Registered Nurse - Operating Room - OR
“Haven of the adventurous, home of splendid panoramic scenery”

The Community - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs had an estimated population of 439,886 in 2013, ranking as the second most populous city in the state of Colorado, behind Denver, and the 41st most populous city in the United States. The Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated population of 678,319 in 2013. The city covers 194.7 square miles (504 km2), making it the most extensive municipality in Colorado. Colorado Springs was selected as the No. 1 Best Big City in "Best Places to Live" by Money magazine in 2006, and placed number one in Outside's 2009 list of America's Best Cities.

Fort Carson (formerly Camp Carson)
Established in 1942, following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. Camp Carson was named in honor of the legendary Army scout, General Christopher "Kit" Carson, who explored much of the West in the 1800s. Fort Carson's beautiful scenery has made it one of the most requested duty stations in the U.S. Army. It is considered the second most popular CONUS duty station, after Fort Lewis, Washington, and adopted "Best Hometown in the Army" as its motto in 2007. Base population is estimated around 14,000.

Requirements (duties include, but are not limited to)

• Provides professional nursing care to patients undergoing surgery. Prepares and maintains operating room for all surgical procedures. Establishes and utilizes a checklist to monitor the physical plan of the operating room and equipment for conformity to all national standards for ensuring safety for the patient and all personnel. Assembles the type and quantity of material and special equipment needed for daily procedures and possible emergencies. Circulates for surgical procedures. Responds to surgical emergency requirements such as cardiac, pulmonary, or respiratory failure and hemorrhage.
• Maintains open communication lines, both intra-departmentally and interdepartmentally, to provide for total needs of the patient. Conducts preoperative and postoperative visits. Discusses operative procedures with patients and informs them of what to expect during surgery. Consults with the operating surgeon and establishes priorities of care for each patient entering the operating suite. Coordinates with other hospital units, which include recovery room, intensive care, obstetrics, and nursing units, on patients’ progress and any special equipment or supplies that will be needed for the patient returning from surgery.
• Directs and instructs personnel in preparing, sterilizing, and caring for operating room equipment and supplies. Supervises central sterile supply service activities. Maintains concise and complete records and reports. Coordinates an ongoing, in-service education program to continually update knowledge and skills of all assigned operating room nursing personnel.
• Each Operating Room Nurse is to provide care based upon the assessed needs of the patient in relation to the proposed procedure.
• Provides perioperative nursing care, for all types of patients admitted to the surgical suite for surgical intervention. Includes elective, urgent and emergency procedures on patients of all ages.
• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates nursing care for all patients including newborns, children, adolescents, adults and the elderly; disabled to include visually and hearing impaired; and individuals of varying ethnic and religious backgrounds to include those who do not speak or understand English.
• Accurate and complete documentation of patient care events and process improvement activities IAW MTF guidelines.
• Participation and compliance with quality and process improvement activities and events to ensure compliance with national standards and guidelines.
• Knowledge of a variety of pharmacological agents used in patient treatment, the desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use as well as the accurate administration of the pharmacologic agent, including dosage calculations as required. Knowledge of the administrative requirements for proper documentation of patient’s condition including disease progress, acknowledgement of teaching, and follow up care.
• Working knowledge of laboratory test values.
• Administer medications, electrolytes, fluids, blood, and blood products.
• Adhere to perioperative, infection control and safety policies and procedures.
• Safely operate and monitor specialized therapeutic and resuscitative equipment. Skill in setting up, operating and monitoring specialized medical equipment such as IV infusion pumps, cardiac monitoring devices, EKG units, oxygen analyzers, nebulizers, and other unit specific equipment.
• Excellent patient assessment skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse group of people for the purpose of informing the healthcare team of plans/actions, for teaching/education to benefit the patient/family and organization. Effectively uses appropriate communication format in addressing professional issues
• Excellent written communication skills to perform accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity in accordance with requirements.
• Knowledge of computer operations and proficiency in the use of basic word processing, data entry and automated medical records.
• Ability to synthesize data from a variety of sources and make appropriate clinical decisions.
• Coordinates patient care through a continuum and facilitates the achievement of optimal outcomes in relation to care, quality and cost effectiveness.
• Ensures compliance with standards of care and practice in accordance with all established policies, procedures, and guidelines used in the medical treatment facility. Provides care within ethical and legal boundaries.
• Recognizes medical emergencies and responds appropriately. Initiates CPR if required. Assists surgical team in administering advanced cardiac life support measures when necessary.
• Participates in the orientation, training, and evaluation of duty performance of newly assigned personnel, as appropriate.
• Serves and participates in committees, functions and other meetings as directed. Provides relevant and timely information to these groups, and assists with decision making and process improvement. Participates in customer service initiatives, and medical readiness activities, designed to enhance health services.
• Communicate and collaborate with a multidisciplinary medical team acting as a role model and expert in the perioperative nursing care of patients. Establishes and maintains good interpersonal relationships with co-workers, families, peers, and other health team members.
• Will be oriented/trained on the use of all equipment available for patient care and will be oriented/trained on the supply ordering process utilized.
• Check procedure set up for accuracy and perform routine cleaning and organization of work area.
• Completes orientation and competency verification programs in accordance with (IAW) unit guidelines.
• Ensures a safe work environment, employee safe work habits and patient safety IAW regulatory agencies, infection control policies, and process improvement initiatives.
• Other additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Must have, at a minimum, an Associate’s Degree in Nursing.  A Baccalaureate Degree (BS/BSN) is strongly desired, but not mandatory, from an accredited college or university or graduated from an accredited nursing program recognized by the national nursing accreditation agencies of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or National League of Nursing (NLN).Must have and maintain a current, valid, full, and unrestricted license in any of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Must have and maintain a current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) as certified by the American Heart Association (AHA).
• Must have a minimum of 12 months of experience is mandatory in operating room assignments. Experience must include all phases of operating room technique such as preparing operating room units, preparing patients for surgery, and assisting medical officer during surgery; and conducting instrument and equipment sterilization procedures.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.

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