Contract RN OR Circulator / 8 Weeks

GENERAL SUMMARY

The RN Circulator manages all the necessary care inside the surgery room, assisting the team in maintaining and creating a comfortable, safe environment for the patient and observing the team from a wide perspective. Serves as a liaison between surgeons, anesthesiologists, O.R. Manager, and staff. Ensures all surgical team members perform in a unified effort. Serves as a patient advocate. Responsible for the smooth and uneventful intraoperative care.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Policies

· Reports to work as scheduled (Attendance, Punctuality, etc.)

· Clocks self in and out on time clock correctly.

· Uses correct procedure for notification of illness.

· Seeks approval from OR manager for any unscheduled overtime.

· Cooperates when the work schedule must be altered.

· Adheres to appropriate dress code for area.

· Maintains personal hygiene and cleanliness.

· Adheres to aseptic technique.

· Completes annual competency update.

· Provides OR manager with verification of yearly requirements (TB test, annual physical and blood work).

· Adheres to CPSH Policies and Procedures.

· Maintains patient’s safety at all times.

· Wears ID name card so name and title are clearly visible at all times.

· Attends mandatory In service Education Classes

· Views required educational films, annually (TB, Hepatitis, Infection Control, Hospital Safety, Back Tips, Fire & Electrical)

· Provides OR manager with professional license verification on an annual basis prior to December 31 of expiration year.

Nursing Processes

· Utilizes assessment skills and tools to identify problems, needs and intervention.

· Recognizes patient's and family's need for instructions and initiates appropriate action.

· Sets priorities for action, based on problem-solving process, common sense, and meeting patient care priorities.

· Recognizes and responds appropriately to signs, symptoms of health threatening changes and reports abnormal results of diagnostic studies to appropriate physician.

· Utilizes work assignment to develop special abilities of individuals and meet special needs of patients/significant others.

· Participates in reviewing and revising quality assurance improvement criteria and/or standards of care.

· Ensures patient safety through the utilization of accurate assessment, critical thinking, expert evaluation and skillful clinical judgment

Clinical Skills

· Completes unit specific Nurse Competency Checklist on a yearly basis.

· Obtains a medical history through interview of patient or family members with pertinent information documented and communicated to surgeon and/or Anesthesiologist.

· Administers parenteral therapy and blood and blood products according to Policy.

· Administers medications according to CPSH Policy.

· Carries out physician's orders accurately, clarifying unclear orders.

· Performs treatments and procedures according to CPSH Policy.

· Cost effectively maintains adequate supplies and equipment in appropriate working condition.

· Initiates and carries out appropriate emergency procedures.

· Initiates nurse-physician communication as appropriate.

· Maintains a clean, safe, and quite environment for patients, as well as other personnel.

· Utilizes sound nursing judgment as evidence by ability to provide rationale for decisions made.

· Demonstrates skills in organization: Accurately anticipates needs of surgical team by timely availability of needed supplies and equipment.

· Provides for patient privacy and confidentiality at all times, allows patient dignity to be maintained.

· Recognizes potential benefits of selected new products and discusses with OR manager possible acquisition for use.

· Documents, in writing the specific actions during codes and conveys this information to O.R. Manger.

· Serves as resource person for updating or improving patient care practices.

· Assists in facilitating patient-physician-nurse communication process.

· Serves as preceptor in orientation of new employees.

· Assumes leadership role, acting as a role model especially in crisis situations.

· Assists in development and implementation of departmental goals.

· Possesses a working knowledge of equipment used in the O.R., as demonstrated by completing competency checklist.

· Assists in maintenance, care, and cleanliness of supplies - cost effectively maintains adequate supplies and equipment in appropriate working condition with proper documentation.

· Reports damaged instruments to the OR manager and follows proper procedure for damaged instruments and/or equipment.

· Assist the OR manager in obtaining the supplies, equipment, etc. necessary to do the scheduled cases.

Documentation

· Uses full name and title in all signatures, as delineated in the CPSH Policy and Procedure Manual.

· Uses CPSH approved abbreviations.

