Registered Nurse Operating Room

Summary

The Perioperative Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from the nursing care for the patient undergoing a surgical/invasive procedure. The OR RN plans, directs, and coordinates the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures, taking into consideration respect for the individual and recognition of the important contribution that each team member makes to the patient's well-being.

Duties

The Operating Room Perioperative Registered Nurse assumes the following roles and responsibilities: 1. Functions in the role of circulator, scrub, pre-op holding, OR/SPS liaison, and charge nurse. Effectively plans/coordinates patient treatment, flow, and throughput with daily staffing resources; makes assignments and directs staff activities based on patient needs, acuity, staff competency and skill-mix. 2. Provides 1:1 patient care and competently manages patients with complex diagnosis requiring surgical intervention. 3. Manages critically ill patients where anesthesia or moderate sedation is needed or used. 4. Supervises allied health care providers and support personnel with appropriate authority. 5. Reviews the qualifications and competence of privileged providers/staff who provide patient care services. 6. Applies the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation) to all aspects of patient care. 7. Performs duties of Service Leader/Alternate Service Leader as assigned with a comprehensive understanding of the assigned specialty. 8. Participates in the orientation of new personnel, assists staff in development of scrubbing and circulating skills to provide an optimal care environment for the patient. 9. Participates in training for self and others for professional development activities aligned with VA mission, goals, and objectives. 10.Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations, adjusts to the uneven workflow and changing priorities of the surgical suite. 11.Safely and effectively participates in the resuscitation of a patient during a code blue or rapid response situation, including the use of the biphasic defibrillator, when needed. 12. Handles multiple projects and duties simultaneously, prioritizing as needed. Identifies potential and actual problems involving resources and/or safety. 13.Inventories and reviews the surgical case cart contents with the selected surgeon's preference card, prior to the surgical huddle and/or surgical block huddle. 14.Participates in the Pre-Op Briefing "Huddle." 15.Communicates and anticipates the needs of the surgical team members (surgeons, anesthesia, residents, surgical technologists, health techs, anesthesia techs, etc.). 16.Communicates with Escort service and the Blood Bank for delivery, storage and return of blood and blood products. 17.Assures emergency equipment and supplies are always available. 18. Ensures detailed turnover with relief personnel for breaks, lunch relief and end of shift relief. 19. Conducts a post-operative debriefing with the attending surgeon at the end of the procedure. 20.Demonstrates competency with urinary catheter insertion and maintenance during procedures. 21. Demonstrates effective interpersonal communication skills and professional behaviors that promote cooperation and teamwork with internal and external customers. 22. Demonstrates leadership in safe work practices. 23. Monitors economic use of supplies and equipment. 24. Checks the autonomic dysreflexia kit, crash cart, defibrillators, and temperature and humidity of rooms where reusable medical equipment is stored as assigned. 25. Participates in shared governance, team meetings, and process improvement activities, monitors results, and advocates for self and staff compliance to regulatory requirements. 26. Uses knowledge and demonstrates leadership in using resources (services, equipment, and supplies) in collaboration with other departments and Nurse Managers to improve quality of patient care. 27. Actively participates in at least one unit based, nursing, or hospital-wide committee. 28. Demonstrates ability to utilize computer systems in the performance of daily duties. 29. Submits timely (within 24 hours) JPSR's in an SBAR format and notifies supervisor and provides details of JPSR. 30. Provides constructive and timely input on performance appraisals. 31. Achieves or maintains certification in perioperative nursing. 32. Performs other duties as assigned. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, PM Shift, 0830-1900, 1030-1900, call required Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The followin