Pre-Op/PACU/Cath Lab Recovery RN
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls Clinic Hospital

Registered Nurse (RN) - Pre-op/PACU/Cath Lab Procedural Recovery

Location: Great Falls, Montana
Employment Type: Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (9am-9pm)
Hours per Week: 36

Job Summary

Provide skilled, compassionate nursing care to patients before and after surgical, procedural (interventional radiology, bronchoscopy), and interventional cardiology cases. Responsibilities include comprehensive patient assessment, close monitoring, medication administration, and coordination with multidisciplinary teams to ensure patient safety from admission through discharge.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Operative & Pre-Procedure

• Review patient medical history, allergies, labs, and consents to ensure readiness.
• Verify compliance with antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy and assess renal labs.
• Initiate IV lines, hydration protocols, and administer pre-medications.
• Educate patients and families on procedures, anesthesia, and recovery expectations.

Post-Anesthesia & Post-Cath Lab Recovery

• Receive detailed handoffs from OR and Cath Lab teams.
• Continuously monitor airway, oxygen saturation, vital signs, and telemetry for arrhythmias or ischemic changes.
• Monitor vascular access sites for bleeding or complications; apply manual pressure if needed.
• Manage sheath removal in coordination with trained staff (competency preferred).
• Enforce post-femoral bed rest protocols and manage emergence delirium or shivering.
• Evaluate patients for discharge or transfer and provide caregiver instructions.

Medication Administration & Infusion Titration

• Administer scheduled and emergent medications via oral, IV, IM, and subcutaneous routes with barcode verification.
• Prepare and administer high-alert medications (sedatives, narcotics, paralytics, antiarrhythmics) with dual verification when required.
• Manage and titrate continuous IV infusions (e.g., vasoactive drips, nitroglycerin, heparin) per provider orders.

Blood & Blood Product Administration

• Perform two-nurse bedside verification before transfusions.
• Obtain vital signs before transfusion and monitor closely during the first 15 minutes.
• Identify and respond immediately to transfusion reactions.
• Administer emergent transfusions rapidly during massive hemorrhage events.
• Document transfusion details meticulously.

Clinical Care & General Nursing Standards

• Maintain universal precautions and comply with OSHA and safety guidelines.
• Initiate and maintain peripheral IV access.
• Collect and process diagnostic specimens per policy.
• Assist patients in anesthesia recovery to baseline physiologic status.
• Monitor and manage post-operative pain and nausea.
• Interpret ECG telemetry and 12-lead ECGs to detect acute cardiac events and notify providers.

Professional Communication & Documentation

• Collaborate effectively with patients, providers, and allied health staff.
• Coordinate care transitions with House Supervisor, Charge Nurse, Cath Lab, and OR personnel.
• Maintain clear, concise, and compliant electronic health records for all care phases.

Equipment & Technology

• Operate and maintain specialized patient care equipment including:

  • Diagnostic 12-lead ECG machines
  • Capillary blood sampling and point-of-care testing devices
  • Urine pregnancy test kits and bladder volume indicators
  • Mechanical lifts, vital signs monitors, suction systems
  • Emergency defibrillators and crash cart components
• Use standard office technology (computers, printers, fax, telecommunication).
• Ensure proper use and stewardship of facility-owned equipment.

Patient Education

• Conduct pre-procedural telephone outreach to prepare and educate patients.
• Provide detailed discharge and caregiver instructions regarding post-procedure care.
• Perform post-operative follow-up calls to assess outcomes and coordinate resources.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Montana
• Minimum 2 years of Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) experience, including experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification
• Perioperative nursing experience