Job Title

Staff Nurse

Department

Recovery Room

Reports to

Theatre Manager

Date

August 2007

Qualifications

Be State Registered and on the live Register of An Bord Altranais

Experience

(Amount and Type)

1. Minimum 6 months experience in Recovery Room Nursing or
2. 1 year in an acute hospital setting preferably work experience  on a Surgical Ward/Unit
3. Demonstrate the ability to work as an independent practitioner and to work as a team member.

Job Specific

Competencies and

Knowledge

Job Specific

Competencies and

Knowledge

• Assessment of the patient’s condition on admission to Recovery Room (using ABC and D).
• Obtain all relevant information from the Anaesthetist on patient’s arrival to Recovery Room.
• Information sought from accompanying nurse to include the patient’s details, operation carried out, blood loss, wounds, any drains and skin integrity.
• Demonstrate the ability to continuously assess and monitor the patient while in Recovery Room.
• Demonstrate ability to take out the LMA and observe signs and symptoms of airway obstruction.
• Maintains the patient’s confidentiality regarding his/her condition upholding the Code of Professional Conduct at all times.
• Communicates effectively with the patient during recovery.
• Provides adequate information and psychological support as appropriate.
• Monitors and assesses patient’s fluid balance to ensure an adequate intake and output post-operatively.
• Ability to assess wound site and check for signs and symptoms of early post-operative complications while maintaining patient’s dignity at all times.
• Demonstrate ability to perform assessment of drains and catheters (i.e. amount of drainage, patency, colour, insertion site).
• Records and monitors blood loss accurately, liaising with medical staff where appropriate.
• Effectively assesses patient’s level of pain and follows procedure for administration of pain relief (as per hospital policy) at all times.
• Administration of post-operative analgesia as per hospital guidelines.
• Accurate dispensing and recording of MDA’s as per hospital policy.
• Maintains body temperature utilizing appropriate measures and evaluating care delivered at all times.
• Demonstrate ability to assess patient readiness for discharge to ward, providing a comprehensive assessment of condition.
• Demonstrate ability to assess patient using the Discharge Criteria utilized in the Recovery Room.
• Ensures all documentation is completed, correct and signed accurately and all relevant information for a comprehensive handover is included to ensure the continuity of care on the ward.
• Demonstrates an efficient and comprehensive handover of all relevant and specific information to the ward staff.
• Ensures all the equipments/area is prepared for subsequent patients to be accepted into Recovery.
• Demonstrate awareness of legal and ethical issues (informed consent, FOI Act, Code of Conduct, Scope of Practice).
• Demonstrate knowledge of emergency drugs and BCLS.
• Demonstrate knowledge of potential surgical complications and the treatment required in Recovery Room.
• Demonstrate knowledge of drugs used, their potential side effects and the reversal agents required.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the need for constant monitoring of the unconscious and post-operative patient in Recovery.
• Hours of duty are 39 hours per week.

Personal

Competencies

·         Maintain and update own knowledge continuously, and participate in on-going education.

·         Foster a learning environment for the benefit of staff in Theatre/Recovery Room.

·         Assist less experienced staff to develop their skills in Recovery Room Nursing.

·         Demonstrate leadership and competence in nursing practice.

·         Deliver an efficient and effective quality nursing care within his/her Scope of Practice.