Recovery Area Nurse (Registered Nurse)

Recovery Area Nurse (Registered Nurse)

Territories: Vancouver and Victoria

Your mission as a Recovery Area Nurse

Recovery area Nurses are Registered Nurses (RNs) who assist in surgical procedures by managing patient’s pre-operative and post-operative care.

Reporting to the Medical Director and working closely with the surgeons and supporting staff, the recovery area nurse provides quality service and care to patients undergoing surgery. As a multidisciplinary team member, the nurse participates in and provides, through application of knowledge, in the areas of anatomy, physiology, disease, pathology, and patient management, as directed by the surgeon.

The nurse also:

• Practices in accordance with the standards of professional practice and code of ethics as outlined by the College of Registered Nurses’ of British Columbia (CRNBC)
• Practices within a patient centered care model and the vision and values of the organization.
• Provides nursing services in a recovery area environment as a member of an integrated surgical team performing intraocular refractive surgeries.
• Enhances quality of life from the perspective of the patient.
• Consults, confers, and collaborates with other members of the surgical team.
• Maintains and advances own clinical competence.
• Participates on designated teams and projects as assigned
• Contributes to maintaining a safe environment and practices, and implements policies, procedures and regulations;
• Demonstrates continuous improvement and best practice approach in nursing practice and patient care.

Responsibilities:

Ongoing:

• Uphold outstanding care and customer service, using emotional intelligence and active listening
• Assist the Coordinator in planning, organizing and scheduling surgery days
• Assist with medical supply inventory
• Ensure the integrity of data in patient files
• Ensures that traffic areas are safe
• Checks the safety of the environment (equipment, furniture, etc.), and reports any defective equipment or hazardous situations.
• Collaborates and participates in standards of asepsis and infection prevention & control
• Declares any incident or accident, contributes to the analysis of the event, and participates in the identification and implementation of solutions to prevent recurrence of such as event;
• Provides the necessary support to the victim of an accident and his family if necessary;
• Knows and applies the emergency plan.
• Any other tasks as per required by the Medical Director or management team.

Before the surgery:

• Manage patients’ admission processes
• Assess the status of patients’ health in pre-op and ensure accuracy of identification
• Ensure that operative and informed consents are in order
• Determine the surgeon and procedure being carried out
• Take and record vital statistics of patients to ensure readiness for surgical procedure

After the surgery

• Assess patients’ condition after a surgery has been performed
• Ensure that all vitals are within normal range
• Log all findings in patients’ files
• Answer patients’ questions and ensure that they are kept comfortable
• Develop individualized care plans based on each individual patient’s condition
• Ensure that the all nursing activities are carried out in accordance to individual patient care plan
• Monitor patients for condition changes and report any changes to the doctor
• Initiate patient education programs to ensure that both patients and families are educated on procedures and medications
• Determine when patients are ready to go home
• Perform intervention duties in cases of post-operative emergencies
• Ensure that the post-operative space is clean and sanitized
• Get ready for the next case

Education & Experience:

• Current practicing registration with the College of Registered Nurses’ of British Columbia (CRNBC) or the College of Licensed Practical Nurses’ of British Columbia (CLPNBC)
• Completion of a recognized advanced nursing specialty program in operating room nursing (Perioperative certification)
• BLS certification
• Relevant education and previous experience with cataract patients

Knowledge:

• Broad knowledge of nursing theory and practice within a patient centered model of care.
• Broad knowledge of CRNBC's standards for nursing practice.
• Comprehensive knowledge of cataract perioperative nursing techniques, standards, instrumentation, supply and equipment requirements for a wide variety of surgical procedures.
• Broad knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
• Broad knowledge of pharmacology, and patient physiological responses related to medications and anesthesia
• Comprehensive knowledge of and demonstrated ability in applying aseptic technique.
• Must be proficient in the use of the automated external defibrillator (AED) should the situation require it.

Abilities:

• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Ability to adapt to change
• Demonstrated ability to practice nursing in an operating room environment.
• Demonstrated skill in the assembly and operation of operating room equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as an integral member of an operating room team.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally and non-verbally. 
• Demonstrated ability deal effectively with, patients and their families, co-workers, physicians, and other health care personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to respond immediately and appropriately to emergency situations.
• Demonstrated ability to continually assess patient condition during surgery and to respond appropriately.

Required Skills:

• Basic computer literacy and knowledge of operating room computerized patient care information system.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Capacity to work in a fast paced, potentially high stress environment
• Attention to detail
• Organization, team player, customer service driven

Position details:

This is permanent, part-time position. This position involves regular travel in Vancouver and Victoria areas. A competitive compensation for this position is offered. A full training is given to all new hires. Candidates must be flexible and available to work weekdays, evenings and weekends.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.  No phone calls will be accepted regarding this position.