MA - Gardner, MA - Registered Nurse, Surgical Day Care

Essential Functions Assesses (and reassesses), plans, implements, and evaluates nursing interventions/plans of care/patient goals. Provides patient care based on standards of care, standards of practice, protocols, and established policies and procedures. Respects each patient as an individual; provides care that fosters the patient's sense of dignity and positive self-regard. Provides patient/family teaching based on identified learning needs, readiness to learn, and barriers to learning. Collaboratively plans and prepares patient/family for discharge incorporating support systems/resources as necessary. Appropriately delegates and supervises nursing interventions performed by others. Appropriately prioritizes patient care (e.g. seeks assistance as needed from appropriate resources, reassigns personnel as necessary, recognizes need for emergency intervention, etc.). Provides thorough, timely, and accurate documentation of all pertinent data, therapeutic interventions and patient responses according to established standards. Provides timely and thorough report on assigned patients to other health care team members to ensure integration of services and continuity of patient care. Promotes learning for colleagues and self (e.g. functions as preceptor, instructor, trainer, attends professional development programs, etc.). Proactively identifies risk to patient safety and identifies opportunities to reduce medical/health care errors (i.e. appropriate reporting of errors/incidents). Identifies ethical issues in care and develops plan to address. Safely administers medications and intravenous therapy in accordance with physician's orders, protocols, policies and procedures. Assesses patient pain level upon admission and as necessary, depending upon diagnosis utilizing the numerical pain scale. Reassesses effectiveness of pain control and notifies physicians as needed, as well as, documents assessment and patients' response to medication. Responsible for obtaining supporting information and completing required documentation related to medication reconciliation for use by the Attending MD. Performs pre-admission testing on Surgical Day Care patients. Performs nursing assessment and coordinates ancillary testing for patients undergoing day surgery including performing blood draws and EKG's. Reviews pre-operative orders and consults with the surgeon and/or anesthesiologist as necessary to assure appropriate tests are ordered per guidelines. Reviews test results, checks for abnormal results and communicates abnormalities to the surgeon, anesthesiologist and/or primary physician prior to surgery. Reviews preoperative chart for completeness verifying that all paperwork is present and complete preoperatively, such as consent form, H&P, and lab results. Provides emotional support to patients undergoing a change in body image and/or activity level due to surgery. Initiates and documents post-operative phone calls to SDC patients. Job Requirements Minimum Education Graduate of an accredited school of nursing Minimum Work Experience Minimum one year acute care nursing experience required. Prior SDC, PAT, Endoscopy or OR experience preferred. Minimum Licenses and Certifications Registered Nurses, Current MA License required Current

ACLS, PALS

required, and IV certifications preferred Required Skills Proficiency in peripheral IV insertion and nursing assessment required.