Duties - Consistently utilize comprehensive knowledge to identify patient care problems, formulate patient care plans and revise plans to change complex and unstable patients under routine and emergent conditions. - Perform independent nursing assessments, including physical examinations as required, utilize appropriate interview skills to accurately identify existing and potential problems, and formulate a nursing assessment. - Administer potent narcotics, set up patient controlled analgesic machines with proper settings as ordered, monitor epidural catheters and pain nerve block catheters and report progress to the anesthesiologist. - Teach patients and family members about disease processes, pre and post operative care, pre and post diagnostic procedures, equipment and treatment related to care, expected and possible adverse reactions to medication and health promotion. - Prepare reports documenting patient census, bed availability, manpower resources and staffing sheets.