Surgery Partners, Inc·Durango, Colorado
The PAT RN coordinates the surgical care continuum by conducting comprehensive pre-operative assessments and preparing patients for safe interventions. They act as a liaison between patients and providers to ensure medical optimization and regulatory compliance prior to surgery.
Job Title: Registered Nurse – Preadmission
The Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) Registered Nurse serves as a key coordinator in the surgical care continuum, responsible for assessing, educating, and preparing patients for safe surgical and procedural interventions. Through comprehensive pre-operative nursing assessments, chart review, risk screening, patient education, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the PAT RN identifies potential clinical concerns, facilitates medical optimization, and ensures all necessary pre-operative requirements are completed prior to the day of surgery.
The PAT RN functions as a liaison between patients, surgeons, anesthesia providers, internal medicine providers, and hospital departments to promote patient safety, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and exceptional patient experiences. This role requires strong clinical judgment, critical thinking, organization, communication, and attention to detail while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced ambulatory setting.
Reports to: Department Manager | Director of Patient Care Services
$30.14 - $54.00 (posted hourly range excludes overtime and bonuses which are not guaranteed)
Clinical Assessment & Patient Preparation
Conduct comprehensive pre-operative nursing assessments, including review of health history, medications, allergies, surgical history, anesthesia history, and current health status.
Identify actual or potential perioperative risks and communicate findings to the appropriate providers for review and intervention.
Review laboratory results, diagnostic testing, medical clearances, and supporting clinical documentation to ensure readiness for surgery.
Collaborate with anesthesia, surgeons, internal medicine providers, and other disciplines to facilitate medical optimization prior to surgery.
Ensure all required pre-operative testing, consultations, documentation, and authorizations are completed according to organizational and regulatory requirements.
Escalate clinical concerns and facilitate timely resolution of issues that may impact patient safety or surgical scheduling.
Care Coordination
Serve as the primary coordinator of the pre-admission process for assigned patients.
Facilitate communication among patients, provider offices, anesthesia, nursing, registration, laboratory, radiology, and ancillary departments.
Track and manage outstanding pre-operative requirements to ensure completion before the scheduled procedure date.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation within the electronic health record.
Assist in identifying workflow inefficiencies and participate in process improvement initiatives.
Patient Education
Provide individualized pre-operative education regarding surgical preparation, medication management, fasting requirements, arrival instructions, discharge planning, and post-operative expectations.
Assess patient understanding and readiness for surgery utilizing appropriate teaching methods.
Ensure patient and family questions are addressed and communicated to appropriate providers when needed.
Promote patient engagement and informed participation in their care.
Professional Nursing Practice
Utilize the nursing process and evidence-based practice principles in assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care needs within the pre-operative setting.
Demonstrate sound clinical judgment and critical thinking when identifying patient risks and determining appropriate interventions.
Apply age-specific, cultural, developmental, and psychosocial considerations when caring for patients across the lifespan.
Maintain competency in perioperative and pre-admission nursing standards, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies.
Quality, Safety & Compliance
Participate in quality improvement, patient safety, and performance improvement initiatives.
Ensure compliance with hospital policies, accreditation standards, CMS requirements, and applicable state and federal regulations.
Protect patient confidentiality and maintain compliance with HIPAA and organizational privacy standards.
Identify and report safety concerns, process gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
Communication & Collaboration
Maintain professional and collaborative working relationships with patients, families, physicians, providers, and interdisciplinary team members.
Demonstrate effective verbal, written, and electronic communication skills.
Utilize departmental and organizational communication systems effectively, including email, electronic health records, and internal communication platforms.
Participate in meetings, education, and organizational initiatives as required.
Applies the principles and values of customer service and continuous quality improvement while performing day-to-day activities of the position.
Maintains and protects confidentiality regarding all aspects of patient care, personnel and strategic issues. Adheres to Confidentiality Policy.
Maintains positive attitude and working relationships that fosters a cooperative work environment. Adheres to the hospital’s Guidelines for Appropriate Conduct in the HR Manual.
Displays honesty and mutual respect when communicating with peers and other departments.
Follows through on problems that may compromise effective job performance by using appropriate chain of command.
Graduation from accredited school of nursing. Bachelor of Science in Nursing is preferred.
Current RN License. BLS Certification
Minimum one (1) year acute care nursing experience required. Previous experience in perioperative services, pre-admission testing, ambulatory surgery, PACU, ICU, ED, or medical-surgical nursing preferred.
Animas Surgical Hospital offers a competitive benefits package including but not limited to health, dental, vision, & life insurance and 401k with employer matching.
Animas Surgical Hospital is a drug free workplace and performs a pre-employment drug screen which includes marijuana.
Position requires lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling up to fifty (50) pounds while administering patient care; stooping, kneeling and/or crouching; standing and walking five (5) or more hours per day; reaching, grasping, and handling and/or feeling five (5) or more hours per day. Visual acuity to correctly distinguish skin tone variations, evidence of IV infiltration, infection and to read telemetry, blood pressure gauges, etc.; audio acuity to correctly distinguish various body sounds, i.e. respirators, heart sounds, bowel sounds and to discern sounds made by various types of machinery or equipment which would indicate dangerous or improper operation.
Environmental hazards such as chemicals, solvents, needles, needle containers, sharps, blood, body fluids, various infectious/communicable diseases, infectious medical waste, radiation, and/or radioactive materials and/or radioactive waste, proximity to moving mechanical parts. Protective clothing/equipment may be necessary.
Market context
Colorado nursing roles like this often draw steady demand from home health and hospice settings, where employers look for RNs who can work independently and manage patient care in the field. These positions are competitive because a current Colorado RN license, prior nursing experience, reliable transportation, and familiarity with HCHB can all strengthen an application. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your license, driving documents, and home health or hospice experience before applying.
