ASC Registered Nurse

Position Summary

The ASC Registered Nurse is available for any and all clinical nursing coverage as needed, and assists each assigned facility in maintaining compliance with regulations that require a registered nurse to be on site whenever procedures are performed in the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC).

Duties and Responsibilities

• Evaluates patient pain appropriately upon admission, and throughout entirety of patient appointment.
• Demonstrates effective assessment skills, including prioritization and delegation of patient care activities.
• Calculates and conveys pertinent information, specifically significant patient problems, to the applicable team; including Medical Directors, Administrators and the Executive Committee.
• Collaborates successfully and consistently with other members of the health care team regarding each patient’s condition during the perioperative period.
• Ensures proper application and continuity of each patient plan of care.
• Serves as patient advocate throughout all stages of patient episode of care.
• Identifies emergency situations and institutes corrective actions in a calm and efficient manner.
• Demonstrates knowledge necessary to assist the physician during each procedure; while ensuring that all procedural instruments, equipment, and supplies are available.
• Demonstrates awareness of appropriate medication use, and follows all policies concerning medication administration.
• Participates in management and documentation of all controlled substances.
• Assesses and maintains clinical equipment needs by considering use/age/service record; including making decisions for proper equipment replacement under the direction and advisement of the Facility Medical Director.
• Develops appropriate clinical procedures that ensure patient safety and comfort; including admission and discharge processed that meet all pre-admission criteria.
• Plans, evaluates, recommends, and implements new initiatives and clinical workflows when appropriate.
• Maintains and applies comprehensive and current knowledge of nursing theory, practice, and perioperative periods; including processes for assessment, monitoring, discharge, and teaching.
• Possesses a thorough, working knowledge of infection control in the outpatient surgical facility, including certification from a training program such as APIC or PROCEO.com in the area of Infection Control for the Outpatient Surgery Center.
• Uses infection control training to reduce incidence of nosocomial infection by focusing on improving and maintaining infection control measures and environment safety practices.
• Maintains constant compliance with all standards set by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses.
• Assures compliance with all clinical company policies and procedures, and governmental regulations pertaining to: controlled substances, including sample medications; Site’s Infection Control Professional, as required by DHMH and CMS; QA committee; HIPAA patient confidentiality; BLS, ACLS, safety and risk management; quality improvement and quality assurance; emergency codes; HazMat/Medical Waste/MSDS; safe operation of medical equipment; professional licensure; DHMH, CMS, AAAASF; and all other voluntary and regulatory requirements.
• Participates in the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program when stationed in the ASC.
• Participates in annual accreditation readiness training and assists Center Manager in clinical aspects of accreditation training.
• Maintains a "Continuing Education Record" for annual submission; which includes four (4) continuing education in-services per year, and high level of attendance of nursing and general staff meetings per year.
• Adhere to and uphold all applicable federal and state compliance regulations, the NSPC Code of Conduct, the NSPC Employee Handbook, compliance policies and procedures, and applicable healthcare fraud, waste and abuse laws.
• Understand, comply with, and enforce all NSPC policies, procedures, codes of conduct, and OSHA and HIPAA privacy rules.
• Ensure adherence to all compliance standards among all NSPC colleagues and staff, including those managed or overseen.
• The Code of Conduct
• Annual completion of compliance training
• Adherence to the overall compliance program
• Reporting issues
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum two (2) year Associate’s Degree from an accredited School of Nursing.
• Minimum of two (2) years of nursing experience, preferably in an ASC environment.
• A valid state Registered Nurse license.
• PACU experience required; Pain management experience preferred.
• Current proof of Hepatitis B vaccination series immunity or signed waiver must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Current proof of negative PPD test or clear chest X-ray must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Current BLS and ACLS certifications must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Superior proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook).
• Knowledge of Centricity and Modernizing Medicine, or similar EMR/EMA software products.
• Capability to learn new software technologies for electronic patient registration, records, dictation, transcriptions, etc.
• Excellent verbal and written skills with demonstrated aptitude for reading, writing legibly, and comprehending simple instructions/short correspondence/memos.
• Ability to communicate consistently and effectively with other members of the health care team; including clinical staff, providers, referring providers, staff of referring physician’s offices, hospital staff, medical directors, administrators, and the executive committee.
• Ability to present information clearly in one-on-one and small group situations to patients, providers and other employees of the organization.
• Dedication to demonstrating and maintaining the highest level of quality customer service and patient care at all times.
• Capacity to work calmly with sick, demanding, and difficult patients.
• Capability to act as a patient advocate; ensuring both a setting that protects patients’ rights and an atmosphere that does not compromise the patient's physical/mental well-being, safety, or dignity.
• Ability to perform all duties in an independent manner with minimal direction and supervision.
• Capability to be organized and work successfully in a fast-paced environment, while also demonstrating resourcefulness and proactivity.
• Aptitude to recognize and perform duties which need to be completed, although not directly assigned.
• Ability to demonstrate good judgment and reasoning when investigating and solving problems.
• Dedication to maintaining confidentiality of all privileged/private information.
• Ability to operate clinical and patient monitoring equipment.
• Ability to operate general office equipment, including desktop computer; calculator or adding machine; copy machine; scanner; printer; credit card machine; and check scanner.

Working Conditions

• Located in an ethical, fast-paced, clinical office environment with a noise level that is generally moderate.
• Periodic use of standard office equipment (including computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, fax machines, etc.).
• Regular use of clinical equipment (including autoclaves, c-arms, crash carts, intravenous therapy materials, etc.).
• Close and regular interactions with patients occur, which may result in exposure to blood borne pathogens and/or other diseases/infections. Appropriate infection control policies and procedures are practiced and enforced at all times to minimize any risks.
• Flexibility to travel company-wide is necessary.

Physical Requirements

• Extensive and regular periods of sitting, standing, bending, walking, seeing, talking, and listening.
• A full range of body motion including complete manual and finger dexterity, as well as effective hand-eye coordination.
• Adequate visual acuity including ability to read information.
• A regular requirement to reach with hands/arms, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• A regular requirement to push, pull, lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• The ability to operate a motor vehicle with a valid driver’s license, as needed.