Endoscopy Registered Nurse

Summary:

The Registered Nurse provides nursing care to patients in compliance with, but not limited to, Standards of Practice as defined by ANA, AORN, ASPAN, SGNA and State Practice Act Standards, and organization protocols, policies, procedures, and guidelines. Develops implements, evaluates, and revises plan of care based on physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and educational needs of the patient/caregiver. Maintains clinical knowledge and skills competencies to facilitate patient care in accordance with current standards of practice and monitors the environment to provide safe patient care. Supervises and directs patient care in the facility. May be responsible for administering IV conscious sedation during procedures. Responsible for monitoring the patient’s condition and vital signs if conscious sedation is used.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Philosophy
   1. Supports the facility’s ideology, mission, goals, and objectives
   2. Performs in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures
   3. Follows the facility’s standards for ethical business conduct
   4. Conducts self as a positive role model and team member
   5. Recognizes patients’ rights and responsibilities and supports them in performance of job duties
   6. Participates in facility committees, meetings, inservices, and activities
2. Communication
   1. Communicates effectively, cooperatively and professionally with patients, patient family/escort, visitors, vendors, contracted service providers, management, physicians, physician office personnel, and coworkers
   2. Interacts with others in a positive, respectful, and considerate manner
3. Financial Practices
   1. Uses facility resources appropriately and avoids wasteful practices
   2. Reports wasteful practices
   3. Analyzes work area and makes recommendations for potential cost-effective improvements
4. Compliance Program
   1. Contributes to the progress and development of the organization’s adopted compliance program
   2. Performs according to established compliance policies and procedures
5. Quality Assessment / Performance Improvement (QAPI) Program
   1. Contributes to the progress and development of the organization’s adopted Quality Assessment Performance Improvement program (QAPI)
   2. Performs according to established Quality Assessment Performance Improvement (QAPI)policies and procedures
   3. Objectively evaluates suggestions, grievances, and processes to identify opportunities to improve performance and quality of care
   4. Participates in data collection activities to support the Quality Assessment Performance Improvement program (QAPI)
6. Safety / Risk Management Program
   1. Adheres to safety policies and procedures in performing job duties and responsibilities
   2. Reports observed or suspected safety violations, hazards, and policy and procedure noncompliance to the safety officer or other designated person
   3. Recognizes own limitations and seeks assistance and acquires sufficient information necessary to function effectively in assigned setting
7. Professional Competence
   1. Maintains professional competence by participating in continuing education and other learning experiences
   2. Shares knowledge gained in continuing education with staff
   3. Maintains membership in relevant professional organizations
   4. Seeks new learning experiences by accepting challenging opportunities and responsibilities
   5. Attends all mandatory in-services and required staff meetings.
   6. Assists with orientation and training of new personnel and acts as a resource person for problems related to patient care
   7. Welcomes suggestions and recommendations
8. Duties
   1. Participates as a team member in support of the preoperative and postoperative process, supporting the intraoperative process if necessary
   2. Displays complete knowledge and understanding of peri-operative nursing care in the ambulatory surgery setting
   3. Organizes time, equipment, supplies, and personnel to provide effective and efficient case management
   4. Supervises and directs patient care
   5. Organizes nursing activities efficiently and effectively
   6. Monitors patient condition and maintains accurate documentation pre-procedure and post-procedure; intra-procedure when necessary
   7. Considers cost containment by using supplies economically and in effective turnover time
   8. Assists with supply, drug, and equipment inventories to maintain stock level and availability, may assist in ordering medication
   9. Counts medication and narcotics
   10. Responds in a timely manner to meet the needs of the patient and physician
   11. Accurately comprehends and implements verbal orders and direction
   12. Implements physician orders accurately with the knowledge and understanding of each order
   13. Provides continuity of patient care by communicating with other perioperative care personnel and documenting records accordingly
   14. Documents patient-care records and other forms accurately, following policies and procedures in a timely manner
   15. Admits patients to pre procedure area, assesses patient and prepares patient for procedure
   16. Addresses patient needs during admission to the procedure room, with attention to requirements specific to the outpatient setting
   17. Describes the pre-operative experience to the patient/significant other, including what to expect before, during, and after the procedure, and how the significant other will participate
   18. Informs patient about routine care and procedures related to the pre-operative experience
   19. Performs thorough preoperative patient assessment required in the outpatient setting
   20. Assists in assessing the physical and emotional status of the patient prior to admission
   21. Ensure patient readiness for procedure including, but not limited to, NPO status, medication administration, surgical site verification and marking and chart completeness
   22. Performs all preoperative testing (i.e., laboratory work, electrocardiogram, etc.)
   23. Discusses all findings with anesthesiologist prior to anesthesiologist’s preoperative evaluation of patient
   24. Reports all abnormal values to anesthesiologist/attending physician
   25. Obtains necessary signatures
   26. Assists with proper and safe positioning of the patient
   27. Ensures preoperative admitting bays are setup and ready for patients at all times, prepares patient charts for subsequent days, verifies patient arrival times and surgical procedures times based on daily surgery schedule
   28. Assists in transporting patients to the procedure room observing policies, procedures, and safety requirements, and according to patient needs when necessary
   29. Identifies the patient and correct procedure according to policy and procedure and communicates with all members of the surgical team, when necessary
   30. Reviews patient’s medical record and plans patient’s care with other healthcare team members
   31. Provides comfort and reassurance to the patient and supports the patient’s right to privacy, dignity, and confidentiality
   32. Assists in preparation and cleaning of procedure room before, between and after cases according to requirements of patient and procedure to be performed when necessary
   33. Assists in assembly and providing properly functioning equipment, supplies, and instruments before start of procedure when necessary
   34. Accurately advises others responsible for care of the patient bout the patient’s status
   35. Receives patient from procedure and evaluates needs of patient, administers care accordingly.
       Compares stability of vital signs with pre-op to establish parameters
   36. Assesses and documents patient status; carries out treatments and/or orders; gives post procedure instructions; and makes post procedure telephone calls
   37. Performs comprehensive assessment of patient’s clinical condition, pain level and psychosocial needs inclusive of caregiver needs during the Postoperative period.
   38. Performs safe and individualized nursing care for the patient in the immediate postoperative/post anesthesia period
   39. Assesses and documents the patient’s physical and emotional status upon arrival in the PACU
   40. Documents post anesthesia care and identity of second person in the PACU during the patient’s recovery from anesthesia/sedation according to approved policies and procedures
   41. Performs thorough postoperative patient assessment prior to discharge of the patient
   42. Informs patient and family about appropriate care and procedure to follow upon returning home
   43. Collaborates with other members of the clinical team to ensure efficient turn-around time between procedures
   44. Maintains emergency carts (MH Cart, Crash Cart, etc.) and required logs as assigned
   45. Monitors patient vital signs
   46. Capable of administering IV with maximum of two attempts if needed
   47. Chooses appropriate site for IV insertion
   48. Knowledge should be up-to-date on the actions of all pharmaceuticals and anesthetic agents
   49. Takes appropriate actions in emergency situations such as cardiac/respiratory crises or arrests, drug reactions, fire or disaster occurrences
   50. Oversees LPNs if they are working in the pre or post procedure areas (if applicable) and oversees GI Technicians in the procedure rooms
   51. Demonstrates awareness of symptoms and possible complications of procedure, anesthesia and initial treatment.
9. Team Work
   1. Communicates patient information to assure confidentiality and continuity of care
   2. Interacts with professional staff, patients, families, visitors, fellow employees in a mature, responsible manner to ensure a positive and professional facility environment
   3. Diffuses/resolves conflict by appropriately communicating with those involved.

