Registered Nurse-Operating Room Circulator-Part-Time

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to correlate clinical data with patient's medical and nursing care
• Ability to set priorities
• Ability to provide clear, concise directions that promote efficiency throughout clinical areas
• Ability to communicate well with patients, families, teammates, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team
• Recognizes legal and policy limits of individual practice

Clinical Quality

Assesses, plans, evaluates and ensures implementation of patient care to achieve identified outcomes and delivers safe patient care according to facility policy and procedure.

• Assesses patient status on admission and on an ongoing basis
• Implements appropriate standards of care based on assessment data and patient goals
• Coordinates nursing interventions to enhance achievement of expected outcomes and ensure readiness for discharge
• Ensures provision of patient care daily in an organized and timely manner
• Adheres to all facility policies and procedures when providing patient care
• Utilizes nursing care standards when planning and implementing patient care
• Demonstrates ability to direct and provide patient care in emergency situations
• Assesses learning needs according to patient's level of understanding and readiness to learn
• Evaluates patient's progress toward outcome achievement on an ongoing basis
• Revises plan of care based on change in patient status and/or information gathered at change of shift
• Documents patient's progress toward achievement of outcomes
• Directs others in the implementation of the teaching plan

Assumes an active role in the provision of quality nursing care for patients receiving care.

• Utilizes specialized nursing knowledge, nursing process and discriminative judgment while giving direct or indirect care
• Analyzes nursing care provided in the facility related to established standards of care
• Participates in the monitoring and evaluation of nursing care provided
• Demonstrates ability to coordinate nursing care provided in the facility
• Assigns patient care responsibilities based on patient needs and abilities of available staff
• Assumes charge nurse responsibility as assigned
• Demonstrates ability to make decisions concerning facility-based problems
• Participates on quality council to facilitate improvement of patient care
• Participates in the orientation of nursing staff
• Participates in developing standardized patient education programs, as requested
• Participates in team conferences on assigned patients

Demonstrates continued competence in assessing, treating, and caring for individuals based upon age-specific needs utilizing a developmental perspective.

• Demonstrates appropriate knowledge and competence of designated skills identified for position
• Displays understanding of each patient's cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturity in assessments, treatment, and care based on age-specific criteria
• Appropriately modifies approach to the patient based upon patient age utilizing a developmental perspective
• Provides appropriate age-specific interventions related to safety issues

Demonstrates appropriate knowledge and competence of designated skills identified for position in patient care duties.

• Checks updated schedule each morning and prepares supplies and equipment
• History and physical assessment of patient
• Completes review of medical record
• Maintains patient normothermia
• Promotes physical comfort and provides emotional support and safety for patient
• Administers and charts medications as ordered by physician
• Reinforces and clarifies physician instructions and explanation of procedures to patient
• Provides nursing care and appropriate monitoring according to policies and procedures
• Communicates relevant information to physician, Facility Manager and appropriate staff
• Verifies surgical/procedure site with patient and according to surgical schedule and patient History and Physical
• Obtains and verifies operative/procedure consent
• Provides for patient safety by use of monitors, side rails, and assistance in ambulating and instruction on the use of call bell in bathroom
• Provides instructions according to patient need
• Completes nursing documentation on each operative procedure
• Assembles cases according to schedule and preference cards
• In Pre-Operative Area, introduces self to patient, verifies patient identity, assesses patient's physical needs, alleviates patient anxiety, clarifies operative site, and checks chart for necessary documentation
• Practices and monitors aseptic techniques
• Ensures that the surgical site time-out process is followed and completed
• Performs duties as circulating or scrub nurse
• Responsible for positioning patient relevant to procedure with awareness of body alignment, circulation and pressure points
• Applies electrosurgical return electrodes, tourniquets, etc., according to physician preference, policies and procedures
• Provides necessary supportive equipment for patient comfort (i.e., pillows, blankets, protective paddings, etc.)
• Accurately completes intraoperative record
• Accountable for accuracy and documentation of sponge, needle and instrument counts
• Properly labels and cares for specimens
• Provides and records all intraoperative medications
• Maintains adequate room supplies
• Knowledgeable of operation, cleaning and sterilization of instruments
• Knowledgeable of operation and cleaning of surgical equipment
• Assists in stocking, replenishing, outdating and preparation of supplies
• Reviews and updates physician preference cards
• Has working knowledge of sterilizers and recorders
• Assists physician and anesthesia personnel as needed
• Provides emergency care according to physician and administrative policy
• Sets priorities to facilitate the flow of patient efficiently
• Cleans equipment and operating room/procedure room according to procedure
• Reviews charts for completeness and signatures of physicians
• Prepares and restocks area for following day
• Checks inventory and notifies appropriate staff member to re-order
• Notifies appropriate staff member to order supplies
• Initiates appropriate infection control measures
• Maintains an environment that promotes safety: temperature range, electrical safety measures, oxygen and suction equipment, resuscitation equipment, noise control, traffic control, control of contamination

