Job Summary:
The Registered Nurse (RN) - Surgical Services provides professional nursing care to patients undergoing surgical and invasive procedures. The Surgical Services RN is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating individualized nursing care during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of the patient's surgical experience, as applicable to the nurse's assigned area and demonstrated competencies. The RN functions as a patient advocate and works collaboratively with surgeons, anesthesia providers, surgical technologists, nursing personnel, and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to provide safe, efficient, evidence-based, and patient-centered perioperative care. The Registered Nurse practices in accordance with the Florida Nurse Practice Act, hospital policies and procedures, applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements, professional nursing standards, and established perioperative standards of practice.
Position Qualifications/Requirements:
Education/Experience:
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN) or higher.
- Previous professional Registered Nurse experience in an acute-care hospital setting preferred.
- Previous perioperative, Operating Room, Surgical Services, or procedural nursing experience.
- Previous experience functioning as an RN circulator preferred.
- Experience with surgical procedures, instrumentation, sterile technique, surgical equipment, medications, specimens, implants, and perioperative documentation preferred.
Licenses/Certifications:
- Current, active, and unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Florida or a valid multistate Registered Nurse license with current privilege to practice in the State of Florida.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association or other hospital-approved provider.
- Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification through the American Heart Association or other hospital-approved provider.
- Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) certification through the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) preferred.
- Additional specialty certification appropriate to the assigned Surgical Services area preferred.
Skills/Requirements:
- Knowledge of professional nursing principles and the nursing process.
- Knowledge of perioperative nursing principles and practices.
- Knowledge of surgical anatomy, physiology, and terminology.
- Knowledge of sterile and aseptic technique.
- Understanding of infection prevention and surgical-site infection prevention practices.
- Knowledge of commonly performed surgical procedures.
- Understanding of surgical instruments, equipment, implants, and supplies.
- Knowledge of medication administration and medication safety.
- Knowledge of safe patient positioning and prevention of positioning injuries.
- Understanding of surgical counts and retained surgical-item prevention.
- Knowledge of specimen handling and documentation.
- Ability to perform comprehensive nursing assessments.
- Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and implement appropriate interventions.
- Ability to prioritize care in a fast-paced surgical environment.
- Strong clinical judgment and critical-thinking skills.
- Ability to respond effectively during surgical and medical emergencies.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational and time-management abilities.
- Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
- Ability to appropriately delegate and supervise patient-care activities.
- Ability to utilize electronic medical records and other hospital information systems.
- Commitment to evidence-based practice, patient safety, quality, and professional development.