Registered Nurse – AHH PACU (Gen Surg & Cardiac Bypass Surg Recovery) – FTN

About the Role

This professional staff position is responsible for performing assessments, developing a plan of care, and implementing and evaluating patient care. The Critical Care Registered Nurse (RN-Critical) administers medications and treatments as ordered by physicians in accordance with current clinical nursing practice. The role includes directing, monitoring, and evaluating care delegated to non-licensed personnel, leading the interdisciplinary care team for patients with primarily cardiovascular disease, and performing a range of technical services, including patient specimen testing, quality control, quality improvement, and equipment maintenance under the direction of the Laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Completes admission assessment and periodic reassessments according to patient’s progress and/or unit protocols and population-specific parameters.
• Documents findings and communicates all pertinent information to interdisciplinary team members as appropriate.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members in the development, evaluation, and revision of the plan of care to meet the patient’s needs and goals.
• Provides competent direct care and ensures a safe and comforting environment, resulting in a high level of patient satisfaction.
• Assists healthcare team members in understanding hospital policies and procedures.
• Provides education to patients, families, and significant others, incorporating population-specific criteria and assessment of readiness to learn.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and standard precautions.
• Administers medications and completes treatments according to hospital policy and within population-specific parameters.
• Maintains all necessary documentation.
• Facilitates discharge planning in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to use necessary patient care equipment.
• Coordinates the response of the interdisciplinary team to emergency situations.
• Performs Point-of-Care procedures in a timely manner according to established policy and procedure, documents required information, and complies with all Point-of-Care quality control standards.

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Specific Responsibilities

• Formulates an individualized plan of care and revises it according to the patient’s response to treatment, evaluating the plan regularly for effectiveness.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to the Resource Nurse, Director, and Physician.
• Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring, identifies dysrhythmias, and treats appropriately based on protocol.
• Able to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients per policy.
• Monitors hemodynamic status of patients and correctly interprets the results.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the patient’s needs.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care as necessary.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
• Registered Nurse with current state licensure or licensure from a state within the Nursing Compact.
• BLS certification required within 30 days of employment and prior to providing direct patient care.
• Successful completion of ACLS certification is required by completion of clinical orientation.
• PALS or ENPC certification required for all Emergency Department RNs within one year of employment.
• RCIS required for Cath/EP Lab RNs within six months of eligibility.
• Limited Specialty License required within two months of acquiring RCIS (excluding PRN employees).
• Certifications must be renewed by the recommended renewal date on the certification documentation.