As a Circulating Nurse in LCMH's 15 bed Operating Room, you will be assisting surgeons with a wide variety of surgical cases. From intricate cardiovascular surgeries to delicate orthopedic procedures, you'll play a vital role in ensuring each operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Whether it's neurosurgery, urology, or ENT procedures, your expertise will be crucial in coordinating with the surgical team, managing equipment, and maintaining a sterile environment. You will encounter diverse cases that will continually challenge and enrich your skills as a Circulating Nurse.

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

• The Registered Nurse (RN) manages the overall nursing care in the operating room to help maintain a safe and comfortable environment (referred to as a circulating nurse). The Registered Nurse (RN) works with his/her team partner(s), using the nursing process to assess, plan, implement and evaluate direct patient care. The Registered Nurse (RN) works with his/her team partner(s) to provide quality patient care. As a member of the Patient Care Team, the RN provides hands-on care to patients. Is responsible for making sound clinical decisions and to provide a comprehensive delivery of care to each individual patient; provide a wide variety of patient care activities and services. The RN works with patients prior to surgery to complete paperwork, and help answer questions or calm fears about surgery

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Possesses competency in use of technology and computers.
• Has knowledge of and utilizes unit specific equipment appropriately.

• Organizes patient care and general unit activities to accomplish required functions with delegation of these activities to other staff as appropriate.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team in planning and organizing patient care from admit to discharge.
• Consistently participates in the multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

• Follows evidence-based policies and procedures to guide nursing practice.
• Demonstrates the following best practices in a consistent and positive manner: Huddles, hourly rounding, bedside reporting, Service Excellence principles, and use of white boards.
• Understands and appropriately responds to the unique combination of cultural variables that professionals and patients/individuals bring to interactions.
• Evaluates ethical challenges and their potential impact on the patient’s quality of care and the nurse’s professional role.

• Uses the nursing process to effectively assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the plan of care.
• Performs initial assessments and reassessments and documents appropriately.
• Interprets and implements physician orders.
• Educates patients and families on best practices for recovery, including pain management and keeping wounds clean, and documents appropriately.
• Documents accurately according to department policy.

• Is knowledgeable of and actively participates in implementation of Unit PI plan, and makes suggestions/recommendations for improved operations.
• Makes suggestions/recommendations for improved operations.
• Has knowledge of and utilizes unit specific equipment appropriately
• Helps clean surgical equipment and operating rooms to maintain a sterile environment
• Incorporates healthy workforce in daily practice.
• Call is required for this position.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Graduate of School of Nursing.
• Current Louisiana Registered Nurse license or compact state license as Registered Nurse.
• BLS-CPR Certified.
• Ability to read, write and speak intelligible English; Ability to learn quickly, analyze problems and communicate effectively with superiors, peers, and others on one-to-one basis.
• Requires emotional stability and resilience; Must be adaptable to change, be decisive, and demonstrate foresight.
• Must be adaptable to change and receptive to delegated responsibilities; Possesses basic problem solving skills.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Work requires a variety of physical activities including standing and walking for sustained periods, bending and stooping, and some lifting of 50-100 pounds at a time.
• The work environment may be physically confining.
• Many nursing skills require acute hearing ability, i.e. listening with stethoscope to breath sounds and heart sounds.
• Must be able to exchange accurate information with patient, family, peers and medical personnel.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.