions, initiates appropriate isolation procedures, and maintains knowledge of multi-drug-resistant organisms.
• Complies with hospital Hand Hygiene Policy, reports non-compliance with infection control practices, and adheres to maximum barrier precautions during central line insertions.
• Complies with policies regarding vascular lines (dressing changes, insertion techniques) and inserts Foleys using sterile technique.
• Maintains knowledge of hospital-acquired infection rates and measures to decrease incidence, teaching patients/families about infection prevention.
• Administers antibiotics timely (SCIP, community-acquired pneumonia, CAUTI measures) and assures timely collection of patient cultures.
• Cleans equipment appropriately between patient/staff use.

Age-Specific Competencies

• Infant (Newborn-One Year):
  • Provides a protective environment; does not leave unattended.
  • Assesses/interprets data relative to the patient’s age and involves parents in care planning.
  • Evaluates age-appropriate behavior, motor skills, and physiological norms.
  • Determines/documents head circumference, signs/symptoms of abuse/neglect, and immunization status.
  • Demonstrates sensitivity to cues indicating overstress and initiates soothing measures.
  • Prepares/administers medications based on weight, age, and sensitivity.
  • Provides age/size-specific equipment and assesses nutritional status.
• Toddler (2 to 4 Years):
  • Assesses/interprets data relative to the patient’s age and involves parents in care planning.

Requirements

• Graduate of an approved diploma, associate, or bachelor nursing program.
• Current Georgia License as a Registered Nurse.
• BLS certification to be obtained within the first month of employment.