1. Provide professional medical services and treatment of patients within the area of medical specialty of anesthesia supervision and management activities in accordance with prevailing standards of care.
- Ensure anesthesia coverage for the Hospital 24/7.
- Administer general anesthetics to render patients insensible to pain during surgical, obstetrical and other medical procedures.
- Takes necessary remedial action to aspirate secretions from throat larynx and trachea as required.
- Establish and maintain an airway and ventilation utilizing mask, LMA and nasal/oral endotracheal intubation.
- Monitor vital signs during course of procedure.
- Take necessary action to insure a near normal physiological status of the patient.
- Assist in moving patient from operating room to recover area.
- Check patient periodically and takes remedial measures to alleviate unfavorable post anesthesia effects as required.
- Maintain responsibility for the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of patients treated.
- Monitor acute pain management.
- Order and interpret labs, pulmonary, vascular and cardiac studies.
- Monitor all patients in the OR with all noninvasive and invasive monitors, anesthesia machines, gas delivery systems, patient/fluid warming devices and IV/Epidural drug administration pumps.
2. Determine, set up and prepare necessary drugs, supplies and equipment for the administration of anesthetics.
- Assemble gas machine and tests to ensure proper functioning.
- Ensure availability of proper type of blood for emergency use.
- Study patient records to determine probably effects of anesthetic on patient.
- Consult with the physician regarding “high risk” factors that are evident in the medical history.
- Assess and monitor functionality of all equipment.
- Disassemble equipment and cleans work area.
- Report equipment repairs and adjustments to proper personnel.
3. Maintain patient confidentiality and compliance with policies/procedures/regulatory requirements.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, JCAHO/CMS, and State of Iowa requirements.
- Maintain compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other professional and Hospital standards.
- Comply with all departmental and organizational policies and procedures in addition to regulatory requirements (such as OSHA, CMS, Joint Commission, etc.) and participates in corporate/departmental safety and quality activities.
- Adhere to all applicable regulatory and compliance authorities at a national, state and local level and will adhere to appropriate prevailing standards of care.
4. Performs and maintains documentation.
- Document accurate and ongoing assessments of patient status that reflect nursing interventions, patient responses, patient teaching and status of outcomes at discharge.
- Complete shift end check prior to leaving duty.
- Ability to work with electronic medical record system, including billing.
5. Communicates effectively.
- Communicate and collaborate effectively with other health team members regarding patient condition, nursing plan of care, patient satisfaction needs and recommendations for meeting identified outcomes.
- Follow approved shift report format when communicating patient information.
- Identify and recognize abnormal symptoms/changes in patient condition, established priorities, and takes appropriate action. Appropriately reports condition changes to medical provider.
6. Promote and ensure patient and staff safety in all aspects of responsibilities.
- Administer medications, treatments and procedures in a timely and safe manner according to healthcare provider orders and nursing policy, including appropriate performance of standard precautions, using two patient identifiers, and performing patient risk assessments every shift.
- Utilize proper body mechanics, transfer/lifting techniques to minimize fall risk to patient and injury to self.
- Implement infectious disease controls as appropriate including isolation procedures, proper use of hand washing and gloves.
- Follow proper procedures for wasting narcotics and disposal of sharps and hazardous materials.
7. Performs other duties as assigned.