Teamwork/Accountability/Integrity

• Utilizes time effectively
• Follows established facility policies and procedures with regard to attendance
• Completes all documentation to ensure availability of accurate and up to date information in accordance with established standards
• Adheres to established facility safety requirements and procedures to ensure a safe working environment
• Assists with housekeeping tasks as necessary to provide a safe environment for patients, teammates, physicians, and guests
• Performs all other duties as assigned by manager

Continuous Improvement

• Maintains and evaluates own clinical expertise and clinical practice
• Attends 75% of unit based staff meetings and demonstrates review of minutes for any meetings missed
• Provides in-services as requested by management
• Participates in scheduled performance appraisals and demonstrates dedication to ongoing performance improvement
• Maintains and displays appropriate knowledge of professional developments through printed material or other sources
• Attends professional training seminars when appropriate for job development and shares information with other Teammates
• Attends and participates in all applicable facility training and development workshops scheduled by the facility
• Maintains work area and equipment in an organized and clean manner
• Maintains dress and appearance according to standards as observed by management
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of job description, role, and responsibilities through continuing education activities
• Maintains certification requirements and submits required evidence of certification to facility management for teammate file
• Strives to be professional, courteous, helpful and cooperative
• Performs all other duties as assigned by management

Compliance

• Upholds and practices the principles and policies of the compliance program
• Demonstrates the safe operation of equipment and machinery and follows procedures for reporting and correcting an unsafe situation

Service Excellence

• Communicates patient information to assure confidentiality and continuity of care
• Documents all patient information according to established standards of care, policies and procedures
• Provides hand-off reports to other teammates that are accurate, concise and pertinent to the patient's condition and response to care
• Provides pertinent patient information to the physician, family, teammates and other members of the multidisciplinary team
• Discusses patient information with other health team members in an appropriate environment
• Documents patient's/significant other's response to teaching interventions
• Interacts with all patients, families, visitors and fellow employees in a mature, responsible manner to ensure a positive and professional facility environment
• Displays a caring and responsive attitude and conducts all activities respecting patient, family and employee rights and expectations
• Maintains confidentiality of all facility and patient information as required by facility policy
• Fosters a positive and professional facility environment by interacting with all persons in a considerate, helpful and courteous manner and by participating as a team member
• Diffuses/resolves conflict by appropriately communicating with those involved
• Accepts constructive criticism and gives suggestions in a professional manner
• Considers age specific needs in communication
• Maintains dress and appearance according to standards as observed by management
• Demonstrates the safe operation of equipment and machinery and follows procedures for reporting and correcting an unsafe situation
• Demonstrates understanding and puts into practice service excellence

Financial Skill

• Provides input regarding equipment needs/supply needs
• Completes patient charges in accordance with facility procedure
• Demonstrates sound cost containment techniques
• Participates in periodic inventory count as assigned by management

Environmental Conditions and Physical Requirements

Indoors in climate controlled environment. Patient care environment with potential exposure to unpleasant odors, blood and body fluids which may carry infection, infectious disease, and chemical and electrical hazards. Occasional exposure to outdoor climate. Good visual acuity, accurate color vision. Ability to lift/transfer patients in excess of 100 pounds, which may require pushing, pulling and utilizing a full range of body movement. Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl. Ability to reach, grasp, use fine finger movement and feel fine sensation to discern temperature, texture, size and shape. Ability to speak and hear.

Machines/Equipment Used

Clinical equipment used for patient care (i.e., suction machine, cautery, etc.), patient diagnostic equipment, patient monitoring equipment, computer, copy/FAX machine.