General Summary Statement
Provides comprehensive, quality nursing care through application of the nursing process. Adheres to Nursing Policies and Procedures and Organizational Goals and Objectives. Responsible for the direct and indirect care of perioperative patients. Responsible for planning, organizing and directing the specialty services under their charge and communicates pertinent information to provide optimum patient care in the operating room department. Assists the manager in assuming responsibility for administrative management of the perioperative team. Assists in developing and monitoring quality improvement issues. Assures that staff are competent in meeting the needs of the patient population within the specialties.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Practice
- Provides age appropriate care for the population served. Gives consideration to growth & developmental phase of life, to age related factors such as thermal regulation, nutrition, medication administration, nutrition, safety and functional needs of the patient.
- Uses appropriate resources for patients with special needs such as language barriers, sensory problems, altered cognition, cultural and religious needs.
- Ensures attention to patient’s physical, spiritual and emotional well being.
- Demonstrates competency in assessment skills (Includes admission)
- Performs pain assessments and intervenes to optimally meet patient’s needs for comfort.
- Plans clinical care based on patient’s needs and uses available resources.
- Performs clinical care in accordance with policy and procedure.
- Evaluates outcomes of nursing interventions and takes appropriate actions to move patient toward reaching goals of care.
- Identifies situations that warrant patient rescue and takes appropriate action, e.g. Rapid Response, Code Blue/Pink/Green.
- Adheres to the rights of medication administration and uses the Medication Administration system per policy and procedure.
- Integrates principles of infection control & infection prevention into practice.
- Adheres to aseptic technique as appropriate.
- Uses resources and references for reviewing policies and procedures, medications, and clinical information.
- Prioritizes and organizes work effectively within assigned shift.
- Identifies potential complications related to surgery and implements appropriate interventions.
- Promotes restoration of function to optimal level at discharge by implementing surgical nursing measures.
- Adheres to CCH Joint Commission Disease Specific guidelines and core measures for the care of the patients who have had joint replacement surgeries.
Communication
1. Maintains proper communication with patients, families, all care team members and ancillary departments.
2. Interprets mission, philosophies, and policies of Penn Medicine Health System and Department of Nursing to patient, families and others.
3. Follows proper channels of communication.
4. Communicates pertinent information to the appropriate personnel regarding changes in unit/patient conditions.
5. Listens carefully before responding to a concern or recommendation.
6. Uses communication/interpersonal techniques/strategies with individuals that are intended to result in:
a. desired objectives/results.
b. perceived sense of satisfaction by the individual involved.
7. Expresses a difference in opinion in a constructive manner.
8. Responds to unacceptable behavior by:
a. addressing issue with staff member.
b. reporting incident.
c. documenting incident.
9. Gives positive feedback related to job performance to other staff members.
10. Participates in unit/department meetings related to patient care and/or unit function by:
a. contributing relevant information.
b. suggesting corrective action and/or potential solutions to identified problems.
11. Documents accurately and according to procedure:
a. in compliance with established guidelines and protocols.
b. using designated forms.
c. reflective of the nursing plan of care.
12. Observes all policies regarding patient rights and patient confidentiality.
13. Utilizes the computer appropriately.
14. Uses effective communication during hand-offs, huddles and schedule updates and overall collaboration regarding surgical patients. (e.g. Shift report, transfer report, daily operations etc).
15. Organizes information into a meaningful format, such as Optime or SBAR.
16. Delegates appropriately to team members.
17. Communicates patient care information to the interdisciplinary care team.
18. Provides patient and family information in a manner that is understood (e.g. Patient progression and waiting rooms).
Documentation
- Documents patient care in an accurate, professional and timely manner using electronic medical record and paper documentation forms according to policy and procedure.
- Documents patient care that is relevant to patient’s diagnosis, problems and reflects patient’s status.
- Document performance appraisals.
- Document employee performance improvement records as necessary.
Professional Role Development
- Develops own nursing knowledge via practice, observation, professional literature, networking and attending continuing education programs.
- Promotes best practice by demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care and the profession of nursing.
- Promotes innovation and creativity in the practice environment.
- Serves as a mentor for new employees.
- Mentors student nurses.
- Accepts constructive feedback about performance or behaviors and shows evidence of change.
- Demonstrates verbal and writing skills that are appropriate for healthcare communication.
- Adheres to the Surgical Attire Policy.
Department of Nursing and Organization Support
- Attends assigned committee meetings and contributes to the committees.
- Communicates support of organizational values and strategies.
- Supports the following organizational programs: Magnet®, Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification, Nursing Councils, and integrates their standards into clinical practice.
- Reviews nursing quality data, (e.g. NDNQI and Press Ganey) and identifies how to apply best practice into own practice and mentor others towards meeting quality target goals.
- Maintains attendance/lateness standards in accordance with Hospital policy.