Machines / Equipment Used:

1. Clinical equipment used for patient care, including, but not limited to:
   1. Patient Monitoring including: EKG, Pulse Oximeter, Blood Pressure Cuff, Temperature, Respirations
   2. Defibrillator
   3. Suction Equipment
   4. Blood Glucose Meter
   5. hCG Urine Pregnancy Test
   6. Stretchers
   7. Blanket and Fluid Warmers, Ice Machine
   8. Nurse Call System
   9. PPE
   10. Endoscopic Equipment and Accessories
2. Office equipment, including, but not limited to:
   1. Computers
   2. Copy / Fax machines
   3. Telephones
   4. Public address system
3. Other:
   1. Oxygen / Vacuum Shut-Off Valves / Medical Gases
   2. Fire Extinguisher & Pull Stations
   3. Eye Wash Station

Responsibility for Assets:

1. Maintains equipment as per manufactures instructions

Qualifications:

1. Demonstrates cooperative work attitude toward and with employees, physicians, management, patients, families/escorts, visitors, contract service providers and vendors.
2. Ability to promote favorable facility image with physicians, patients, insurance companies, and general public.
3. Ability to make decisions and solve problems.
4. Demonstrates ability to function independently; demonstrates ability to multitask
5. Cross trains to a minimum of two clinical areas

Requirements:

Required:

1. High School Graduate or GED Certification
2. Graduate of accredited school of nursing
3. RN with active license in appropriate state
4. BLS Certification
5. ACLS and PALS (if applicable for patient population) within 6 months of hire
6. Pre-employment physical with additional testing as outlined in the policy on regulatory guidelines for personnel policy
7. Evidence of leadership qualities
8. Strong ethical and moral character references
9. Language skills adequate for high-level written, interpersonal and telephone communication English; other specific languages if applicable to facility’s patient population

Preferred:

1. Endoscopy experience
2. ASC experience
3. Computer literacy

Job Quality Requirements:

1. Accuracy
2. Attention to detail
3. Timeliness
4. Organization
5. Leadership
6. Physical stamina for working extra hours, if needed

Dependability:

1. Attendance
2. Punctuality
3. Ability to follow instructions
4. Ability to meet deadlines

Physical / Mental Requirements:

1. Requires extensive mobility: walking, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
2. Pushing, pulling, and lifting of equipment and/or patients
3. Requires mental alertness and accuracy for decision making
4. Requires ability to speak, hear, and to identify and distinguish colors
5. Use of hands to reach, grasp, use fine finger movement and feel fine sensation to discern temperature, texture, size and shape
6. Repetitive motion required for extensive use of computers
7. Good visual acuity
8. Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
9. Occasional judgment and response to disasters or emergencies, actual events, or drills

Working Conditions (Environmental):

1. Works in well-lighted and ventilated climate controlled environment with complicated equipment, some equipment with moving mechanical parts. Occasional exposure to outdoor climate.
2. May be exposed to patients who have communicable diseases. With proper techniques, this risk should be minimized.
3. May have occasional exposure to blood borne and airborne disease pathogens. With proper techniques, this risk should be minimized.
4. May be exposed to anesthesia gases/agents, fumes or airborne particles.
5. Risk of radiation exposure with radiology equipment (if applicable)
6. May be exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals.
7. Quiet to moderate noise levels. Must be able to hear alarms on equipment, patient call-alarms, patient calls, over-head pages and instructions from physicians or staff

Contacts:

1. Patients
2. Patients’ Family/Significant Others/Escorts
3. Physicians and Physician Office Personnel
4. Facility Personnel
5. Vendors
6. Contracted Service Personnel
7. Regulatory Surveyors
8. Administration
9. Medical Director
10. Governing Body
11. Management

Starting pay range is $35-47/hour.