Registered Nurse Operating Room

Registered Nurse Operating Room

Performs an age-specific plan of care for a designated group of patients using the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care. Collaborates with physicians and other health team members in coordinating and implementing procedures and treatments. Uses leadership skills and clinical judgment in coordinating patient care and directing/delegating activities of the patient care unit team.

Job Responsibilities

• Conducts patient interviews, explains policies and procedures to patients and significant others, reviews patient charts, and answers questions courteously and correctly.
• Assesses gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and neurological health status; determines mobility, sensory deficits, prostheses use, and skin condition, adjusting the plan of care as appropriate.
• Assesses the level of pain and pain management, communicating and documenting the patient’s physiologic health status and plan of care.
• Assesses the patient’s psychosocial health status, eliciting perception of medical/nursing care and expectations, determining coping mechanisms, knowledge level, and ability to comprehend.
• Identifies cultural and ethnic requirements to reduce anxiety and ensure patient satisfaction; communicates and documents psychological status and care plan of support groups, counseling services, and social services.
• Identifies patient outcomes, develops criteria for measurement of patient outcomes, identifies actual/potential patient problems, and identifies patient’s need for teaching based on psychosocial and developmental assessment.
• Develops patient outcome statements and establishes individualized patient goals.
• Identifies care activities and establishes priorities necessary to achieve expected outcomes; coordinates the cost-effective use of supplies, equipment, and medication to achieve expected outcomes; documents the plan of care and collaborates with physicians and other health team members.
• Implements the plan of care, maintaining constant vigilance over patient care to ensure safety precautions/needs are followed (side rails up, call lights and bedside stand within reach, etc.).
• Exercises professional skills related to the plan of care; reassesses patients as needed and appropriately revises the plan of care; correctly administers prescribed treatments; correctly uses equipment necessary for patient care; provides emotional support to the patient and significant other.
• Applies scientific principles in performing procedures, carrying them out safely, timely, and efficiently; makes accurate observations of patient’s conditions during treatments/procedures, reporting and recording same as appropriate.
• Keeps accurate documentation of patient’s treatment, activity, and condition, as well as patient’s responses to medical and nursing interventions; uses appropriate methods of documentation according to departmental policy.
• Acts rapidly and effectively during any emergency situation, managing self, patients, and other employees; provides a calm, quiet, restful atmosphere; communicates effectively with the patient’s family or caretakers.
• Participates in planning for discharge and coordinates referrals as appropriate; provides discharge instructions to patient and significant other; evaluates care provided for patient outcome.
• Demonstrates ability to measure the effectiveness of care provided and documents same; performs variance analysis related to outcome data for performance improvement; designs, implements, and evaluates systems to improve care in the unit.
• Collaborates with other care team members in planning and carrying out the treatment regimen; provides direction to other members of the care team; collaborates with the appropriate physician on the patient’s plan of care.
• Accurately interprets and implements treatment regimens as prescribed by the Physician; assists the Physician during treatments and/or diagnostic procedures; keeps Patient Care Manager/designee and/or physician abreast of changes in patient’s condition and/or treatments, as appropriate.
• Uses clinical judgment in delegating assignments in providing patient care and ensures assignments are completed in a timely fashion.
• Performs grade I-IV Decubitus Care; performs preventive skin care measures; applies simple dressings, maintaining principles of aseptic technique; applies warm and cold compresses, consistent with facility procedure; performs irrigations, consistent with facility procedure; performs other procedures related to skin care as necessary.
• Administers medications correctly and safely; correctly identifies medication in terms of action, dosage, side effects, and implications for the patient; meets standard on medication administration examination; demonstrates preparation of local solutions.
• Administers and documents medication correctly; educates patients and significant others regarding drug and food interactions.
• Participates in patient and family education; provides patients with an explanation of their condition as indicated; communicates assessment data in an orderly fashion by recording, updating, and verbalizing pertinent information to care team members and appropriate agencies.
• Recognizes and utilizes health teaching opportunities and available resources/materials for teaching; provides for early discharge planning and appropriate referrals for post-hospital care; evaluates the effectiveness of teaching by feedback from patient/family and documents same.
• Performs related duties as required. All responsibilities noted here are considered essential functions of the job under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Duties not mentioned here, but considered related are not essential functions.

Job Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing, required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, preferred.
• Must be enrolled in an accredited BSN program within two (2) years and obtain a BSN Degree within five (5) years of job entry date.
• Current License to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State, required.
• Specialized certifications, as needed.
• Minimum 1 year of OR experience preferred.
• AHA BLS Certification preferred.

Key Skills/Competency

• Registered Nurse
• Operating Room
• Patient Care
• Nursing Process
• Assessment
• Medication Administration
• Patient Education
• Collaboration
• Critical Thinking
• Emergency Response