RN - Pre/Post Surgery

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

JOB INFORMATION

Effective Date:

3/1/2023

Entity:

Wisconsin

Job Code:

800010B

Job Title:

RN - Pre/Post Surgery

Exemption Status:

Non-Exempt

Management Level:

Individual Contributor

JOB SUMMARY

The RN – Pre/Post Surgery provides skilled nursing care in various stages of the patient's perioperative experience through continual assessment, planning, and evaluation of changing patient care needs. The RN – Pre/Post Surgery systematically and continuously collects and assesses data in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to provide therapeutic care to the patient and/or family. They perform all required elements of a nursing assessment, including but not limited to physical examination, assessment of readiness to learn, psychosocial assessment, functional assessment, and utilization of patient/family specific assessment scales as required. The RN – Pre/Post Surgery establishes goals and strategies for meeting the discharge or continuing care needs of the patient, family, and/or other care provider(s). 

The RN – Pre/Post Surgery provides comprehensive care for surgical patients who may also have underlying medical and emotional difficulties. The RN – Pre/Post Surgery cares for a varied caseload of surgical patients, making advanced assessments of the patient's physical and psychosocial needs. The RN makes skilled and advanced assessments and acts in a preventive measure to assimilate patient needs, establish priorities, and minimize complication.

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 Leader, 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.

•

Initiates action to reduce or correct risk in response to data indicating urgent and/or emergent risk to the patient/family.

•

Alerts Anesthesia of lab results, physical assessment, or special needs noted at the time of admission, as applicable.

•

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

•

Demonstrates competency in delivery of conscious sedation as applicable to setting. Monitors and documents physiological status of patient during procedures.

•

May administer moderate sedation in the GI and Bronchoscopy setting.

•

May administer IV sedation in the endoscopy setting.

•

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

•

Documents the nursing process to reflect a comprehensive and integrated approach to patient/family care.

•

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.

•

Demonstrates knowledge of research findings related to clinical specialty.

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

X

Clinical

(Select all that apply)

Infants (Birth - 11 months)

Toddlers (1 - 3 years)

Preschool (4 - 5 years)

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

Associate's Degree

in Nursing (ADN)

Required

Bachelor's Degree

in Nursing (BSN)

Preferred

6 months

of RN experience

Required

Experience working pre/post operatively with varied surgical patient populations

Preferred

Emergency nursing, critical care, medical/surgical, or ambulatory surgery center experience

Preferred

Moderate sedation and cardiac monitoring experience

Preferred

1 year

or more of RN experience

Preferred

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state(s) where patients are receiving care or may work as eligible per state licensing regulations

Upon Hire

Required

Basic Life Support/CPR

Upon Hire

Required

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Upon Hire

Required

•

Ability to teach patients and families

•

Excellent communication skills

•

Ability to effectively delegate and supervise the work of other care team members

•

Working knowledge of nursing theory, practice, and legal elements of nursing

•

Critical thinking/problem solving skills

•

Ability to work in a self-directed environment

•

Demonstrate ability to immediately recognize and institute treatment for the following emergency/life threatening situations: cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, hemorrhage, vagal response, syncope, shock, toxic overdose of local anesthesia, hypertension, hypotension, and malignant hyperthermia

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.