Responsibilities:
Ensures complete pre-op assessment including the surgical checklist, nursing documentation and Physician's assessment
Receives the patient prior to surgery, gets report from the accompanying nurse and performs
pre-op checklist.
Serves as the communication liaison to family and members of the operating team
Familiar with procedures in operating room and PACU routines and area specific assignments.
Circulate and assist as needed for surgical procedures
Scrub for surgical procedures in the operating room independently.
Prepare operating room for patient/procedure
Ensure effective recovery of patients post any form of anesthesia.
Assists with intubation and extubation of patient in the recovery room (RR) and in the operating room (OR).
Communicates with anesthetists and primary teams regarding patient issues and shifting plans.
Facilitates safe transfer of patient to alternate level of care as appropriate.
Promptly reports both clinical and non-clinical unusual findings/incidences to the nurse manager or designee
Identify patient and family learning needs and initiate appropriate teaching.
Ensures safety checks are performed to ensure correct patient and correct procedure is performed
Perform pain assessment and initiate analgesia as required
Records all care information concisely, accurately and completely, in a timely manner, in the appropriate format and on the appropriate forms
Coordinates theater list with concerned OR coordinator.
Ensure all specimens are properly labeled and delivered to the lab in a timely manner
Provide safe environment for patients through adherence to infection control practices and other safety policies.
Be able to recognize a patient in a pre- arrest or arrest states, and initiate Basic Life Support
Dispose of clinical and non-clinical waste safely in accordance with Aga Khan University Hospital Guidelines on waste management
Administer medication safely, monitor patient responses to medication and promptly report adverse reactions.
Be accountable for judicious and efficient use of resources i.e. accurate and timely billing of equipment and consumables .
Care for equipment through cleaning, storage, per shift check of the inventory and timely reporting_and follow up of nonfunctional equipment to the nurse m nager or designee
Assist in orientation of new nurses and mentoring of junior nursing staff and students
Occasionally shift leads under supervision of senior RN
Participates in unit based continuing education, quality improvement (QI) projects, Clinical Care Program Certification (CCPC), audits, spot checks and skill checks.
Can be assigned to assist in medical surgical unit
Skills and qualifications
In-depth knowledge of surgical operation procedures
Highly skilled at assessing patients prior to surgery and providing them with perioperative care
Extensive knowledge of aseptic and sterile techniques
Ability to collaborate with surgeons and other healthcare professionals
Solid understanding of patient health and safety standards
Excellent organizational skills
Requirements:
RN from a recognized school of nursing or university
Current licensure with the Nursing Council of Kenya
Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS)
Higher Diploma in Peri-operative Theatre Nursing is an added advantage
Demonstrate evidence based knowledge of current practices in theater nursing.