Description:
Job Purpose:
The PAT Nurse provides preoperative assessments and instructions to prepare patients for surgery.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Initiates preoperative assessment and care to pre-surgical patients using the nursing process
- Responsible and accountable for pre-procedural testing, documenting and communication patient history
- Provides preoperative instructions and education to patients prior to surgery
- Discusses and arranges post-operative follow up care for patients
- Reviews physician orders to ensure necessary tests and preoperative labs are complete
- Evaluates and screens patients for any possible complications
- Communicates with the surgeon, office nursing staff, triage, scheduling and OR staff as needed
- Works collaboratively with the other team members to assure the safe and accurate delivery of patient care
- Assesses the patient’s condition and addresses their needs before and during surgery
- Has regular and predictable attendance
- Adheres to ADSC policies and procedures
- Performs other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Prior PAT nurse experience
- Knowledge and experience in ASC, operating room or ASC nursing care
- Competence in assessing, treating and caring for patients based on age-specific needs
- Ability to set priorities and provide direction to others that promotes efficiency on the unit
- Ability to correlate clinical data with patient’s medical and nursing care
- Effective communication and positive interpersonal skills
- Ability to maintain patient confidentiality
- Ability to transcribe physicians orders accurately and read labels and instructions completely
Supervision: Reports directly to the Director of Nursing and Administrator
Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Graduate of an Accredited School of Nursing
- Current nursing licensure to practice in the State of Texas, successful completion of Basic Cardiac Life Support Course; ALCS required and PALS preferred
- Two years’ experience in perioperative nursing preferred
Bilingual preferred
Environmental Conditions: Medical Office environment, Ambulatory Surgery Center
Physical Conditions:
Must be able to work as scheduled. Good visual acuity and accurate color vision. Ability to lift/transfer patients in excess of 100 pounds, which may require pushing, pulling and essentially utilizing a full range of body movement. Ability to push a gurney with a 150-pound patient on it. Ability to stand, walk, stop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl. Ability to reach, grasp, use fine finger movement and feel fine sensation to discern temperature, texture, size and shape. Ability to lift 25-pound instrument trays. Ability to push heavy equipment on wheels within the OR suite. Ability to wear lead apron.
