Registered Nurse - Postoperative Care

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Postoperative Registered Nurse to join our team at Minnesota Women's Care. In this vital role, you will provide high-quality nursing care to patients recovering from surgery, ensuring their safety, comfort, and well-being throughout the postoperative period. If you are committed to patient-centered care and have a strong background in surgical recovery, we invite you to apply and become part of our supportive healthcare environment. The hours for this position are Tuesdays and Fridays 8:00am - 5:00pm.  

Post-Anesthesia Patient Care Job Duties

• Receive patients from the operating room and obtain a complete handoff from the surgical and anesthesia team.
• Perform and document immediate post-operative assessments, including airway, breathing, circulation, neurological status, pain level, surgical site, and overall patient condition.
• Continuously monitor vital signs, oxygen saturation, level of consciousness, and recovery from anesthesia or sedation.
• Maintain a patent airway and administer supplemental oxygen as ordered or clinically indicated.
• Recognize changes in patient condition and initiate appropriate nursing interventions.
• Promptly communicate abnormal findings or concerns to the surgeon and/or anesthesia provider.
• Respond appropriately to post-operative complications and emergency situations.

Pain, Nausea & Medication Management

• Assess and manage post-operative pain according to provider orders and established protocols.
• Administer prescribed medications, including analgesics, antiemetics, and IV medications.
• Monitor patient response to medications and document effectiveness.
• Assess and manage post-operative nausea and vomiting.
• Monitor IV fluids and IV sites and discontinue IV access when appropriate.
• Monitor for adverse medication or anesthesia reactions.

Surgical Site & Recovery Assessment

• Assess surgical incisions, dressings, and procedural sites for bleeding, drainage, swelling, or other concerns.
• Monitor for signs of excessive bleeding or other post-operative complications.
• Perform dressing care as ordered.
• Monitor urinary output or ability to void when clinically indicated.
• Assist patients with positioning, ambulation, and other recovery needs.
• Implement fall-prevention and other appropriate patient safety measures throughout recovery.

Discharge Readiness

• Assess the patient's readiness for discharge according to established discharge criteria.
• Ensure the patient meets appropriate recovery and safety requirements prior to discharge.
• Notify the surgeon or anesthesia provider when discharge criteria are not met or concerns are identified.
• Verify the patient has a responsible adult available for transportation and post-operative support when required.
• Complete all required post-operative and discharge documentation.

Patient & Family Education

• Review post-operative instructions with the patient and responsible caregiver.
• Provide education regarding pain management, medications, incision or wound care, activity restrictions, diet, bathing, and other procedure-specific instructions.
• Review signs and symptoms that require contacting the provider or seeking emergency medical attention.
• Ensure patients understand follow-up appointment recommendations.
• Confirm patient and caregiver understanding of discharge instructions and provide an opportunity for questions.
• Identify concerns requiring provider review and communicate them promptly to the appropriate clinical team.

Patient Safety & Emergency Response

• Maintain current knowledge of post-anesthesia and post-operative emergency procedures.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to respiratory depression, airway compromise, excessive bleeding, allergic reactions, hypotension, hypertension, or other complications.
• Participate in emergency response and stabilization when necessary.
• Maintain competency with emergency equipment and medications.
• Follow infection prevention, medication safety, HIPAA, and organizational safety requirements.

Documentation & Communication

• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation of assessments, medications, interventions, patient responses, and discharge status.
• Provide clear handoff communication between the operating room, anesthesia team, recovery area, and other clinical staff.
• Communicate changes in patient condition promptly and appropriately.
• Document patient and caregiver education and understanding of discharge instructions.

Teamwork & Operational Responsibilities

• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, pre-op nurses, surgical technicians, medical assistants, and other members of the surgical team.
• Prepare and maintain the post-operative/recovery area for patient care.
• Ensure necessary medications, supplies, oxygen, monitoring equipment, and emergency equipment are available and functioning properly.
• Assist with stocking and maintaining the recovery area.
• Participate in quality improvement, infection prevention, staff education, and emergency preparedness activities.
• Assist in other clinical or surgical areas when patient care responsibilities are completed and operational needs require additional support.

Requirements 

• Current MN Registered Nurse license.
• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Strong clinical assessment and critical-thinking skills.
• Knowledge of post-operative nursing care, medication safety, and surgical patient preparation.
• Excellent communication, organization, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing priorities.

Preferred

• Previous pre-operative, perioperative, PACU, ambulatory surgery, or operating room nursing experience.
• Experience in an outpatient or in-office surgical setting.
• Experience in OB/GYN or women's health.
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Knowledge of anesthesia-related pre-operative requirements and surgical clearance processes.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to assist with patient transfers, positioning, and mobility as needed.
• Ability to bend, reach, push, and pull equipment and supplies.
• Ability to perform clinical tasks requires manual dexterity.
• Ability to lift or assist patients and equipment consistent with organizational safety requirements.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.