Departmental Support
- Maintains equipment in working order. Uses equipment appropriately, follows Department policies for equipment and supply use and maintenance.
- Performs assigned duties to maintain unit in a state of survey readiness and maintain quality initiatives. For example, quality control measures, emergency equipment checks, medication preparation area cleanliness, etc.
- Adheres to unit programs to support patient care such as maintaining a quiet environment, unit rounding, customer service, etc.
- Attends staff meetings on a regular basis.
- Keeps patient care area and work environment neat and organized.
Management Responsibilities:
- Ensures the patient care area is cared for, maintained, clean, and secure for patients, visitors, and staff.
- Assists the management team with compliance for policies, procedures, regulations, and standards of care.
- Accepts responsibility for own actions and actions of the team.
- Assists other team members to facilitate successful operation of the unit.
- Understands and utilizes the unique contributions of team members; effectively addressing any difficult interpersonal situation.
- Observes and reports any unusual situations, reactions, effects or conditions related to the patient’s health and welfare, in a timely manner.
- Demonstrates cost-conscious behavior by efficient utilization of resources.
- Assists with orientation of new employees.
- Implements intraoperative nursing needs for specific patient population. Sets goals and prescribes appropriate nursing actions to meet the goals and the physical and psychosocial needs of the patient.
- Assesses patient needs, plans and delivers expert nursing care to patients on a regular basis.
- Responds to emergency situations and takes action based on system/ hospital protocols.
- Demonstrates an ability to organize and incorporate new routines, procedures and skills.
- Develops annual objectives for specialty services.
- Monitors room turnover and case setup.
- Adjusts staffing levels relative to patient flow and collaborates with OR Manager and Charge Nurse to make daily assignments based on expertise.
- Provides for continuous updating and evaluation of educational needs within specialty area.
- In conjunction with the educator, establishes an orientation and education plan for the specialty services and updates clinical practices change.
- Participates with clinical educator in meeting learning needs of the OR nursing staff.
- Provides individual and small group instruction in patient care techniques and procedures as indicated.
- Enforces and maintains intraoperative standards of care relevant to OR specialty services.
- Monitors specialty nursing performance and practice and initiates action to correct deficiencies.
- Develops team focused interaction among peers and staff.
- Provides employees with annual performance appraisals based on standards of care.
- Provides for smooth day to day operation within the OR specialty services.
- Prepares and maintains preference cards, policies and procedures for the OR specialty services.
- Serves as a technical resource person.
- Directs and/or performs troubleshooting of equipment and/or procedural problems including equipment repair.
- Maintains adequate and appropriate inventories of supplies.
- Evaluates new procedures/products and is responsible for communicating with the Business Manager and Manager.
- Demonstrates knowledge of proper documentation.
- Participates in interdepartmental development of clinical pathways specific to specialty.
- Meets with Manager on a regular basis.
- Provides information in development of annual budget. Uses resources judiciously. Collaborates with Manager to develop physician marketing strategies.
- Reviews specialty capital needs; prioritizes needs and submits for approval and completion.
- Identifies and submits potential non-capital equipment/supply needs to business manager and Manager.
- Identifies supply and equipment requests with physicians in OR specialty areas.
- Oversees and arranges for equipment, device or implant availability for specialty surgeon’s needs.
- Organizes OR specialty services resource manuals.
- Meets annually with each surgeon to review preference cards and practice needs.
- Monitors processing, storage, restocking and inventory of specialty instruments, supplies and equipment.
- Monitors and adjusts par levels for chargeable and non-chargeable specialty items.
- Assumes responsibility for maintaining current knowledge and competency in area of specialization.
- Self-directed in keeping current of new clinical advances.
- Integrates interdepartmental communication as evidenced by problem solving on the department level.
- Collaborates and consults with charge nurse to support surgical schedule requirements.
- Collaborates with OR/ACC/Endo/PACU as necessary, regarding real time patient flow needs and schedule changes and throughput.
- Assumes direct patient care as indicated.
- Delegates Assignments and coordination of care to support operations of the department.
- Identifies performance and behaviors that may benefit from performance improvement strategies. Collaborate with management team.
- Identifies and immediately performs service recovery and follows up as appropriate.
- Participates in QI/PI projects, staff evaluations, and all appropriate departmental projects.
Education Training and Experience
Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Experience preferred, however training and specialty specific education programs are provided during orientation, and must be successfully completed as scheduled.
Basic computer skills. Ability to complete data entry on clinical documentation screens. Ability to use email and internet. Ability to successfully complete on the job training for CCH computer programs. Ability to practice critical thinking and organizational skills. Ability to speak, read, write and understand English.
Licensure/Certification
Current Pennsylvania RN License
CPR certification required
Certification in clinical specialty is preferred.
Department specific competencies
