What are the responsibilities and job description for the PACU Registered Nurse position at Muskegon Surgical Associates?
Located in Muskegon, Michigan, Muskegon Surgical Associates SurgiCenter provides multi-specialty outpatient surgery. Newly opened in August 2024 and designed for patient comfort and surgical efficiency, the SurgiCenter has the potential for four operating rooms and 18 patient care bays. If you want to work in a place that puts patients and family first, a place where you can make a difference in the lives of others, and a place where you can grow personally and professionally then we want to know more about you.
As a Registered Nurse, you’ll be responsible for delivering patient care that promotes safety and well-being of patients and staff. You’ll be expected to provide physical, educational, and technical care and support while demonstrating strong assessment skills both pre and postoperatively. Appropriate assessment includes physical, psychosocial/family, cultural, personal beliefs or restrictions, cognitive abilities, pain, and comfort needs.
Responsibilities:
- Identifies immediate problems in the pre and postoperative phase and intervenes appropriately.
- Performs direct patient care preoperatively and postoperatively.
- Assesses, documents, and manages postoperative pain.
- Demonstrates ability to assess airway adequacy and intervene quickly and appropriately when necessary.
- Demonstrates proficiency with cardiac monitoring and interpretation.
- Demonstrates understanding and knowledge of Phase I and Phase II recovery nursing principles and expectations.
- Requires high degree of responsibility, confidentiality, and discretion.
- Remains calm and effective in stressful situations and takes initiative in emergency situations.
- Able to prioritize, organize and multi-task.
- Supports the organization mission and vision.
- Promotes teamwork and functions as a team member providing care that encompasses compassion, collaboration, and trust.
- Possesses a moral obligation to promote the welfare, health, and safety of the patient, and to advocate on the patient’s behalf whenever necessary.
Qualifications:
Knowledge and Skills
- Knowledge of Pathophysiology of body systems and how anesthesia drugs affect each body system.
- Knowledge of nursing unit standards of care in the preoperative and postoperative of patient room areas.
- Knowledge of safety regulations along with policies and procedures (Standard Precautions).
- Ability to verbally communicate accurate data to doctors, surgeons, and anesthesiologists in a quick and thorough manner.
- Ability to write thoroughly enough for nursing care actions that could be defensible in a court system.
- Math skills to calculate IV drip rates, antibiotic dosages, to convert medication dosages to CCs from bulk medication containers, and to calculate appropriate pain medications.
- Reading skills to comprehend training manuals, physician orders, computer information, and data related to patient care in the PACU.
- Ability to effectively explain and train other nurses.
- Ability to prioritize nursing tasks according to standards of care in the PACU.
Physical Characteristics:
- See well enough to read written/typed material, monitors, gauges, printouts, computers, etc.
- Hear well enough to receive doctors’ orders over the telephone and to hear monitor alarms at all times.
- Speak well enough to communicate ideas to doctors, other nurses, health care professionals, and family members.
- Strength to reposition patients.
- Have use of hands and fingers to give injections, draw up medications into syringes, and assist doctor with any procedures.
- Have mobility to move quickly in an emergency, to reach overhead and under beds, and to stand long periods of time.
Education/Experience:
- Graduate of accredited Registered Nurse program.
- Valid Registered Nurse state license.
- BLS and ACLS required.
- One to three years’ experience in CCU, ICU, ER and/or PACU preferred.
Additional Characteristics:
- Flexible to work unscheduled hours as needed.
- Functions as a member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, consults and collaborates with colleagues, peers, supervisors, and other healthcare providers and promotes respectful relationships among colleagues.
- Delivers care in a non-judgmental, compassionate, and nondiscriminatory manner that is sensitive to diversity.
- Delivers care in a manner that preserves and protects patient autonomy, dignity, respect, and rights.
- Evaluates factors related to safety, effectiveness, and costs to the outcome of optimal patient care.
Benefits:
- Retirement Plan
- Health insurance, three medical plans offered.
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Spa discounts
- Flexible spending account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Holiday pay
- Short- and long-term disability