· Documents information in chronological order, at the time of the event or observations, with time and date included.

· Documents and signs those events personally performed or observed.

· Actively participates in daily narcotic drug counts and documents appropriately.

· Actively participates in daily refrigerator temperature and defibrillator check and documents appropriately.

· Documents in a clear, concise, accurate, and legible manner.

· Documents the necessary information to communicate the patient's progress based on the established plan of care.

· Selects and initiates appropriate forms at appropriate time(s).

· Reviews and implements changes in physician's orders throughout patient care.

· Assists with the change process involved in implementing new forms within the O.R. Department.

Interpersonal Relations

· Maintains a positive and professional attitude at all times, works cooperatively and effectively with all members of health care team.

· Communicates staff performance to unit manager.

· Communicates patient issues and/or problems to Unit Manager and/or Director of Nursing.

· Communicates change and implements change cooperatively.

· Communicates with physicians, unit personnel and other departments in a courteous and professional manner.

· Discusses problems or complaints with O.R. Manager, following proper chain of command.

· Accepts constructive criticism from the OR manager and Administration.

· Identifies when coworkers need assistance and cooperates willingly with coworkers in completing heavy work assignments.

· Identifies need for change and contributes possible solutions to implement change to O.R. Manger.

· Seeks ways to improve learning experiences for unit personnel and new employees.

· Communicates with scheduling desk by giving updated information concerning changes made within the daily surgery schedule.

Professional Development

· Completes written self-evaluation two weeks prior to annual date and submits for review with O.R. Manger.

· Attends and participates in mandatory in services and unit meetings.

· Reads and initials new policies and procedures, unit meeting minutes, and memorandums.

· Shares unit staff information gained at workshops attended and participates in educational planning.

· Conducts, participates in, or coordinates one unit in service per year based on learning needs of unit.

· Demonstrates continued professional growth through participation in professional organization, continuing formal education, area certification, etc.

· Utilizes current health care literature made available by facility on a regular basis.

VI. PERFORMS OTHER RELATED DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

May assist Director of the OR and CNO when needed

VII. ADA COMPLIANCE

1. Essential Duties of a Position: The essential duties of a position are defined by ADA as job duties that are so fundamental to the position that the individual cannot do the job without being able to perform them. A function is considered to be essential if the performance of this function is the reason the job exists, there are a limited number of other employees who could perform the function, or if the function is specialized and the incumbent is hired on the basis of his or her skill/ability to perform the function.

2. Employer’s Judgment: ADA gives consideration to the employer’s judgment as to what functions of a position are essential. A written job description is considered evidence of the essential duties of the position and should be developed before advertising or interviewing applicants for the position.

3. Reasonable Accommodation: ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment unless this would cause an undue hardship. The employee still has his or her responsibility to be able to perform the essential duties of the position. “Undue Hardship” means significant difficulty or expertise would be incurred and focuses on the resources and overall circumstances of the employer in terms of the cost or difficulty in providing a specific accommodation.

VII. CORPORATE COMPLIANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

· CPSH employees will adhere to compliance standards as they appear in CPSH Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy.

· CPSH will Keep abreast of all pertinent federal, state and CPSH regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.

· CPSH ensures that the staff are trained and evaluated on their knowledge of and adherence to compliance policies and procedures specific to their jobs.

· Other duties as assigned/ required.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS

1. Graduation from an accredited nursing program and at least one (1) year of recent experience as an O.R. Nurse (RN)

2. Unrestricted Registered Nurse license issued by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing

3. Successful completion of orientation and demonstration of competence.

4. Must have current BLS which follows the American Heart Association guidelines. ACLS must be obtained within (3) months of date of hire. PALS must be obtained within (3) months of date of hire for Full and Part Time Employees. PALS is not required for PRN Nurses.

Job Type: Contract

Medical Specialty:

• Medical-Surgical

Physical Setting:

• Acute care

Experience:

• OR RN: 1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

• BLS Certification (Required)
• RN (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Hammond, LA 70403 (Required)

Work Location: In person