STAFF NURSE UNION, RN - PACU DAY SURGERY

STAFF NURSE UNION, RN - PACU DAY SURGERY

Posting dates for internal transfers :

October 14, 2025, through October 19, 2025

BASIC FUNCTION :

A staff nurse is a professional nurse who delegates and coordinates patient care, based upon a documented assessment of the patient’s needs. The staff nurse applies the nursing process of assessment, planning interventions, implementing the plan of care, and evaluating that care. The nurse is a patient advocate, who in conjunction with the other members of the healthcare team guides the patient safely through the hospital stay. The staff nurse is responsible to the Director of Surgical Services. SDS / PACU Registered Nurses report to the SDS / PACU Charge Nurse on a daily basis regarding patient care issues. Takes on call as assigned by the Perioperative Coordinator / Educator.

JOB DUTIES :

1. Accurately provides patient care in both PACU and SDS, as assigned.

2. Ensures care of the surgical patient per departmental and hospital policies in both SDS and PACU.

3. Accurately performs patient assessment and medication reconciliation.

4. Accurately identifies and implements patient isolation, when indicated.

5. Assists other surgery personnel in the care of the surgical patient, as needed.

6. Communicates problems / concerns with Charge RN, Coordinator or Director, Physicians and departments to facilitate the daily surgical schedule.

7. Competent in the use of the Omnicell machine.

8. Transcribes, observes and administers physician orders.

9. Initiates, administers, and maintains appropriate IV therapy per hospital policies

10. Able to obtain lab, EKG, and radiology reports from computer.

a. Notifies physician of abnormal results in a timely manner.

11. Documents in a complete, concise manner using computer or paper documentation forms, as

applicable.

12. Provides accurate patient hand off report to surgery and unit personnel.

13. Participates in patient discharge planning / teaching.

14. Competent in checking, care, use and documentation of equipment :

Code Cart / Suction / Broslow Cart

Glucometer

Medication / Patient Refrigerators

Eye Wash Stations

Steris Blanket Warmer

Vein Lites

Temporal Thermometers

CHG Warming Unit

Bair Paw Gown / Warming Unit

Electric Clippers

Hover Matt mattress

Doppler

Patient Vital Signs Monitors

Oxygen Equipment

Block cart

Sequential Compression Devices

Epidural / PCA Pumps

Respirator

15. Assists with orientation / education of new / existing staff and nursing / technical students.

16. Able to access and enter data into the computer system including order entry.

17. Serves on committees as assigned by the Director.

18. Active in departmental Nursing Council projects, when assigned.

19. Responsible for checking emails and on line learning assignments (Relias) on a regular basis.

20. Assist with writing policies & procedures for the SDS / PACU Departments.

21. Other duties as assigned by the Perioperative Educator or Director of Surgical Services within legal limit.

SDS / PACU RN Serving as Charge Nurse :

The Same Day Surgery (SDS) / Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Charge Nurse is a professional nurse who demonstrates the ability to delegate and coordinate patient care based upon a documented assessment of SDS / PACU patient needs. The Charge Nurse participates in the nursing process, which includes patient assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of patient care. The Charge Nurse is a patient advocate, who in conjunction with other members of the healthcare team, guides SDS / PACU patients safely and efficiently through the surgery process.

The Charge Nurse reports directly to the Director of Surgical Services. The SDS / PACU Charge Nurse displays an energetic, engaged, and confident demeanor.

JOB DUTIES :

1. Reviews next day staffing on a daily basis, ensuring adequate staffing (according to standards) while avoiding

over staffing to maximize financial savings for ACH.

2. Completes daily staffing assignments for next day’s surgery schedule.

3. Ensures a fair rotation for colleague unscheduled approved PTO and home early on a consistent basis.

4. Monitors and reduces end-of-shift activities resulting in overtime for SDS / PACU units.

5. Maintains a constant vigilance over patient flow being aware of communications from the Operating Room, CRNAs,

and Surgeons of daily schedule changes.

6. Effectively intervenes to phone patients to come in early or later when schedule changes occur.

7. Assists Anesthesiologists in performing patient blocks, monitoring patient and performing appropriate time out and

documentation.

