Job Description
POSITION DUTIES: Collaborates with surgeons in one or more surgical services to assess, coordinate, plan, and implement the newest approaches and practices to deliver efficient, cost effective surgical care for the beneficiary population. Coordinates with physicians and other staff, preoperatively, to develop a multi-disciplinary, intra-operative plan of care. Reviews surgeons preference cards for desired medications, equipment, and surgical supplies. Sets up, uses, reprocesses, and maintains all unit/department-specific equipment. Monitors and utilizes simple and highly technical equipment, such as lasers, electrosurgical generators, sterilization equipment, video towers, operative microscopes, endoscopes, multiple complex surgical instruments and drills, implants, positioning devices, insufflators, and robotic equipment. Ensures equipment is working properly, preoperatively, and throughout surgical procedures. Conducts initial perioperative assessment, acquiring pertinent information, such as allergies, NPO status, and consent. Utilizes the perioperative nursing process to identify patient problems and generate a nursing diagnosis. Designs a plan of care; writes and implements nursing orders to achieve established goals; and evaluates nursing interventions, relative to desired outcomes, based upon patient's response to care. Documents patient's status, on a continual basis, and revises plan of care, as needed. Maintains medical record, keeping a log of implants, devices, instructions, and product information. Provides for psychological needs of patient. Opens all sterile packs and supplies, according to aseptic technique. Responds to the needs of the surgeon, anesthesia provider, and patient during each surgical procedure. Assists physician with examination, as well as, treatment prior to, during, and following invasive procedures. Assists with patient positioning for surgical procedures. Assures patient is free from skin injury and burns. Assists the anesthesia team with induction and extubation. Communicates progress and/or changes to the patient, family, and members of the health care team, throughout surgical procedures. Responsible for accuracy of all items counted (e.g., sponges, needles, instruments). Provides oversight of sedated patients prior, during, and post-procedures. Initiates emergency measures, as appropriate. Promptly reports abnormal assessments, or changes in patients status, to the anesthesiologist and surgeon. Administers topical, intravenous, and intraoperative medications. Schedules and manages post-procedure cases, as required. Incumbent may perform all, or one or more functions, involving preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative duties, as directed. Provides direction and training to military and civilian personnel, para-professionals, medical students, residents, and other healthcare professionals. Orients and welcomes new surgeons. Serves as role model and teacher for personnel. Acts as patient education facilitator, providing individual and family teaching/counseling. Delegates duties and tasks to others, following assessment of patient needs and capabilities, and determines the scope of responsibilities, with awareness of staff members performance standards. As required, functions as charge nurse of a particular shift, assuming the responsibility for promoting quality, cost-effective nursing care, within the framework of the medical treatment facility (MTF) philosophy and mission objectives. Within that function, incumbent is delegated authority and responsibility to implement, coordinate, and direct nursing care for assigned shift. Identifies, distributes, and balances workload and tasks among personnel, based on their competency level and experience; makes adjustments to assignments to ensure timely accomplishment of tasks and procedures. Monitors and reports on status and progress of work; reviews completed work to ensure supervisor's instructions on work priorities, methods, quality, and deadlines have been met. Resolves members, and refers unusual issues to supervisor or appropriate management person. Upon direction, serves as head nurse, charge nurse, or service coordinator. Orders and replenishes necessary equipment, instruments, and supplies used in one or more highly specialized surgical services. Maintains stock levels of instruments, supplies, implants, and equipment to ensure its availability during operating procedures. Responsible for technical, operational, and maintenance aspects of state-of-the-art equipment in the Operating Room and Surgical Procedure Room. Coordinates care, handling, assembly and sterilization of instruments. Arranges with vendors for equipment demonstrations, no-cost evaluations, and training programs on new equipment.