Perioperative Resource Nurse

At Houston Methodist, the Perioperative Resource Nurse position is an Operating Room Nurse, an experienced clinician, serving as a clinical resource for hospital staff functioning at the Proficient level according to Benner's model of clinical practice. This position acts as a liaison between ancillary departments, vendors, surgeons and Operating Room staff. Responsibilities for the Perioperative Resource Nurse position include coordinating unit education, tailored training for specific procedures using specialty equipment, associated instrumentation, evaluation of direct costs, and patient outcomes. This position assists management with the coordination of scheduling cases and assists with the overall growth of the perioperative program. The Perioperative Resource Nurse position provides patient care as an Operating Room Nurse as needed and to assist with providing breaks and lunches for staff. This position will assist with the standardization and efficiency of care for patients in the perioperative environment. The Perioperative Resource Nurse position models patient-centered care and assumes leadership responsibilities with high level contributions in direct patient interaction, the perioperative unit, and across the institution. Responsibilities for the Perioperative Resource Nurse position may also include, serving as charge nurse, leading unit and shared governance activities, assessing perioperative needs related to practice and improvement opportunities, coordinating unit education and serving as a clinical resource for both unit and hospital staff.

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in the orientation, education and training regarding perioperative workflow, inventory, care and maintenance of supplies and instrumentation for Operating Room (OR) staff as well as makes arrangements for case observation and proctoring of physicians. Responsible for monitoring call-ins daily to ensure appropriate staffing of the operating rooms. Considers the orientees when making assignments.

• Develops strong relationships with physicians, vendors and healthcare providers to assure effective communication in patient care. Serves as a liaison between ancillary departments, clinical specialists, physicians and patients to ensure efficient patient flow for perioperative patients.

• Communicates in an active, positive and effective manner to all health care team members, asking them if they need help and creating a climate free of fear by communicating and questioning, encouraging and supporting others to do the same, constructively influencing team morale. Teaches others to critically think by verbally expressing rationale for decisions and following up by coaching and critiquing colleagues' thought processes in complex situations. Improves department score for turnover/retention/employee engagement on unit-based scorecard.

• Assists in managing and coordinating the effective scheduling of surgery among the OR suites in collaboration with management and Centralized Scheduling. Ensures that all emergency add-on cases are on the board, communicated to the OR staff and necessary departments, i.e. Anesthesia Board Runner, Sterile Processing staff, Pre-op, Perfusionists, ICU, Monitoring, and Cell Savers. Rounds the operating rooms consistently to check with the staff regarding time-frames for rooms to come down. Ensures staff have checked rooms and removed what is not needed and that restocking has occurred, ensuring staff accountability. Participates in block time decision making and allocation process.

• Checks with the OR Manager/Charge Nurse the day before and day of surgery for any changes in room assignments. Reviews case load and gives second rooms, if needed, after conferring with the Anesthesia Board Runner and Sterile Processing/Supply Chain staff to ensure all cases are pulled and instruments are available. Validates potential revisions and accurately updates physician preference cards.

• Serves as instructor in continuing education or formal program and expert consultation. Assists patient care staff or may directly educate staff on perioperative-specific guidelines, instruments and treatment options to enable patient-led treatment decisions. Develops informational/ educational resources and programs related to program services, teaching nursing care principles, advanced technical knowledge. Assists educator in developing detailed competencies that address all aspects of the scrub and circulating roles during procedures.

• Actively participates in a wide range of performance improvement activities/initiatives regarding surgery by identifying, presenting and leading improvements in surgery or patient safety-related processes at unit or perioperative level. Identifies key clinical priorities for improvement in the perioperative and compares clinical outcomes to national benchmarks and makes recommendations for improvement. Works in collaboration with teams to provide solutions by participating in unit projects and shared governance activities. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.

• Serves as a clinical resource for complex and/or highly specialized patient care situations to patient care providers and other health care professionals within the hospital and in the community. Provides direct patient care, as needed, as the staff nurse leader to perioperative patients and leads the interprofessional team in implementing care of the patient.

• Contributes to development of perioperative, hospital standards and guidelines; implements and monitors perioperative initiatives that improve designated core measure compliance. Evaluate patient outcomes to ensure appropriate trends. Ensures appropriate data is collected and submitted to appropriate databases for perioperative supported. Maintains interdepartment accountability for systems-related issues that impact quality patient care.

• Identifies cost savings initiatives including input and evaluation of new products in collaboration with Supply Chain. Participates in decisions impacting operational and capital needs as appropriate. Assists in establishing a budget and allocation of proper resources.

• Contributes to oversight of staffing and patient care resources and meeting department financial target on unit-based scorecard.

• Implements department strategies to achieve financial target on unit-based scorecard and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to department specifications.

• Assists in actively marketing the service line programs and encourage multidisciplinary usage function. Develops, facilitates and participates with others in the development and presentation of health care provider and community educational programs in the service line.

• Participates with others in identifying needs, developing, planning and implementing educational presentations/programs within the assigned perioperative areas for hospital health care providers and/or community groups. Maintains personal professional development through organization membership. Attends workshops and other educational programs, to ensure awareness of current developments and trends.

• Identifies and assumes responsibility of own learning needs, consults with healthcare tea