POSITION OBJECTIVE:  Accountable for the provision of nursing care in the assigned intra-operative areas of the surgery center.  Ensure patient needs are met in accordance with instructions of physician and facility administrative procedures.  Participates in various quality activities as appropriate and as directed by the Charge Nurse Operating Room, Director of Nursing, Medical Director and/or the Quality Committee(s). The Operating Room nurse must set priorities in planning cases, and making clinical decisions.  They are a resource for complex decision making and establishing individualized plan of care for the peri-operative patient.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

• Effectively organizes time, equipment, supplies, and personnel.
• Uses equipment effectively by anticipating patient needs and providing appropriate care.
• Confirms that proper techniques and procedures are used according to accepted Standards of Practice and organizational policies and procedures.
• Assists with the ordering, receiving, and storage of supplies.
• Maintains order and cleanliness of the intra-operative area.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintains surgical services as assigned, in accordance with written policies and in compliance with various regulatory and accrediting agencies and is responsible for quality patient care.
• Assists with the development and monitoring of the standards of assigned areas pertaining to the operating room, sterilization and decontamination, and corresponding ancillary areas.
• Responsible for efficient and effective patient care and quality improvement.
• Helps in determining goals for assigned area and effectively manages resources to achieve the goals.
• Maintains a collegial relationship with physicians to ensure quality patient care.
• At the direction of the Director of Nursing, maintains an adequate inventory for assigned area, including, but not limited to, equipment and supplies.
• Assists in recruitment, selection, training, supervision, and retention of operating room/corresponding ancillary area employees.
• Assists with staffing assigned area and performing daily operational processes.
• Responsible for fostering an environment that promotes staff growth and development.
• Supervises and adheres to Surgery Center policies, procedures, and safety programs.
• Participates in Quality Committee(s), Medical Leadership Committee, as requested, and/or assigned. 
• Proactively seeks to continuously improve patient care and operations.
• Exhibits competency in performing all functions of assigned area or duties.
• Responsible for other functions as assigned by the Director of Nursing and/or the Administrator.

Education - Required:

• High School graduate or GED certificate recipient
• Graduate of accredited school of nursing
• Current licensure in the State of Ohio as a Registered Nurse
• Must be current in BCLS
• ACLS certification within six months of hire date (applicable to scope of service)

Education - Preferred:

• Computer literacy
• BSN Degree

Experience:

• Previous work experience in an ambulatory surgery setting or acute hospital operating room.
• Two years OR experience

Dependability:

• Attendance
• Punctuality        
• Ability to meet deadlines

Interdependent Partnering:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to assist in training newly hired staff on policies, procedures and processes
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of employees, management, physicians, patients, and visitors
• Analyze work area and make recommendations for potential cost-effective improvements
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Other

Mastering Complexity:

• Ability to organize and follow through on own initiative
• Other

Customer/Marketplace Focus:

• Strong knowledge of the Health Care industry
• Strong understanding of patient needs
• Significant expertise in human relations
• Effectively interface with all areas of the surgery center

Technical/Functional:

• Working knowledge of healthcare related documentation/systems
• Working knowledge of medical equipment
• Working knowledge of nursing skills and techniques
• Working knowledge of healthcare culture and processes
• Basic knowledge of computer spreadsheets and word processing

• Ambulatory Surgery Center (with a focus in the semi-restricted and restricted areas; intra-operative and corresponding ancillary areas)
• Well-lit and ventilated with potential exposure to hazardous equipment
• OSHA, Category I - Does involve occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids and materials*

Physical/Mental Demands:

• Ability to stand, walk and sit for considerable lengths of time
• Ability to lift 75 pounds and can demonstrate a push/pull repetitive motion for clinical health care workers
• Visual and auditory acuity for frequent use of computer, telephone and occasional use of other office equipment
• Visual and auditory acuity for timely responsiveness and patient-care assessment activities
• Ability to move quickly in response to patient, employee, visitor or medical staff needs
• Capability for occasional overhead and low-reaching motion
• Ability to frequently make judgments and respond to problems
• Ability to occasionally make judgments about/respond to actual or practice-drill disasters and emergencies
• Other

* OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Employee Exposure Categories:

Category I:  Employees whose job functions involve routine or potential exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues (direct patient care tasks).

Category II:  Employees whose job functions involve no routine exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, but employment may require performing unplanned Category I tasks (indirect patient care tasks; i.e. Receptionist, Business Office Personnel, etc.).

Category III:  Employees whose job functions involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, and Category I and II tasks are not a condition of employment.