Registered Nurse- Surgical Services- PRN

Job Description

Position: Registered Nurse Surgical Services

Reports To: Surgical Manager

Schedule: Per Diem

Position Location/Department: Surgical Services

Job Summary: Surgical Services Registered Nurse will report  and be accountable to the Surgical Services Manager for patient management and oversight of the surgical services department operations (OR suite, PACU, same day surgery, or specialty clinic) including all services associated with surgical services: preoperative, perioperative and recovery care/services. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advocates and supports quality improvement, patient safety, and infection control for the surgical departments
• Interacts, assesses, provides treatments, and educates patients about their medical condition, medications, surgical procedures, and discharge actions; including follow-up with Surgeon/primary care providers.
• Supervises assigned patient care technicians and liaisons with other departments/medical facilities for support of surgical services operations. 
• Ensures patient information and rights are protected and observed during the surgical/procedure visit.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education, Experience and Other Requirements:

• Organizational skills with an attention to detail.
• Team builder; willing and able to work shoulder to shoulder with the surgical services team and other departments – leading by example.
• Create an environment of trust and mutual respect through interaction with team.
• Monitors and anticipates surgical activities during daily operations, emergency situations, and transfer of care to higher level institutions.
• Practices critical thinking and quickly adjusts to medical conditions managed within the surgical department; maintains high expectations for self and other team members.
• Possess and demonstrate exceptional communication and problem solving.
• Sets expectations through applying measurable goals and objectives and holds mutual accountability for progress to goals and objectives amongst the team.
• Able to meaningfully engage anesthesia provider and/or physician staff.
• Balance the needs and capabilities of the surgical services with the realities of a small rural hospital.
• Capable of suggesting and applying new standards of care consistent with evidence-based care.
• Develop ways to improve and streamline patient flow and identify process improvement initiatives.
• Ensures department inventory of supplies and medications working in conjunction with central supply and pharmacy.
• Understand and apply hospital policy and procedures along with identifying ways to improve policies through experience and observation.
• Part of a team of enthusiastic nurses that strive to achieve and excel at providing the level care and patient (and family) service that will distinguish the function of the department.
• Seeks out additional training/certification that benefits the organizational mission.
• Able to assist in identifying resources and prioritizing need based upon patient’s presenting condition/symptoms and the fluid nature of the surgical suite schedule.
• Assures surgical services is in compliance with current standards established by the HFAP, CMS, and other regulatory agencies. Maintains professional licensure in compliance with State of Michigan requirements.
• Seeks out and participates in professional development programs provided by the organization or through the nurse’s own resources.  Maintains high level of professional competency and is adaptive to the changing environment of nursing practices.
• Participates on committees as assigned for purposes of developing and implementing standards for quality of surgical services.
• Responsible to monitor use of supplies and services to maximize the department's available resources based on budget planning.  Ensures daily charges are captured and reported for hospital revenue.
• Ensures staff coverage and adjusts quickly to short notice staffing deficiencies.   Adjusts work scheduling to meet organization needs and to ensure safe patient care staffing.
• Addresses patient concerns with patient care policies, protocol and procedures.  Elevates major issues/risks to Surgical Services Nursing Coordinator/DON for assistance.
•  Participates in annual evaluations on personnel as required and ensures annual competencies are completed within established timelines.  
• Responsible for preparing occurrence reports in accordance with Risk Management protocol and policies whether they be patient, family, or visitor.
• Continually monitors patient satisfaction and investigates ways to improve the level of satisfaction.
• Demonstrates the ability to use all channels and proper methods of communication to address concerns, problems, and conflicts with other departments.
• Respects the chain-of-command.
• Punctuality is a critical part of this position.  Performs other duties, as directed by leadership including assisting other departments.
• Checking hospital email at least once per workday since primary source of communication and will provide great customer service and maintain a positive attitude.