STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Coordinates and performs perioperative nursing activities in the assigned operating room and endoscopy in a circulating, and/or surgical assistant capacity during the preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative phases of the patient’s surgical experience.

Full-time, benefited position working 80 hours per pay period. Days of work are Monday - Friday from 6:30am - 3:00pm with call 1 night a week and every 5th weekend. Holiday work is 5th holidays per year. 

JOB FUNCTIONS

Circulating

• Maintains the standards of nursing care and implements the policies and procedures of the hospital and nursing department.
• Assesses the health status of the patient of all ages throughout the perioperative period.
• Establishes patient goals based on nursing diagnosis.
• Implements nursing actions in transferring the patient according to the prescribed plan.
• Creates and maintains a sterile field.
• Prepares and gathers equipment and supplies based on patient needs.
• Performs sponge, sharps and instrument counts with the scrub technician.
• Administers drugs and solutions as prescribed by the physician.
• Physiologically monitors the patient during surgery.
• Monitors and controls the environment.
• Respects patient's rights.
• Performs nursing actions that demonstrate accountability.
• Evaluates patient outcomes.
• Measures effectiveness of nursing care.
• Continuously reassesses all components of patient care based on new data.
• Participates in orientation of new personnel and performance evaluation of nursing staff.
• Participates in staff development programs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.
• Restock carts and supplies, put away clean instruments/trays, and do PAR level orders. 
• Pull supplies for scheduled procedures for the next day.

Surgical Assistant

• Assists the surgeon during operations and surgical procedures and performs a variety of crucial tasks during the operation.
• Maintains an unobstructed operating field with surgical retractors, sponges, and suctioning and irrigating equipment.
• Prepares tables, instruments, supplies, and implants as required for specific operations. Has knowledge of surgeon’s preference and step-by-step procedure.
• Assists in preparation and draping of the patient and operative area.
• Prepares and passes instruments, sutures, sponges and supplies needed in the operative procedure and maintains a correct count.
• Prepares and maintains the sterile field for the surgical procedure.
• Assists with table equipment, positioning patients, application of casts and dressings.

Float RN

• Pull supplies for scheduled procedures for the next day.
• Relieve staff for breaks and lunches when able.
• Restock carts and supplies, put away clean instruments/trays, and do PAR level      orders.
• Assists in transferring patients to and from the OR suite.
• Assists other members of the team with terminal cleanup of room in readiness for      the next patient.
• Cleans and stocks assigned rooms
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION: 

1. PREPARATION AND TRAINING - Work requires a professional level of knowledge acquired by completing an accredited RN nursing education program. Must hold RN licensure from the ND State   Board of Nursing for the current year. Position requires completion of BLS   CPR. Position is required to attend Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training in the appropriate timeframe according to department orientation checklist.
2. WORK EXPERIENCE - Prefer minimum of nine months recent perioperative experience or complete approved college perioperative   program. Nurses who do not meet this minimum requirement must successfully complete a surgical competency-based orientation program.
3. ATTENDANCE - Punctual and regular attendance is an essential responsibility of each employee at JRMC. Employee are expected   to report to work as scheduled, on time and prepared to start working. Employees are also expected to remain at work for their entire work schedule.
4. ANALYTICAL ABILITY - A high level of analytical ability is required in a variety of duties in order to gather and interpret complex data and to find solutions to difficult problems.
5. INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT - Independent nursing judgment is often required by the professional RN based on established policies and procedures. Substandard   performance in nursing skills or judgment may adversely affect patient care, patient welfare and hospital goodwill.
6. CONTACT WITH OTHERS - Frequent contact with others. Must demonstrate social sensitivity and the ability to communicate effectively in a professional manner.
7. SUPERVISING THE WORK OF OTHERS - Responsible for own work. Relates closest to coworkers but is responsible for the supervision of surgical technicians. 
8. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WELFARE OF OTHERS - High frequency with which work performed by the staff RN may result in very serious physical or emotional harm to others. It is the responsibility of the professional RN to continuously uphold the highest degree of performance within currently defined and acceptable nursing practice standards.
9. MENTAL/VISUAL EFFORT - Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner. Must demonstrate physical and emotional ability to meet agreed upon work schedule and performance standards required by the position. Required duties are such that concentrated attention must be applied on demand consistent with   manual skill requirements in situations that may at times be stressful. Visual   acuity necessary for reading charts and working with medical devices or instruments; color perception necessary for interpreting testing procedures involving color comparisons and supplies. 
10. WORKING CONDITIONS - OSHA job classification: This position is defined as a Category I in which the employee does have exposure to blood borne pathogens. Position requires exposure to patients with   infectious disease and odor. Must   practice aseptic techniques and observe Standard Precautions. Participates in and complies with JRMC   Safety Management program. Position is   subject to frequent interruptions. Work may be beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, and   in other positions temporarily, when necessary. Position is subject to   on-call for the O.R after regular working hours.
11. BACKGROUND CHECK - A comprehensive background check will be conducted as a condition of employment for this role.
12. PHYSICAL AND SENSORY EFFORT - Frequent standing or walking. Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfers patients and/or equipment. Frequent reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching. Needs finger dexterity when handling medication, specialized equipment/instruments and   performing nursing assessments. Requires standing for extended periods of time without relief if acting in scrub nurse capacity. 
13. PROMOTION - No formal line of promotion.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

EMPLOYEE REQUIREMENTS -

Visual Observation - Continuously

Standing - Continuously

Walking - Continuously

Sitting - Continuously

Hands and Finger Dexterity - Continuously

Reaching with Hands and Arms - Continuously

Climbing - Occasionally

Stooping/Kneeling/Crouching/Crawling - Frequently

Hearing/Listening - Continuously

Tasting or Smelling - Occasionally

Working Inside - Continuously

Working Outside - Never

Working in Extreme Heat - Never

Working in Extreme Cold - Never

Working with Hazardous Materials - Frequently

Noise - Continuously

Working in Dirt/Dust - Rarely

Driving - Rarely

Lifting / Carrying / Pushing / Pulling:

Up to 10 pounds - Frequently

Up to 25 pounds - Frequently

Up to 50 pounds - Occasionally

Up to 75 pounds - Occasionally

Up to 100 pounds - Occasionally

Over 100 pounds - Occasionally