Job Summary
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 6:45 am-7 pm
A circulating nurse, or circulator, is a registered nurse whose function is to monitor the procedures in operating rooms during surgery. During operations and other surgical procedures, the circulator assists by acting as an intermediary between the operating room staff and the rest of the hospital and adheres to AORN and CIHQ guidelines as well as policies and procedures set forth by the hospital.
Essential Functions:
-
Assesses patient status on admission to the preop area, the operating room and/or the post-op area, and on a continuing basis.
-
Provides safe, therapeutic quality care to patients by utilizing the nursing process and nursing diagnosis in a timely manner and by setting appropriate priorities.
-
Coordinates nursing interventions to enhance achievement of expected outcomes and to ensure readiness for discharge. Documents interventions and patient’s responses.
-
Ensures provision of patient care in an organized and timely manner. Utilizes nursing care standards when planning and implementing patient care.
-
Communicates appropriate information regarding patient conditions to those who require the information including, surgeons, anesthesia, management and other staff.
-
Safely carries out physician’s orders correctly and promptly, documenting all activities.
-
Initiates and participates in patient and family education. Assesses learning needs according to patient’s level of understanding and readiness to learn.
-
Participates in sponge/instrument counting protocols for the Retained Surgical Item program.
-
Cleans and returns equipment to its original place for infection control purposes. Maintains infection control protocol in OR at all times.
-
Handles and labels specimens accurately for the safety of the patient and hospital team.
-
Displays an understanding of each patient’s cognitive, physical, emotional and chronological maturity in assessments, treatment, and care.
-
Protect sedated and anesthetized patients by identifying safety hazards such as electrical, equipment, pressure points and by minimizing exposure to maintain privacy and body temperature.
-
Expertise in safety principles, asepsis, sterile technique and universal precautions. Assesses, anticipates and implements appropriate care through out the surgical process.
-
Demonstrate responsibility & accountability for professional practice and for continued professional growth and development through printed material or other sources and by attending in-services
-
Demonstrates the ability to direct and provide for patient care in emergency situations.
-
Demonstrates use of correct surgical attire. Dresses appropriately for working in the OR environment.
Education
-
Graduate of an accredited nursing school program.
Licensure/Certifications
-
Current Professional Nurse License issued and/or recognized by Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas.
-
BLS from AHA.
-
ACLS from AHA