Job Summary: Responsible for the delivery of safe, effective, and quality patient-family centered care in the post anesthesia care unit and other areas of perioperative services for all patient populations. The PACU nurse will provide care for post-operative patients recovering from general, regional, and local anesthesia. Responsible for observing and treating a post-operative patients, ensuring safe emergence from anesthesia. Documentation and patient education are key components of the PACU nursing role.

SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Support the mission, vision, and values of the organization. Assess patients postoperative status at intervals according to facility or health care organization policies and procedures to include the patients: cardiovascular system, respiratory system and airway management needs, neurological system, hemodynamic stability, pain and comfort needs, and mental status. Interpret information accurately from various noninvasive and invasive monitors. Describe the underlying pathophysiology of commonly encountered disease processes. Describe the physiology associated with various anesthesia techniques and surgical or procedural interventions. Apply the relevant scoring system/discharge criteria for patient transfer (eg, Aldrete Score, Modified Aldrete Score (ie, PARSAP), Post Anesthesia Discharge Scoring System (PADSS), White) score accurately as defined by organizational policy. Develop an individualized perianesthesia plan of care. Implement the plan of care including the following interventions: managing patient recovery from anesthesia general; managing patient recovery from anesthesia monitored anesthesia care; managing patient recovery from anesthesia regional; managing patient recovery from anesthesia local; protecting patient from injury caused by positioning, thermal sources, and extraneous objects;

communicating the patients current status throughout the perianesthesia continuum of care; providing acute pain and comfort management as needed; administering medications correctly by implementing the 7-rights of safe medication practices (ie, right patient, right medication, right dose, right time, right route, right indication, right documentation); performing interventions to maintain the integrity of the patients wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels; performing interventions to maintain the status of the patients genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems, and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels; performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period; performing interventions to protect patient from infection; managing patients other co-morbid conditions as applicable; managing patients fluid as prescribed; assessing knowledge level of patient or designated support person and providing education regarding the expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medication management, pain and comfort management, wound management, and expected responses to the operative or invasive procedure; involving patient or designated support person actively in decisions affecting his or her perioperative plan of care and the rehabilitation process; protecting patients rights, dignity, and privacy; providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; and providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting. Evaluate the patients progress toward attaining outcomes. Transfer care as needed. Delegate tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act (if applicable), state board of nursing or professional registration requirements, state laws, and job descriptions. Document nursing care completely, accurately, and legibly. Collaborate effectively with other disciplines as needed. Participate in quality review and performance improvement projects. Participate in the performance appraisal process. Use critical thinking, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members. Maintain required competencies. Pursue professional growth and participate in a professional organization. Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.