Description
Summary of Position:
The Anesthesia Support RN is responsible for the direction and evaluation of nursing practice to promote safe, efficient, and therapeutically effective nursing care throughout the perioperative areas. Provides nursing care to the patient during all phases of the perioperative procedure to include but not limited to: assisting anesthesia providers, circulating, relief of Charge Nurse as needed, patient preparation and positioning, ordering and stocking of supplies, assist with regional anesthesia, setting up sterile trays for lines, education of staff on Anesthesia supplies and equipment and any other task needed to be completed within the Perioperative Services as directed by Anesthesia provider. Coordinate and control the multi-disciplinary activities for patients undergoing surgical intervention and recovery in a safe environment. Serves as a role model for the clinical staff. Makes decisions regarding direct patient care needs and communicates appropriate information to other team members. Helps maintain equipment, supplies, and cleanliness of unit as a whole.
Qualifications
Education:
• Completion of an accredited Nursing program.
• Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
Experience:
• At least 3 years of Perioperative Nursing experience to include duties as an OR Circulator.
• Experience with education and skills instruction of personnel preferred.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
• EPIC Optime application.
• Proficient computer skills required to document, communicate and enter information into the electronic medical records system.
• Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.
• Knowledge of standard concepts, practices, and procedures within OR Nursing.
• Knowledge and experience in the perioperative care of surgical patients.
• Knowledge of specialized equipment used by anesthesia providers and in the OR.
• Knowledge of AORN, ASPAN, CDC, OSHA, and Joint Commission standards.
• Highly effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to respond effectively to emergencies, traumas (assist anesthesia), actual events and drills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient and employee information.
• In compliance with patient safety standards, must be able to effectively communicate in English; Bilingual abilities preferred.
Certifications/Licensure:
• Current California and Nevada RN License or ability to obtain prior to start date.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification preferred.
• Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certification preferred.
Physical Demands
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 frequently required to walk, stand, sit, and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfer patients.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Working Conditions
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Routine Hospital/Healthcare & Office/Administrative conditions.
• Contact with patients and guests under a wide variety of circumstances.
• Regularly exposed to the risk of bloodborne diseases.
• Exposure to infections and contagious disease.
• Exposed to hazardous anesthetic agents, body fluids and waste.
• Subject to hazards of flammable and explosive gasses.
• Subject to varying and unpredictable situations, including the handling of emergency or crisis situations.
• Subject to pressure due to irregular hours, frequent interruptions and stressful situations due to multiple demands.
• Occasional travel to various health system locations.
Essential Functions
1. Provides consistently exceptional care at all times.
2. Provides patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with others as required and adjusts care plan as necessary to ensure optimal care.
3. Based on assessment findings, individualizes care plans for each assigned patient.
4. Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.
5. Collaborate effectively with other disciplines as applicable.
6. Delegates tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act and job descriptions.
7. Assess the patient for allergies and preexisting conditions.
8. Prepare for hemodynamic monitoring and insertion of invasive hemodynamic monitors such as intravenous, central venous, and arterial catheters using sterile technique.
9. Assists with transport and monitoring of critically ill patients.
10. Assist with Anesthesiologist with regional anesthesia including spinals, epidurals and regional blocks. Provides continuous monitoring of the patient during the procedure. Assess the patient's level of pain with a valid and reliable pain scale. Assess the patient's vital signs, oxygenation and ventilatory status. Observe for signs and symptoms of peripheral nerve catheter migration into a blood vessel. Assess for systemic toxicity from local anesthetic administered through the catheter or bolus injection. Knowledge of signs and symptoms of profound motor and sensory blockade, or overmedication.
11. Monitor patient response, ensure patient safety during procedure(s) and documents according to policy & procedure.
12. Provide patient/family education and discharge instructions regarding spinal, epidural, or regional anesthesia.
13. Is certified in moderate sedation and may sedate the patient at the direction of the anesthesiologist or other licensed independent practitioner.
14. Participates in in-services on regional blocks and completes an annual competency.
15. Assist with patient inductions, including application of assessment monitors and pre-oxygenation, intubation, and maintenance of oxygen mask until secured by Anesthesiologist.
16. Researching, ordering, stocking, and gathering supplies per established protocol for Anesthesia procedures.
17. Prepare Anesthesia machine, anesthesia circuit, monitoring equipment and suction for patient care per established protocols.
18. Troubleshoots equipment as needed.
19. Educate staff on Anesthesia equipment and supplies.
20. Assists with blood and fluid replacement.
21. Preparing medications under the direct supervision of the anesthesia provider.
22. Prepares fluid warmers, rapid transfusion devices, and Cell Saver.
23. Assist with difficult airway management.
24. Support anesthesiologists in non-OR locations (i.e., GI/OB/ED).
25. Documents patient care records and other forms accurately according to facility policy.
26. Assists with supply, drug and equipment inventories to maintain stock level and availability.
27. Develops and maintains effective relationships with the department staff and the medical staff.
28. Effectively coordinates daily activities of the surgery department to ensure the timely room set-up, turnover, and end of day duties.
29. Initiates and/or supports activities to control costs.
30. Help facilitate state & federal mandates (i.e., NRFit) standards of care and other quality improvement projects.
31. Provides guidance and support to the staff, as needed.
32. Provide support and assistance to the Perioperative Leadership Team.
33. Responds to the needs of the department by performing other duties as necessary.
34. Relieves Charge Nurse as needed.
35. Responds to the needs of the department by performing other duties, as necessary.
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