Registered Nurse (RN) First Assist, Cardiac Operating Room

Job Description

UC Health is hiring a Registered Nurse (First Assist) for the Cardiac Operating Room. Shifts will vary and there is on-call requirements.

The RNFA is to carry out the functions that will assist the surgeon in performing a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. The RNFA practices perioperative nursing and is therefore responsible for independent nursing behaviors of preoperative assessment and postoperative evaluation of care. The intraoperative practice of the RNFA is interdependent with the surgeon.

About University of Cincinnati Medical Center

As part of the Clifton Campus of UC Health, Greater Cincinnati's academic health system, University of Cincinnati Medical Center has served Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for nearly 200 years. Each year, hundreds of thousands of patients receive care from our world-renowned clinicians and care team. Our experts utilize the most advanced medical knowledge and technology available, providing a level of specialty and subspecialty medical care that is not available anywhere else in Greater Cincinnati.

Unit Details

• Enjoy a dynamic environment that includes a multitude of cases ranging from transplants to ECMO.
• Learn about heart transplant surgeries using state-of-the-art equipment.
• Be a part of a small team that wants to help each other succeed.

Responsibilities

Job Responsibilities:

• Engages in population appropriate communication. Has knowledge of growth and development milestones and tasks. Gives clear instructions to patients/family regarding treatment. Involves family/guardian in the assessment, initial treatment and continuing care of the patient. Identifies any physical limitations of the patient and deploys intervention when necessary. Recognizes and responds appropriately to patients/families with behavioral health problems. Interprets population related data and plans care appropriately. Identifies and responds appropriately to different needs resulting from, unique psychological needs or those associated with religious / cultural norms. Performs treatments, administers medication or operates equipment safely. Recognizes and responds to signs/symptoms of abuse or neglect.
• Assess the health status of the patient in order to develop an individualized plan of care by collecting, categorizing, and interpreting data (physical and psychosocial) from documented information, observation, patient/family interview, and other health care team members.
• Develop a nursing care plan based on the assessment of the patient that includes nursing diagnosis, patient goals, and nursing interventions necessary to achieve these goals.
• Implement the nursing care plan to provide optimal individualized care for the patient.
• Instruct the patient and family to assist the patient in the achievement of optimal health status.
• Document nursing activities to provide a permanent record for continuity of care, quality improvement, and professional accountability.
• Identify the patient to ensure that the patient, procedure, and operative site correspond.
• Plan, supervise, and assist with the transfer of the patient to protect the patient and personnel from injury.
• Position the patient to provide access the operative site while maximizing patient safety and comfort. Prepping and draping of the patient may be done independently if so directed by the surgeon.
• Establish and maintain a surgically clean environment to reduce the potential for infection by applying the principles of antisepsis, contamination, disinfection, sanitation, sterilization, and environmental monitoring.
• Establish and maintain a sterile field to reduce potential for infection by teaching and supervising the application of principles of aseptic technique and continual monitoring of the sterile field.
• Establish and maintain a safe environment to protect the patient and the health care team by monitoring the patient (physiologically and psychologically) and the environment and by implementing safety procedures.
• Coordinate support services needed during surgery by anticipating and communicating patient and surgical teach needs.
• Organize and coordinate supplies, equipment, and team members to maintain an efficient, effective, and safe intraoperative environment through ongoing patient and situation assessment, priority setting, procurement of supplies, and arrangement of equipment, by teaching, directing, communicating, and collaborating with health care team members and support service personnel.
• Communicate information to PACU personnel to promote continuity of care.
• Contribute to the discharge plan.
• Select and execute appropriate methods for cleaning, packaging, sterilizing, and disinfecting to ensure patient safety by applying principles of sterilization and disinfection and by following packaging guidelines set by regulating agencies and manufacturers.
• Execute nursing activities to provide life support in an emergency situation by taking appropriate action and/or providing direction/assistance to health care team members.
• Initiate appropriate intraoperative behaviors unique to first assisting:
• Provide hemostasis to reduce potential for postoperative infection and potential for fluid volume deficit by clamping and/or ligating vessels, using electrosurgical or laser units. applying direct pressure, applying chemical agents that promote coagulation, and other means as directed by the surgeon. Provide exposure of the operative site through the appropriate use of retractors and other instruments and through suctioning and sponging. Use surgical instruments skillfully in ways consistent with their design and purpose as directed by the surgeon. Handle all variety of tissue appropriately to reduce potential for injury or compromised blood supply. Suture skillfully all varieties of tissue with the appropriate suture materials and suturing techniques.
• Performs other related duties as required, including but not limited to:
• Communicate information to patient/family. Evaluate effectiveness of nursing care to determine degree of goal attainment by comparing patient outcomes with patient goals . Evaluate products to determine their safety, effectiveness, use, and cost effectiveness.

Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Associate's Degree (ADN) from an accredited school of Nursing, Required
• Bachelor's Degree (BSN) from an accredited school of Nursing, Preferred
• Licensed as a registered nurse in the applicable state.
• Current CPR certification, Required.
• ACLS, Preferred.
• Completion of an RN first assistant course in which the curriculum addressed all of the content areas of the Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant and a degree or certificate was awarded. Certification is required (CRNFA) within the first 12 months of employment.
• Current certification in perioperative nursing (CNOR)- Preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of Surgery or O.R. experience, Required