Surgery RN

About the role

The Staff Nurse performs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care for all assigned patients in the Specialty Clinic, Surgical/PACU areas under the direction of the Outpatient Services Manager. The Registered Nurse is accountable to the Outpatient Services Manager, Director of Nursing, patients, and their families.

Responsibilities

• Assess and organize patient data to develop a plan of care and discharge plan.
• Prioritize, plan, and provide direct patient care during pre-operative, intra-operative, recovery, and immediate post-operative phases.
• Supervise assistive and ancillary department personnel.
• Use communication and interpersonal skills to provide care to surgical and specialty patients and their families.
• Relay pertinent information through appropriate documentation and referral to other health team members.
• Maintain quality patient care following professional standards and administrative, nursing, and department policies and procedures.
• Initiate, implement, evaluate, and revise patient teaching plans to meet learning needs.
• Provide an environment conducive to professional practice by functioning as a role model and resource person.
• Participate in department-related and hospital-wide committees, activities, in-services, and education.
• Assimilate new clinical knowledge and skills from conferences, workshops, seminars, and professional literature into practice.
• Operate all equipment in Pre-op, Surgery, PACU, Specialty Clinics, and as needed in ER and Medical-Surgical units with minimal assistance. If assigned only to specialty clinics, operate only the necessary equipment for those clinics.
• Work quickly and efficiently in emergencies.
• Meet the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of patients, respecting cultural differences.
• Maintain confidentiality and HIPAA compliance at all times; report violations to the Privacy Officer.
• Comply with Saunders Medical Center’s Compliance Program, including the Code of Conduct and all related policies.
• Participate in all mandatory safety, security, and infection control programs.
• Demonstrate commitment, motivation, professionalism, and respect for others.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager of Outpatient Services.

Requirements

• Operating Room and PACU experience preferred; cross-training will be provided as needed.
• Participate in educational conferences and maintain professional knowledge and skills.
• Attend departmental and staff meetings regularly.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with current licensure as a Registered Nurse in Nebraska.
• Current BLS certification required.
• ACLS and PALS certification required within the first year of employment (BLS only if working exclusively in specialty clinics).
• Ability to read, write, and follow written/oral instructions with strong communication skills.
• Analytical skills to organize workload according to patient priorities.
• Ability to calculate at the level necessary for essential duties.
• Ability to make independent decisions and interpret instructions in various forms.

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift 100 pounds rarely and 75 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to properly position and transport patients.
• Ability to stand stationary for up to 4 hours rarely and 3 hours occasionally.
• Ability to stabilize unsteady patients when ambulating.

Work Environment

• Hospital environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise and temperature changes.
• Exposure to anesthetic gases and fluorescent lighting.
• Regular attendance is essential.