Registered Nurse (Operating Room)

About the role

The Operating Room Registered Nurse is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from the nursing care for the patient undergoing a surgical/ invasive procedure. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age specific components. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Plans, directs and coordinates the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures, taking into consideration respect for the individual and recognition of the important contribution that each team member makes to the patient's well-being.
• Functions proficiently as a circulator and when properly in the scrub role within the OR and competent in all surgical specialties served.
• Maintains knowledge of current Association of peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) Standards, VHA Directives, and service level standard operating procedures.
• Assures the sterility of the surgical field is maintained and all instrumentation and equipment in play is used in a safe and efficient manner.
• Protects the patient from injury caused by chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal sources, and extraneous objects, performs counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items, participates in the Time Out process to ensure correct site, side, and level, and follow implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation, policy, and procedures.
• Manages the patient's specimens in the appropriate manner, administers medications safely and correctly, performs interventions to maintain the patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels, and performs interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection.
• Responsible for ensuring comprehensive documentation of all care provided during the perioperative experience is timely, complete, and accurate in the electronic health record.
• On-call during assigned off tours hours to provide patient care for emergency procedures.

Requirements

• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency, Basic Education Requirements, Current, Full, Active, and Unrestricted Registration as a Graduate Professional Nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Grade Determinations: Scope, Education, and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates.
• Preferred Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience circulating in the Operating Room, scrub experience preferred.