PREOP PACU PAT RN

Job Title: Preop/PACU/PAT RN

Reports to: Nurse Manager

Date: November 2024

Job Summary: The Pre-Op/PACU/PAT RN provides comprehensive nursing care across the pre-admission, pre-operative, and post-anesthesia care phases. This role involves conducting thorough pre-admission assessments, preparing patients for surgery, managing recovery, and ensuring patient safety and comfort throughout the perioperative continuum. The RN collaborates closely with the surgical team, anesthesia providers, and other healthcare staff to optimize patient outcomes while maintaining compliance with infection control protocols and regulatory standards.

Essential Functions of the Preop/PACU RN aspect of position:

• Provides Preoperative and/or Postoperative patient care as assigned.
• Processes pre-procedure patients efficiently
• Initiates documented procedure verification process
  • Identifies patient with 2 identifiers: verbally and compares armband and medical record
  • Verifies consent
• Obtains thorough medical history and assesses patient
• Notifies physician / anesthesia of any medical conditions with potential for adverse outcome
• Obtains comprehensive medication list
• Verifies allergies
• Obtains pregnancy waiver signature or performs urine pregnancy test when indicated
• Confirms all testing or clearances ordered by physician are on chart
• Initiates intravenous line proficiently. Documents all attempts. Seek further guidance when needed.
• Provides patient education- Address patient concerns and provide reassurance prior to surgery.
• Maintain thorough documentation of all patient care interactions and communications in the EMR.
• Provides post-anesthesia care
• Monitor patients recovering from anesthesia, ensuring airway patency, hemodynamic stability, and effective pain management.
• Performs timely assessments and interventions- Assess and document patient status, including vital signs, oxygen levels, and level of consciousness.
• Administer medications, fluids, and treatments as directed by the anesthesia provider or surgeon.
• Communicates with physician / anesthesia pertinent issues / changes in patient condition
• Discharges when criteria met and according to physician order
• Provides documented discharge education
• Ensures Recovery Room staffing standards are maintained
• Provide post-procedure education and discharge instructions to patients and families.
• Facilitate safe patient transfer to the next phase of care or discharge home.
• Documents in the medical record
• Ensures all entries are legible, timely and concise
• Authenticates all entries
• Notes and follows through with physician orders
• Manages medication administration according to physician order
  • Verification of 5 Rights
  • Administers medications and documents
  • Monitors for adverse reactions
  • Accounts for narcotics
• Performs diagnostic tests upon physician order
  • 12 lead EKGs
  • blood draws
  • Schedules additional tests as ordered
• Performs start of day/end of day duties as required (i.e. equipment checks, stocking supplies, narcotic counts, etc.)
• Follows universal precautions
• Completes occurrence/incident reports when indicated within shift of occurrence

Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) RN

• Provides Perioperative Assessment Nurse duties, as needed & assigned.

• Reviews current schedule, booking sheets, physician orders, H&Ps & online health history registration paperwork on all scheduled cases.
• Conducts patient phone calls
• Conduct detailed patient interviews and assessments, including medical history, medications, allergies, and surgical risk factors.
• Identifies any immediate issues & communicates with anesthesia and/or Nurse Manager
• Gather and reviews relevant patient medical history
• Ensures all test results & clearances that were ordered are on chart for evaluation
• Gathers records from outside providers as needed
• Verifies scheduled procedure(s) are on the facilitys approved procedure list and within the physicians delineation of privileges (DOP).
• Ensures office scheduler understands any issues and needs of case
• Notifies offices of anesthesia requests or orders for more information
• Preoperatively to confirm arrival times and instructions. Assist patients with online health history registration if needed.
• Stays two weeks ahead in calls
• Identify and address any potential issues or risks by communicating with the surgical team and anesthesia providers.
• Calls patients to confirm patients, procedure and physician. Obtains more detailed health history as required, provides preoperative teaching/answers questions and assists patient with completion of online registration paperwork if needed
• Educate patients and families on pre-operative instructions, including fasting, medication adjustments, and arrival times.
• Maintains documentation of all activities
• Tracking of booking sheets
• Calls to patients
• Date and time if office was notified and follows through on orders.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Acts as a team member by providing relief coverage within the unit for breaks and lunches
• Provides float coverage to other ASC departments and locations as needed & assign
• Adhere to all infection control policies, including proper hand hygiene, PPE usage, and equipment cleaning protocols
• Maintains all required regulatory training and participates in mandatory drills and staff meetings
• Follows all departmental policies and procedures
• Performs other incidental and related duties as required and assigned

Physical and Mental Demands:

• Ability to stand and move for extended periods (up to 8-10 hours per shift).
• Frequent bending, lifting, and reaching to handle equipment and assist patients.
• Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds as needed
• For items exceeding 50 pounds, team lifting or mechanical assistance must be used in accordance with safety guidelines.
• Ability to think and react quickly to changing patient status and physician needs
• Ability to multitask and remain calm in high-stress situations
• Strong problem-solving skills and adaptability to changing patient or procedural needs.
• High level verbal and written communication skills
• Above average ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously

Occupational Exposure:

• High risk exposure to bloodborne pathogens and chemical hazards.
• Adherence to personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements is mandatory.

Performance Expectations

• Provide high-quality nursing care while ensuring patient safety and comfort across all perioperative phases.
• Demonstrate competency in assessments, IV starts, medication administration, and patient recovery.
• Maintain compliance with infection control standards, facility protocols, and regulatory guidelines.

Job Qualifications:

• Current unencumbered Florida RN Licensure
• Mandatory BLS and ACLS (PALS if required), or obtained within 90 days of hire
• Strong clinical skills and surgical experience
• Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience in perioperative, critical care, or PACU settings preferred.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Proficiency in IV therapy, medication administration, and airway management.
• Knowledge of perioperative nursing care, including pre-op, PACU, and pre-admission testing processes.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Basic computer proficiency
• Excellent communication skills