Registered Nurse (Perioperative)

About the role

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VCBHCS), Harlingen, TX is seeking a Registered Nurse (Peroperative Section) to demonstrate advanced clinical knowledge in assessing, planning, implementing, documenting, and evaluating care for designated patients.

Responsibilities

• Adheres to Standard Operating Procedures and Policies related to RMD.
• Participates and assists with quality improvement process and SOP development.
• Maintains current knowledge of multidisciplinary resources/programs/services, and refers patients for community resources as appropriate.
• Calls patients for pre-appointment reminders and provides preoperative instructions specific to the procedures.
• Evaluates needs and assesses the patient's ability to learn the principles of self-care; utilizes appropriate resources if the patient is unable to grasp the knowledge/skills needed for self-care.
• Screens patients for social service, home care, and other community care needs; coordinates or makes referrals as appropriate; and seeks consultation when indicated.
• Supports the PASS (Pre-Anesthesia Surgical Screening) clinic, and completes documentation appropriately.
• Ensures all required pre-procedure tests are completed timely.
• Conducts pre-surgical/procedure patient assessments using face-to-face, telephone, or video modality for pre-anesthesia surgical screening clinic appointments.
• Provides patient/family education prior to the surgery regarding expectations, preparation, and plan of care on the day of surgery and post-surgery.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other members of the surgical team to ensure quality patient care.
• Completes pre-procedure checklist and ensures relevant documentation/reports are available.
• Conducts Pre-procedure verification process and reviews the patient's chart addressing any missing information or discrepancies.
• In the Pre-Operative Department verify the correct procedure/surgical site with the patient, physician's orders, and consent.
• Absorbs and prepares patients for procedures appropriately.
• Provides IV access and therapy/treatment according to policy and procedure.
• Participates in the pre-procedural team huddle, and assists with the surgical site marking process.
• Facilitates proper warm handoff to and from the surgical team.
• Provides care to patients under moderate sedation ensuring patient safety and takes appropriate action when adverse events occur.
• Manages care of post-operative patients including airway management, hemodynamic stabilization, tube and line patency, neurological assessment, assessment and management of pain, provision of physical and emotional maintenance, and discharge safety including documentation and communication of patient status.
• Assesses patients requiring continuous hemodynamic monitoring and vasoactive medications.
• Makes sure to monitor for adverse reactions to anesthesia agents/surgical and medical complications, and intervenes appropriately.
• Keeps the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and surgical team aware of patient progress, issues, and/or problems.
• Keeps patient/family informed of patient's condition.
• Performs fall risk assessment and assists patients (using the restroom, changing in and out of hospital gown, etc.) as needed.
• Completes discharge instructions and plan of care for all patients at the time of disposition.
• Discharges patients when criteria are met; Removes IV cannula/monitor leads/ID bracelets, and destroys them appropriately.
• Escorts and assists patients to their vehicles at discharge.
• Completes post-procedure follow-up calls and documents in a timely manner.
• Completes nursing documentation in CPRS, Vista, and Innovian as applicable, in a timely manner. Closes the Encounter Notes for patient.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements:
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.)
• Note: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification.
• Preferred Experience:
• 2+ years of PACU; Perioperative; Pre-OP and 2+ years Ambulatory Surgery