Description

POSITION SUMMARY: Directs and/or provides professional post anesthesia nursing care for an assigned group of patients across the age continuum.  Utilizes the nursing process of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation to direct or provide nursing care.  Provides supervision and guidance to other members of the PACU or pre-operative staff; and may be authorized, in the absence of the Manager Patient Services or the Manager Surgical Services, to make decisions affecting the PACU or pre-operative area.

EDUCATION:  Graduate of an NLN accredited school of professional nursing.

CERTIFICATION/LICENSES: Current New Mexico RN license or current Compact state license.  BLS Certification required or within 2 weeks of hire date.  ACLS and PALS certifications must be obtained within 6 months of hire date.

SKILLS:

• Ability to relate and work effectively with others
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written English communications for safe and effective patient care and to meet documentation standards.
• Willingness to participate in goal-setting and educational activities for own professional advancement.
• Is aware of professional nursing standards and performs in accordance with them.

EXPERIENCE:  Previous PACU, ambulatory care, critical care or general nursing experience is preferred.

NATURE OF SUPERVISION:

-Responsible to: Manager, Surgical Services

ENVIRONMENT:

-Bloodborne pathogen:  C

Direct contact with blood or other body fluids to which universal precautions apply. Personal protective equipment is made available and must be worn.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: May be expected to lift up to 50 pounds or up to 150 pounds with assistance. May be expected to push or pull 150-300 pounds with assistance.  Work is of medium demand; walking or standing most of the time while on duty.  Visual and auditory acuity and manual dexterity essential to performing designated duties required.  Optimal auditory acuity required.  Manual dexterity involving the handling of equipment and instruments or needles is essential to performing assigned duties.  Physical conditions are clean, neat and well lit.  May be subjected to unpleasant sights and odors, stressful situations and hazardous or infectious agents where judgment as to precautions needed to be taken is essential.  Climate control and ambient temperature variances may be experienced and required by patient care and needs of the surgical team.  Exposure to limited amounts of radiation, hazardous chemicals or substances and infectious disease processes are a possibility.  Hours of duty may be irregular or unexpectedly extended due to the requirements of the daily surgical schedule.