Pre Anesthesia Nurse Clinician

Salary Range

$43.36 - $67.84

Summary

Pre Anesthesia Testing Nurse Clinician RNs coordinate and contribute to the pre anesthesia testing process to improve surgical and procedural outcomes through a defined optimization process. In partnership with Surgical Services, proceduralists, surgeons, and the Anesthesia team, and through appropriately timed assessments, they are an integral player in the optimization of surgical and procedural patients utilizing clinical judgment and clinical best practice protocols. They provide service excellence and quality patient care across multiple procedural/surgical settings utilizing a variety of nursing skills and functions. Maximize favorable clinical and financial outcomes by assuring patients are in optimal pre-procedural/pre-surgical condition; timely communication amongst the interdisciplinary care team; and accurate documentation of care. Works collaboratively with Pre Anesthesia Testing team to efficiently deliver care and education to patients identified as surgical and/or procedural candidates. Through continuous process improvement methods, in partnership with leadership and the interdisciplinary team, monitors and modifies nurse and physician practice patterns to continuously maximize patient outcomes, improve quality of care, and control use of resources. Their role also improves patient/family satisfaction and enhances surgical post-operative outcomes through cost/quality measures. May participate in the development of clinical pathways.

Position Reports To: Nurse Clinical Supervisor - RN

Essential Functions

• Provides leadership, daily direction and supervision to the health care team in the delivery of high-quality patient care.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, referring providers, and all members of the interdisciplinary care team.
• Coordinates patient flow and assists all members of the health care team to efficiently provide patient care according to best-practice protocols.
• Utilizing nursing assessment, clinical knowledge, and critical thinking skills, assesses the patient’s overall condition (including physical, emotional, and social concerns), implements appropriate nursing actions, and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to sufficiently optimize patient for surgical or interventional procedure and recovery.
• Coordinates appropriate referrals and appointments in order to complete necessary diagnostic or evaluation processes to ensure safe surgical experience for all patients.
• Triage and coordinate care for unplanned “urgent/emergent” surgical and interventional procedure patients requiring preoperative evaluation and optimization.
• Maintains open communication with surgeon, proceduralist, anesthesia team, and scheduling teams about patient progress through pre-admission testing and optimization process; clearly communicating issues that may delay planned surgery/procedure, or present risk to optimal surgical outcomes.
• Facilitates the delivery of patient and family education as it pertains to disease process, surgical objectives, and perioperative timelines.
• Serves as a resource and decision maker for staff regarding patient care problems and participates in the training of new staff members.
• Serves as a liaison with other service lines or health care agencies to promote coordinated health care across the pre and perioperative continuum.
• Ensures that all necessary pre anesthesia/preoperative documentation, checklists, and tracking tools are initiated, updated and completed prior to surgical or interventional procedure date.
• Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; supports departmental goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serves as a preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff.
• Collects, analyzes, and addresses variances from the plan of care/care path with appropriate care team members. Uses concurrent variance data to drive practice changes and positively impact outcomes.
• Required to maintain active Basic Life Support (CPR) certification.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Demonstrate Standards of Behavior and adhere to the Code of Conduct in all aspects of job performance at all times.

Qualifications

Required

• Associate's Degree in Nursing.
• Three to five years’ experience in the Perioperative nursing setting (Pre-op, Operating Room, Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 recovery).
• Prior experience with preoperative processes (Pre-Admission screening, Pre-op teaching, etc).
• Current RN licensure in the state of Washington (RCW 18.88) or licensure through Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact (SSB 5499).
• Basic Life Support (CPR) certification.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with frequent change.

Desired

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or related degree
• Epic experience.
• Perioperative Certification (CAPA, CPAN, AORN).

Physical/Sensory Demands

O = Occasional, represents 1 to 25% or up to 30 minutes in a 2 hour workday.

F = Frequent, represents 26 to 50% or up to 1 hour of a 2 hour workday.

C = Continuous, represents 51% to 100% or up to 2 hours of a 2 hour workday.

Physical/Sensory Demands For This Position

• Walking - F
• Sitting/Standing - F
• Reaching: Shoulder Height - F
• Reaching: Above shoulder height - O
• Reaching: Below shoulder height - F
• Climbing - O
• Pulling/Pushing: 25 pounds or less - F
• Pulling/Pushing: 25 pounds to 50 pounds - F
• Pulling/Pushing: Over 50 pounds - F
• Lifting: 25 pounds or less - F
• Lifting: 25 pounds to 50 pounds - O
• Lifting: Over 50 pounds - O
• Carrying: 25 pounds or less - O
• Carrying: 25 pounds to 50 pounds - O
• Carrying: Over 50 pounds - O
• Crawling/Kneeling - O
• Bending/Stooping/Crouching - F
• Twisting/Turning - F
• Repetitive Movement - F

Working Conditions

• Work is performed at a workstation desk and in patient exam and treatment rooms where space may be limited and confined. Workstations are located in a shared workspace in which ambient volume levels can be variable. Requires a combination of working independently and also collaboratively with other members of the interdisciplinary team. Hours may be variable in order to meet patient care needs; overtime will be rare but may be required. Requires the ability to work under stressful conditions. General supervision is provided by the Clinical Supervisor in tandem with the Department Manager, with additional instructions, guidance, and directions provided by the physicians or providers with whom the RN is working.

Job Classification

• FLSA: Non-Exempt
• Hourly/Salary: Hourly

Physical Exposures For This Position

• Unprotected Heights - No
• Heat - No
• Cold - No
• Mechanical Hazards - No
• Hazardous Substances - No
• Blood Borne Pathogens Exposure Potential - Yes
• Lighting - Yes
• Noise - Yes
• Ionizing/Non-Ionizing Radiation - No
• Infectious Diseases - Yes