Scope of Service

The Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) RN provides care for patients recovering from general, regional or local anesthesia. The immediate post anesthesia period includes patients who have surgical, obstetrical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures. Procedure types include: endoscopy, ENT, gynecology, neurology, orthopedic, plastic, thoracic, urology and vascular. PACU also provides extended recovery care overnight to patients requiring closer observation.

Activities vital to the care of post-anesthesia and post-operative patients include: monitoring vital signs, managing postoperative pain, monitoring the surgical site, treating symptoms of postoperative nausea and vomiting, treating post-anesthetic shivering and airway management. PACU RNs often coordinate the delivery of care for post-anesthesia patients following surgical procedures so the safety, physical, psychological and educational needs of the patients and family members are met.

The PACU is a 20 bed unit directly adjacent to the Main Operating Room. There is one designated isolation room. PACU cares for patients of all ages. PACU staff are on-call Saturday from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am, Sunday 7:00 pm to 7:00 am and on major holidays.

Responsibilities

Last Reviewed: 04/23
Effective Date: 02/03

I. JOB SUMMARY/RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsible for coordinating clinical care of patient. Integrates all health care providers to ensure high quality patient/family outcomes, and establishes a consistent and accountable relationship with patient/family. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, initiation and development of the plan of care, patient/family education, utilization management and discharge planning.

II. TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Essential functions- Continuous: lifting up to 1/2 lb., seeing, hearing, talking, grasping, fingering. Frequent to continuous: standing, walking, stooping, forward reaching, handling. Frequent: pushing and pulling up to 30 psi, lifting up to 10 lbs., sitting, bending. Occasional to frequent: squatting, twisting. Occasional: pushing and pulling up to 70 psi; lifting: horizontal lift/carry up to 75 lbs. with assistance, floor to waist up to 35 lbs., waist to shoulder up to 25 lbs., overhead level up to 15 lbs.; carrying up to 35 lbs, running, climbing, side bending, kneeling, crouching, overhead reaching. Operates various machines/tools/work aids.

III. TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS
Inside work. Exposure to body fluids, blood products, and communicable diseases. Work environment may be highly stressful, fast paced and hectic. Assignment to inpatient adult psych areas and Family Treatment Center includes occasionally accompanying patients outdoors. Management of confused/disoriented and combative patients may involve tasks which may compromise physical safety.

IV. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
A. Education/Certification and Licensure:
1.Licensure: Registered Nurse, State of Hawaii
2.Diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing; Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing preferred.
3.Current BLS/HCP card in all areas; ACLS, NALS and/or PALS in designated areas.
4.Ability to read, write, speak and understand English effectively.

Additional Requirements

Additional Requirements for Experienced RN:

A. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE:

• Current ACLS certification.
• Current PALS certification. If not certified upon hire, must be obtained within three (3) months of entrance into the position.

B. EXPERIENCE:

• Twelve (12) months of PACU Phase 1 RN experience required, preferably within the last three (3) years and six (6) months of Critical Care RN experience.
  OR
• Twelve (12) months of Critical Care RN experience, preferably within the last three (3) years.