Registered Nurse (RN) Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

Position summary

The Operating Room Registered Nurse provides nursing care to the patient during the intraoperative phase, performs nursing activities in the operating room where the circulating nurse is the patient’s advocate, and answers patient needs by assisting the physician and person responsible for anesthesia care.

Primary functions & accountabilities

• Organizes time, equipment, supplies, and staff to provide effective case management
• Supervises and directs patient care in a single operating room
• Organizes nursing activities efficiently and effectively delegating activities appropriate to the abilities of available staff members
• Assists with supply, drug, and equipment inventories to maintain stock level and availability
• Addresses patient needs during admission to the operating room with attention to requirements specific to the outpatient setting
• Identifies the patient and correct surgical intervention according to Facility policy and communicates with all surgical team members
• Reviews the patient’s medical record and needs to plan care with other health care team members
• Provides comfort and reassurance to the patient, as well as maintains a patient’s privacy and dignity
• Explains intraoperative phase routine procedures and care to the patient
• Performs the circulating nurse’s functions adhering to approved operating room procedures for the scheduled procedure
• Prepares operating room according to the procedure to be performed and patient needs
• Anticipates needs of the surgical team; assists anesthesia staff by supporting the patient during administration of anesthesia
• Provides continuity of patient care by communicating with other perioperative care personnel and documenting records appropriately
• Responds in a timely manner to meet the needs of the patient and physician
• Documents patient care records and other forms accurately according to facility policy

Knowledge, skills & abilities

• Knowledge of standard concepts, practices, and procedures within OR Nursing
• Knowledge and experience in the perioperative care of surgical patients
• Knowledge of specialized equipment used in the OR
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to respond effectively to emergencies, actual events or drills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient and employee information

Position requirements

• Degree from an accredited school of nursing
• Current Nursing License
• CPR Certification
• Orthopedic experience highly preferred
• Category I exposure to blood borne pathogens; frequent exposure to chemical hazards; may encounter radiation hazards
• Physical health sufficient to meet the ergonomic standards and demands of the position

Responsibilities

The Registered Nurse functions as a caregiver for a specific patient population in order to achieve desired outcomes. This position focuses on expanding knowledge and skills, provides effective direct care as part of the interdisciplinary team to a variety of complex patients. This position directs and oversees the care provided by other caregivers through delegation, validation, evaluation, and coordination. This position effectively coordinates patient care/unit activities among nursing peers, physicians and support services.

A Registered Nurse at ABC Company involves the delivery of nursing practices according to the most up-to-date evidence-based research, nursing policies, and standards of care, to provide and ensure safe and excellent delivery of individualized patient care. A day in the life of a Registered Nurse includes: Assessment, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Assessment

• Collects comprehensive data pertinent to the patient’s health or the situation
• Performs age and disease specific assessment/data collection independently in a systematic manner focusing on physiologic, psychological, and cognitive status
• Recognizes clinical and diagnostic status changes in patient status
• Identifies variables in patient/family education needs based on age, disease, and culturally specific learning differences
• Plan 1. Develops a plan of care that prescribes strategies and interventions to attain expected outcomes
• Formulates age and disease specific patient/family centered goals/outcomes based on assessment data
• Develops and coordinates a plan of care which is patient/family focused, prioritized, and encompasses the continuum of care

Implementation

• Communicates, coordinates, and implements the plan of care
• Provides ongoing communication with patient/family, nursing colleagues, and other members of the health care team regarding a patient’s status, rendered care and treatment plans
• Implements age and disease specific care in an organized and timely manner
• Provides or coordinates the patient/family education as needed and ensures understanding
• Performs according to established protocols in clinical situations, including communicating with appropriate persons and documenting events
• Provides nursing care and treatments that reflect the patient’s needs, advocates appropriately, and demonstrates evidence-based nursing practice and compliance with standards
• Performs continuous Point-of-Care electronic documentation of each individual patient’s assessments, plan-of-care, interventions, and evaluation of rendered care
• Medication administration utilizing the newest advancements in bar-scanning and documentation technologies designed to ensure the safest delivery of medications to our patients
• Multi-disciplinary discharging of patients to ensure safe transitioning and continuum of care

Evaluation

• Evaluates progress toward attainment of outcomes
• Utilizes critical thinking skills based on nursing knowledge to achieve desired patient outcomes
• Initiates interventions related to patient’s change in condition and unexpected response to care

Additional responsibilities

• Identifies ethical issues in the practice setting and brings them to the attention of other team members
• Recognizes and responds to opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction
• Must acquire and maintain competencies, certifications and continuing education in order to meet any facility accreditation or individual licensing requirements
• Adheres to American Nurses Association Code for Nurses with Interpretive Statements
• Lifts a minimum of 35 lbs., pushes and pulls a minimum of 10 lbs., and stands a minimum of 6 hours a day
• Adheres to HMH’s Organizational and Managerial competencies and standards of behavior
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned

Qualifications

• (State) State Professional Registered Nurse License
• AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification
• BSN in progress and/or willing to acquire within three (3) years of hire
• Must have six (6) or more months of relevant nursing experience OR must be an active participant with Hackensack Meridian Health’s Nurse Residency Program
• The ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing patient needs, a strong sense of accountability for improving the lives of our patients and their caregivers, an exceptional focus on teamwork, dedication to ongoing education and the ability and passion to deliver the highest quality of care based on a strong sense of patient focus are all required
• National Certification in area of specialty preferred when eligible

Job summary and qualifications

As a Registered Nurse (RN) in Newborn Nursery, you will be responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care for assigned patients. You will work alongside Labor and Delivery nurses, Obstetricians, and Pediatric/Neonatology staff to develop an individualized patient care plan that follows hospital policies and procedures.

• You will complete an admission assessment, including discharge planning, that is accurately documented within 2 hours of patient admission
• You will initiate critical pathway during admission to plan nursing care, and will review and update pathway as evidenced by appropriate interventions and nursing care documentation
• You will identify changes in patient condition and report these changes to the appropriate unit personnel
• You will document resolutions of identified patient problems and communicate unresolved problems to appropriate unit personnel
• You will accurately administer and document medications
• You will evaluate the plan of care to determine need for modifications
• You will evaluate the effectiveness of patient teaching and revise the teach plan as needed

Experience

• 1 year of clinical nursing experience as a Registered Nurse (RN)
• Experience as a staff nurse in an acute care setting – preferred

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Licenses and certifications

• Current State of (State) Registered Nurse (RN) license or Compact Registered Nursing License. If Compact License, (State) license must be obtained within 90 days of hire
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required per ABC Company’s Healthcare policy
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification required per ABC Company’s Healthcare policy