Perioperative Services Intern

SUMMARY:

• The Perioperative Novice Nurse Program is a 9 month program dedicated to providing training and education to Registered Nurses, either new graduates or experienced RNs, who have not worked in the intraoperative setting in the previous five years, or more.
• Under the general supervision of the PeriOperative Services Nurse Educator, nurses will be equipped with the fundamental skills and tools critical to providing patient care in the perioperative setting.
• Interns will be trained to perform the duties of scrub nurse and circulating nurse.
• Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The intern will consistently apply the corporate values of respect, honesty, fairness and the constant pursuit of excellence in improving the health status of the people of the region through the provision of customer-friendly, geographically accessible and high-value services within the environment of a comprehensive integrated academic health system.
• The intern is responsible for knowing and acting in accordance with the principles of the Brown University Health Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.
• Brown University Health employees are expected to embrace Brown University Health's mission of Delivering health with care and successfully role model Brown University Health's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.
• The initial five to six weeks comprises the didactic portion of the program; consisting of classroom lectures, selected evidence-based literature reviews, simulation practice, and observational experiences in the operating room.
• During this phase of training, the intern will be paired with preceptors who will model program objectives, exploring the PNDS Domains of Safety, Physiologic Response to Surgery, Behavioral Response to Surgery, and the Health Care System.
• Students will be asked for return demonstration of skills.
• The remaining weeks of training are spent in service-line rotations designed to familiarize the nurse intern with various surgical specialties, equipment, supplies, and processes as they further develop their critical thinking skills.
• Interns will progressively become more independent during the program.
• The intern utilizes the nursing process throughout the pre-intra-, and post-operative phases of care.
• They will:
• Performs preop nursing assessments as demonstrated by a review of patient information.
• Ensures pertinent information is readily available (e.g. lab reports, consents, history and physical, plan of care); ensures pre-operative medications, preps, and orders have been carried out; verifies patient’s identity prior to surgical procedure; institutes patient and family teaching; and completes a verbal hand-off from the preoperative nurse.
• Demonstrates progressive critical thinking skills as demonstrated by the development of intraoperative nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, and plan of care. Implements patient specific plan and evaluates the appropriateness of planned or prescribed treatment.
• Modifies treatment or contacts physician as circumstances require.
• Interns learn to perform nursing duties according to the policies, procedures, and evidence-based best practice of area assigned.
• Assists during surgical procedures by ensuring patient safety, preparing and/or directing others in preparation of instruments, equipment and supplies; scrubbing or circulating on cases under the tutelage of expert RN and Surgical Technologist preceptors; anticipating needs of surgeon; maintaining sterile techniques and preventing infection; applying dressings; administering medication; developing the ability to react to life-threatening situations, and providing for total nursing care of patients in the Operating Room.
• Interns learn to maintain the electronic medical record, reporting pertinent information regarding patient’s condition, medication given, and treatments administered during the intraoperative phase of care.
• Maintains and enhances professional expertise through engaged participation in educational activities and dedication to lifelong learning.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensure as Registered Nurse in the State of Rhode Island by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing or licensure as a Registered Nurse in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact agreement of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

BASIC KNOWLEDGE:

• Interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with patients, physicians and other hospital personnel.
• Visual and aural acuity to monitor patient progress.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.
• Graduation from accredited school of nursing.
• Must have current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Rhode Island.
• All individuals must successfully complete the didactic portion of class by passing the Final Exam with a score of 80%.
• Successful completion of all service line rotations as evidenced by positive feedback and reviews from preceptors and direct observation of student’s work validating incorporation of knowledge into practice.
• Successful completion of all PeriOperative Nursing Competencies and demonstrated ability to practice independently upon graduation from the program.
• Prior to graduation from the PeriOperative Novice Nurse Program, the intern will bid into, or be assigned to, an open fulltime position, based upon departmental needs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Works in Operating Room and post-anesthesia recovery area with frequent exposure to anesthetic gases.
• Some risk in injury from puncture by surgical instruments exposure to infectious wounds; burns from autoclaves and electrical equipment, but hazards minimized through adherence to appropriate established precautionary procedures.
• Physical ability for extensive walking and standing; lifting, positioning, and pushing patients on stretchers.
• Works 40 hours per week for the duration of the internship program with some rotations to PMs, nights, holidays, and weekends.
• Assigned to call with an expert nurse for the duration of the program.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• None.

Pay Range: 

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

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