Perioperative RN

The role of the Perioperative nurse is to care for a patient before, during and after they have an operation. This includes promoting patient health, patient and family teaching, providing comfort and a safe environment for the patients having surgery. The Perioperative RN coordinates total nursing care for the surgical patient by assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care of the patient.

The Perioperative nurse serves as a leader working cooperatively with the operating room team, surgeons, anesthesia and other healthcare team members to ensure professional excellence is maintained with successful patient outcomes. The Perioperative RN is knowledgeable of and practices AORN guidelines for Perioperative practice standards of care for all surgical patients. The Perioperative nurse will participate in performance improvement activities.

The surgery department works Monday through Friday. Participating in taking call and returning for emergency cases is required.

• Patient care coordinator 1. Develops an appropriate plan of care for the perioperative patient. a. Complete a perioperative RN assessment to identify individualized patient needs and problems including:
• current medical diagnoses and therapies;
• physical status;
• physiological and psychological status and responses;
• cultural, spiritual, and lifestyle information;
• previous responses to illness and other hospitalizations/treatments;
• results of diagnostic tests. b. Identify and communicate any change in the patient’s condition to the healthcare team. 2. Collaborates with other health care team members. 3. Participates in performance improvement activities. 4. Assists with updating Surgeon’s Preference Cards. Clinical Practice 1. Maintains asepsis. 2. Performs circulating duties as assigned. a. Provide a safe environment for the patient during the perioperative period. b. Identify and gather needed supplies and equipment to prepare the OR suite for patient care; inspect the OR suite to determine if it is clean and equipment is in readiness for surgical case. Wipe horizontal surfaces with a disinfecting agent. c. Identify the patient and verify completeness of the chart, including verification of the surgical procedure, surgical site, allergies, and signed consent form. d. Remain with the patient during induction, emergence and/or regional anesthesia and assist anesthesia personnel as needed. e. Position the patient appropriately for the planned procedure, using adequate padding on pressure points and safety straps where feasible. f. Prepare the incision site according to the established procedure. g. Initiate a timeout with the surgical team, verifying the correct patient and consented operation before incision is made. h. Anticipate and fulfill the requirements of the scrub nurse/technologist and surgical team. i. Ensure proper techniques and standard of care are maintained. j. Initiate and maintain correct sponge, sharps, and instrument counts throughout the perioperative period. k. Identify and communicate any change in the patient’s condition to the healthcare team. l. Identify, label, and take specimens to their appropriate place per established procedure. m. Maintain accurate, electronic record of medications used on the field during the procedure. n. Maintain accurate, electronic record of all perioperative patient care and charges. o. Assist with patient during transfer postoperatively, maintaining patient’s safety and correct body alignment. p. Report to PACU nurse postoperatively, stating the performed surgery, any additional diagnoses, any implants or drains that were inserted, and any complications. q. Assist in Post Anesthesia Care Unit, as necessary. r. Assist environmental services with cleaning and turnover of the surgical suite. s. Assist in the wrapping and preparation if instruments and supplies for sterilization. t. Assist in ordering supplies for the surgery department. u. Assist in orientation, training, and education of department personnel. v. Contribute in a positive manner to learning experiences of staff and students. w. Identify and promote methods to provide cost-effective, efficient use of resources when meeting patient outcome goals. x. Participate in activities that will assist the Surgical Services Department, Nursing Services, and Clara Barton Hospital Administration to provide ongoing improvement in patient care services. 3. Performs scrubbing duties as assigned. a. Selects routine supplies, equipment and instrumentation required for all surgical procedures following Surgeon’s Preference Cards. b. Scrub, gown and glove self and other team members for the procedure. c. Assists in draping and positioning of patient. d. Counts sponges, sharps, and instruments with RN Circulator according to established procedure. e. Handles and passes to surgeon medications/drugs correctly with proper knowledge and identification under the supervision of the RN. f. Handle instruments and supplies correctly and ensure their proper functioning. g. Anticipates Surgeon’s needs and requests additional items from Circulator in sufficient time for the surgical team’s use. h. Maintains effective organization of instruments, sutures, and supplies throughout the procedure according to standard set up. i. Assists with sterile table and room preparation, clean-up of instruments following procedure, and containment /disposal of contaminated materials, sharps and specimens at the conclusion of procedure. j. Notifies surgical team of breaks in technique at the field. k. Performs effectively in an emergency procedure or situation. l. Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, BSN preferred. Previous operating room experience preferred. Current registration as RN in Kansas. CPR and ACLS. CNOR desirable. Membership in AORN strongly encouraged.