RN - PACU

J  o  b    D  e  s  c  r  i  p  t  i  o  n

JOB INFORMATION

Effective Date:

7/1/2022

Entity:

Wisconsin

Job Code:

800009B

Job Title:

RN - PACU

Exemption Status:

Non-Exempt

Management Level:

Individual Contributor

JOB SUMMARY

The Registered Nurse – PACU is a professional nurse position involving the performance of direct and indirect care with patients whose condition requires an intensive degree of nursing skills. The RN – PACU is responsible for independent peri-anesthetic management of a complex, varied surgical and procedural population. The Registered Nurse provides comprehensive care for surgical patients who may also have underlying medical and emotional problems. With advanced decision making, he/she must make skilled and advanced assessments and act in a preventive measure in order to assimilate patient needs, establish priorities, and minimize complication.

The Registered Nurse cares for a varied caseload of surgical patients, making advanced assessments of the patient's physical and psychosocial needs. He/she systematically and continuously collects and assesses data in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to provide therapeutic care for the patient and/or family. The incumbent is skilled in assessment related to peri-anesthetic care which includes respiratory, pain management, and patient education. The Registered Nurse performs under the general supervision of a Nurse Manager.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

•

Establishes an in-depth database by assessing the behavioral and physical status of a variety of pre-surgical patient populations, utilizing interview, observation, and physical examination. Interprets overt and subtle data to determine physiologic or psychosocial risk.

•

Evaluates patient’s responses to care based on the effectiveness of nursing interventions in relation to established outcomes and consults with the medical staff, Care Team Lead, and/or Nursing Supervisor. Recommends changes to the plan of care based on observed variances.

•

Integrates nursing interventions into the multidisciplinary plan of care, incorporating appropriate standards of care and practice.

•

Identifies learning needs with patients and families and teaches by adapting standard information to provide individualized and comprehensive learning.

•

Incorporates discharge/home care planning into the multidisciplinary plan of care.

•

Develops a therapeutic relationship by establishing trust and enabling the patient and/or family to verbalize the requirements for care comfortably.

•

Applies UW Health policy on Advanced Directives.

•

Supports and enhances the patient’s responsibility and self-determination in decision making concerning health, treatment, and wellbeing.

•

Evaluates effectiveness of teaching interventions and the patient/family’s level of understanding.

•

Effectively utilizes technology to support practice and efficiencies in care delivery. Identifies opportunities and participates in evaluations designed to measure the impact of new products and technology on patient outcomes or enhancements to the care delivery process.

•

Plans interventions and evaluates patient response based on expected outcomes identified on the critical pathway or multidisciplinary plan of care.

•

Demonstrates awareness of the need to eliminate duplication of patient care services across the care continuum.

•

Assumes responsibility for the professional development of self, other nursing staff, and students.

•

Serves as a preceptor, working directly with new employees to ensure the accomplishment of the planned orientation.

•

Assists in the orientation, instruction, direction, and evaluation of students assigned to the unit/clinic.

•

Identifies recurring clinical practice issues and contributes to the development of corrective action plans.

•

Incorporates changes in practice to reflect new advances which ensure effectiveness of interventions.

ALL DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE PERFORMED CONSISTENT WITH THE UW HEALTH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

X

Clinical

(Select all that apply)

X

Infants (Birth - 11 months)

X

Toddlers (1 - 3 years)

X

Preschool (4 - 5 years)

X

School Age (6 - 12 years)

X

Adolescent (13 - 19 years)

X

Young Adult (20 - 40 years)

X

Middle Adult (41 - 65 years)

X

Older Adult (Over 65)

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's Degree

in Nursing (BSN)

Preferred

6 months

of current independent PACU, Emergency Department, Surgical Critical Care, Surgical ICU, or Surgical IMC experience

Required

or

6 months

of surgical general care experience with adult populations or six (6) months of recent inpatient pediatric experience if working within AFCH Pre/Post/PACU

Required

6 months

of current independent medical general care with previous PACU experience

Required

2 years

or more of current independent PACU, Emergency Department, Surgical Critical Care, Surgical ICU, or Surgical IMC experience

Preferred

Licensed as a Registered Nurse

Upon Hire

Required

Basic Life Support/CPR

Upon Hire

Required

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

within 6 months

Required

•

Knowledge regarding quality improvement and standards of care within practice area

•

Excellent communication skills. Ability to effectively delegate and supervise the work of other nursing team members.

•

Good customer relation skills

•

Ability to function as a team member

•

On-call required. Call response time of 60 minutes (60 minutes from time of phone call to dressed in scrubs and reporting to charge nurse)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

☐

Sedentary: Ability to lift up to 10 pounds maximum and occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles as dockets, ledgers and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one, which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Up to 10#

Negligible

Negligible

☐

Light: Ability to lift up to 20 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may only be negligible amount, a job is in this category when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree.

up to 20#

Up to 10# or requires significant walking or standing or requires pushing/pulling of arm/leg controls.

Negligible or constant push/pull of items of negligible weight

☒

Medium: Ability to lift up to 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

20-50#

10-25#

Negligible-10#

☐

Heavy: Ability to lift up to 100 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

50-100#

25-50#

10-20#

☐

Very Heavy: Ability to lift over 100 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying objects weighing over 50 pounds.

Over 100#

Over 50#

Over 20#

Other - list any other physical requirements or bona fide occupational qualifications not indicated above:

Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.