ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Summary: A busy ophthalmology surgery center is looking for a nurse to join its team. The nurse is to provide care for patients before, during, and after surgery or surgical procedures, The nurse will work within the operating suite as well as the sterile field; they are expected to prepare operating instruments and equipment within the sterile filed. The nurse collaborates with other professional staff to ensure effective patient care delivery and achieve desired patient outcomes. The nurse will effectively interact with patient and others, while maintain the standard of professional nursing.

Essential Functions:

Operating Room Nurses provide direct and individualized nursing care to patients based on the application of scientific nursing principles. In addition to general nursing care, responsibilities of OR Nurses include (but are not limited to):

• Consults and coordinates with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans
• Conducts pre- and post-operative education
• Serves as the communication liaison to family and members of the operating team
• Takes and monitors patients’ vital signs
• Ensures that operating on correct patient and the correct procedure is being performed
• Provides basic, bedside care ƒ Prepares and administers (orally, subcutaneously, through an IV) and records prescribed medications. Reports adverse reactions to medications or treatments in accordance with the policy regarding the administration of medications by a licensed registered nurse
• Responds to life-saving situations based upon nursing standards and protocol
• Records all care information concisely, accurately and completely, in a timely manner, in the appropriate format and on the appropriate forms ƒ Preps operating room for patient/procedure
• Initiates corrective action whenever information from monitoring equipment shows adverse symptomatology ƒ Monitors patients’ physical and emotional well-being throughout the care continuum
• Initiates patient education plan, as prescribed by physician. Teaches patients and significant others how to manage their post-treatment home care needs, self-administration of medication and rehabilitation
• Performs other position-related duties as assigned, depending on assignment setting

During the surgical procedure, OR Nurses can take the role of:

Circulating Nurse, with the following additional duties:

• Assists in positioning, responding to comfort/safety of patient
• Provides for accurate care and handling of specimens
• Observes and enforces strict standards of asepsis
• Observes, checks and monitors all equipment used during surgery to confirm they are running smoothly
• Handles patient documentation
• Inventories all items both pre- and post-surgery

Scrub Nurse, with the following additional duties:

• Selects and handles instruments and supplies used for the operation, passing them to surgeon General Healthcare Resources, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
• Inventories all items both pre- and post-surgery

Nurses First Assist, with the following additional duties:

• Delivers direct surgical care by assisting physicians
• Helps control bleeding
• Provides wound exposure
• Sutures patients after the surgery

Depending on setting, may also:

• Direct care provided by licensed practical nurses and nursing aides
• Float among various clinical services, where qualified and competent Other Responsibilities
• Completes required orientation as directed by facility
• Follows facility and OSHA safety rules and procedures while on assignment
• Follows facility and GHR Unusual Occurrence Protocol
• Respects cultural and religious practices of patients
• Upholds HIPAA regulations
• Punctual and dependent for assigned/confirmed shifts

Competencies

• Problem solver
• Analytical
• Perfectionist
• Personable
• Organized
• Team player

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program
• Current nursing license, in good standing with the State licensing board
• Minimum of one (1) year OR experience
• Federal, State and GHR required credentials current and on file
• 'Cognitive skills as related to this position

PREFERRED SKILLS

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Working Conditions

The number of patients assigned per shift will vary with facility and specialty, if applicable. Nurses spend considerable time walking, bending, stretching and standing; they assist in patient transfers, so they must follow proper body mechanics to guard against injury. OR Nurses may face hazards from exposure to chemicals and infectious diseases; they may be exposed to anesthetic gases, drugs and radiation. The use of disinfecting and sterilizing agents may cause damage to skin and respiratory system.

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift twenty (20) pounds. Moving, lifting or transferring of patients may involve lifting of up to fifty (50) pounds.
• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Fine motor skills
• Visual acuity

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach forward with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift or move 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The overall physical demand rating for a job of the nurse falls within the Medium classification (exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work) according to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. *Physical demands as published by the US Department of Labor, 1991 in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th, Edition.