Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse
Place of Performance: RAF Lakenheath, England

General Description:

Registered Nurse Pre/Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), plans, directs, and coordinates activities of patient care based upon the nursing process; being effectively involved with maintaining the standard of care for assigned patients through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Maintains optimum standards of nursing care and practice through preoperative, and postoperative assessment planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care.

Specific Tasks:

• Provides professional nursing care to patients undergoing surgery. Prepares patients room and circulates for surgical procedures within multiple specialties to include orthopedics, general surgery, podiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, plastics, otolaryngology, urology, oral maxillofacial, and pediatric Establishes and utilizes a checklist to plan, implement, and evacuate care for surgical patients for conformity to all national standards for ensuring safety for the patient and all personnel. Assembles the type and quantity of material and special equipment needed for daily procedures and possible emergencies. Responds to surgical emergency requirements such as cardiac, pulmonary, or respiratory failure and hemorrhage.
• Maintains open communication lines, both interdepartmentally and interdepartmentally, to provide for total needs of the Conducts preoperative and postoperative visits. Discusses operative procedures with patients and informs them of what to expect during surgery. Consults with the operating surgeon and establishes priorities of care for each patient entering the surgical suite. Coordinates with other hospital units to include recovery room, intensive care, obstetrics, and nursing units on patient’s progress and any special equipment or supplies needed for the patient returning from surgery.
• Conducts and instructs personnel in preparing, sterilizing, and caring for equipment and Coordinates an ongoing education program to update knowledge and skills of decontamination and sterilization practices.
• Provides care based upon the assessed needs of the patient in relation to the proposed procedure.
• Provides pre/post anesthesia nursing care, for all types of patients admitted to the surgical suite for surgical intervention. Includes elective, urgent and emergency procedures on patients of all ages.
• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates nursing care for all surgical patients including newborns, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly; disabled to include visually and hearing impaired; and individuals of varying ethnic and religious backgrounds to include those who do not speak or understand
• Participates and complies with quality and process improvement activities and events to ensure compliance with national standards and guidelines.
• Knowledge of a variety of pharmacological agents used in patient treatment, the desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use as well as the accurate administration of the pharmacologic agent including dosage calculations as
• Knowledgeable of laboratory test
• Ensure all required credentials and required training remain up to date.
• Administers medications, electrolytes, fluids, blood, and blood
• Ensures a safe work environment, employee safe work habits and patient safety in accordance with regulatory Adheres to perioperative, infection control, and safety policies and procedures.
• Safely operates and monitors specialized therapeutic and resuscitative equipment.
• Skilled in setting up and monitoring specialized medical equipment such as IV infusion pumps, cardiac monitoring devices, EKG units, oxygen analyzers, and other unit specific equipment.
• Effectively communicates and collaborates with a diverse group of Informs the healthcare team of plans/actions. Educates the patient/family and organization members. Effectively uses appropriate communication format in addressing professional issues.
• Excellent written communication skills to perform accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity in accordance with
• Knowledge of computer operations and proficiency in the use of basic word processing, data entry and automated medical
• Must be able to synthesize data from a variety of sources and make appropriate clinical
• Coordinates patient care through a continuum and facilitates the achievement of optimal outcomes in relation to care, quality and cost
• Ensures compliance with standards of care and practice in accordance with all established national and local policies, procedures, and guidelines used in the medical treatment facility. Provides care within ethical and legal boundaries.
• Recognizes medical emergencies and responds appropriately. Initiates CPR if required. Assists surgical team in administering advanced cardiac life support measures when necessary.
• Participates in the orientation and training of newly assigned personnel, as
• Serves and participates in committees, functions and other meetings as directed. Provides relevant and timely information to these groups and assists with decision- making and process improvement. Participates in customer service initiatives and medical readiness activities designed to enhance health services.
• Completes orientation and competency verification programs in accordance with unit guidelines.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited school of nursing acceptable to the Surgeon General, HQ USAF is

Experience:

• A minimum of 12 months of in-patient care unit or pre/post anesthesia care experience is mandatory in an in-patient care unit or pre/post anesthesia care assignment. Experience must include all phases of assessing and monitoring changes in the physical and psycho/social needs of patients utilizing the nursing process, preparing patients for surgery, and educates and counsels patient and/or caregiver with provisions for follow-up.

Certification:

• Must hold current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Current state RN licensure.

Knowledge:

• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills in the nursing