8. Ensures relief of SDS and PACU nurses for lunches and breaks.

9. Assumes patient assignments when deemed necessary.

10. Ensures that patients are ready for timely transfer to the Operating Room evidenced by complete patient preparation :

a) Patent IV started at least one hour prior to surgery scheduled time

b) Appropriate antibiotic hung / or started as applicable

c) Lab and Radiology reports on chart, if applicable-Notifies physician of abnormal results in a timely manner-not to delay surgery start time

d) Current H&P on chart including “Day of Surgery” update

e) Patient completely ready to go for surgery 30 minutes prior to scheduled time

f) Documentation complete

g) Appropriate “Hand-off Report” to patient transporter.

12. Ensures patient comfort and patient / significant other satisfaction.

13. Maintains an efficient flow of patients from SDS to the Operating Room and from PACU to SDS.

14. Expedites SDS patient discharge, within standards, to provide open patient room / s for patients discharged from PACU.

15. Accurately communicates patient care data to Anesthesia Personnel, Registered Nurses, Surgeons, and Clinical

Technicians.

16. Accurately provides and delegates patient care and unit duties. Assures completion of duties within a timely manner.

17. Ensures checking / care and documentation in SDS and PACU of :

h) Code Cart / Defibrillator / Suction

i) Glucometer

j) Medication / Patient Refrigerators

k) Blanket Warmer

l) Eyewash Station

m) Omnicell Machine

n) Monthly Safety Checklist

o) Departmental Cleaning Checklists

18. Assists with orientation of new staff to SDS / PACU units.

19. Coordinates student assignments with OR Charge Nurse and / or Perioperative Educator.

20. Coordinates patient / family teaching.

21. Assists Director with input for staff evaluations.

22. Assists with Performance Improvement projects.

23. Performs yearly unit policy / competency and orientation review / revision.

24. Communicates with Perioperative Educator with any suggestions for educational / competency needs.

25. Participates in sub-committees and task forces giving suggestions for departmental improvements.

26. Ensures monthly departmental cleaning.

HEALTH CARING STANDARDS :

1. Greet customers, visitors, and Colleagues immediately with a smile, warm greeting, and introduction, calling them by name if possible.

2. Exceed the expected and anticipate the unexpected by asking, “Is there anything else I or a fellow Colleague can do for you?”

3. Always provide a comforting, timely, caring departure or discharge, and always say thanks for allowing us to serve.

4. Integrity, openness and fairness in all you do

5. Teamwork

6. Individual creativity

7. Innovation

8. Compassion and caring

9. Maintain department and hospital standards and policies

AGE APPROPRIATE CARE :

Colleague has been instructed in providing customer service and on interacting with age groups as related to the department’s general client population : including use of appropriate interventions, communication and skills to match the age and / or abilities of the patient / family.

MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT USED :

Must be knowledgeable in all instruments and machines used by nursing personnel.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE :

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing or college nursing program.
• Currently licensed by the Ohio State Board of Nursing.
• Successful completion of the Registered Nurse Orientation Program at Alliance Community Hospital.
• Same Day Surgery / PACU experience is preferred.
• Must be able to take call as assigned by the Director / Coordinator.
• Maintains current BLS and ACLS Certification. Must obtain PALS certification within 12 months of hire. Until PALS is obtained RN must be assigned with another PALS RN when on call for PACU.
• Joins or maintains membership in ONA and the Alliance Local Unit of ONA within 31 days of employment.
• Must be computer literate to complete tasks, as required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :

1. Able to stand / walk for up to 7.75, 9.75, and / or 11.75 hours per shift.

2. Able to bend to reach items on floor, bedside level, and stretch to reach overhead.

3. Able to reach over a bed far enough to give care and turn patients.

4. Able to push or pull patients or necessary equipment (i.e. wheelchair, EKG machine, code cart).

5. Able to stand on step stool or climb ladder, as necessary.

6. Able to turn, twist, squat, kneel, or crawl as necessary.

7. Able to wear personal protective equipment for an extended period of time, as necessary, (i.e., mask, goggles, PAPR (if indicated, etc.).

8. Able to lift 30 lbs. intermittently, unassisted.

9. Able to move and ambulate patients, using good body mechanics, unassisted.

10. Able to transport patients using patient cart or hospital bed with accompanying patient equipment.

11. Ability to see clearly and hear normal speaking voices.

12. Able to communicate verbally interpersonally, and over the telephone in a clear speech.

RESPONSIBLE TO :

Director of Surgical Services

This description is intended to describe the essential job duties and the essential requirements for the performance of this job.

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