Circulating OR Registered Nurse

SUMMARY

Under supervision, will perform professional nursing duties in the care and services to patients and their families in an ambulatory surgery center setting. Will assist physicians and carry out their orders and to do other work as required. This position will require advance knowledge and skills in providing care and service to patients with more complex problems and needs depending up training and experience. Responsibilities are expanded to include participation in activities relating to quality assurance, policy and procedure review/revision, in service education and staff development. 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

1. Assesses, plans, organizes and provides nursing care to assigned patients in accordance with physician instructions; makes preliminary observations of and prepares patients for medical treatment
2. Assists physicians in administering treatments and in performing medical examinations, diagnostic tests and surgical operations
3. Counsels and advises patients, families, and significant others regarding special medical problems and/or proper healthcare methods.
4. Prepares and maintains concise and complete records and reports; instructs patients in carrying out physicians’ orders; may transcribe physicians orders to working records
5. Acts as a team leader and may provide orientation and training to new staff
6. Participates in quality assurance reviews; data collection and monitoring
7. Provides appropriate assessments, interpretations of clinical and laboratory data, and develops and implements appropriate interventions and plans of care including education for the ages served: infant, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric.
8. Administers prescribed treatment and medications to patients; charts treatment of patients and records and reports significant changes in condition and a general progress of patient
9. Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialist as required and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure optimal patient care
10. Writes initial nursing histories, asses patients’ conditions and develop individual standards of care for patients assigned to the unit
11. Starts, prepares, hangs, monitors and discontinues I.V. fluids
12. Administers and controls narcotics and medications
13. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in education programs, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops
14. Ensures that the highest quality of service is being rendered to patients
15. Maintains established department policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance programs, safety environmental and defection control standards
16. Maintains a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients and customers in accordance with surgicenter standards
17. Provides and maintains effective communications with medical staff, the community and all levels of supervision and staff
18. Identifies learning needs of orientees while training personnel
19. Maintains current knowledge of nursing leadership and clinical practice. Uses appropriate decision-making judgement skills in delegating tasks and activities to be performed by staff
20. Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Nursing degree from accredited school preferred
• Valid California Registered Nurse License
• BLS required. American Heart Association BLS preferred. 
• ACLS American Heart Association ACLS preferred. 
• PALS preferred

SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledge of infection control policies, procedures and practices, principles/methods/techniques for the use of restraints and/or seclusion, quality assurance programs, safety, environmental and infection control policies and procedures and nursing practices
• Knowledge of medical terminology, medical instruments, medical equipment, the uses and effects and documentation of medicine and narcotics, community resources for patient care and follow up, and federal/state/local laws governing professional aspects of nursing
• Ability to manage emergency or crisis situations that requires judgement/action which could result in undesirable patient outcome
• Perform the full range of nursing duties and responsibilities in a surgicenter environment
• Plan and Organize nursing plans for patients
• Apply principles and techniques to develop and implement treatment plan for the use of restraints and/or seclusion where use is indicated
• Prepare and maintain concise and complete records and reports
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians, patients, fellow employees, and internal/external customers
• Secure the cooperation of employees to work effectively together
• Keep abreast of developments in area of nursing specialization
• Communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing