Meadville Medical Center·Meadville, Pennsylvania
The Registered Nurse is responsible for assessing patient conditions, developing and implementing individualized care plans, and providing direct nursing care in a perioperative/PACU setting. Key duties include administering medications, assisting physicians during procedures, and ensuring patient safety through consistent monitoring and hourly rounds.
Assesses the patient’s condition and nursing needs. Based on those conditions and needs, develops and implements individual plan of care with revisions as patient’s condition and needs change.
Nursing assessment completed upon admission to the unit, post procedure and discharge, and complete immunization and pain assessment.
Develops and implements a nursing plan of care according to patient’s assessed needs.
Revises care plan as condition needs change and updates daily.
Conducts “hourly rounds” on assigned patients consistently.
Focus is on safety of patients through fall reduction, restraint reduction and the safe administration of medications.
Cognizant of and addresses the patient’s level of comfort and pain management.
Expresses concern and understanding regarding patient and family satisfaction.
Maintains the standards of nursing care within the guidelines of the nursing department.
Demonstrates knowledge of and implements policies and procedures of the hospital and nursing departments.
Directs, supervises and evaluates nursing care provided to the patients and administers direct care, by using professional nursing skills and judgments as required. Includes pain assessment, interventions, and re-assessment.
Assists physicians with patient rounds, procedures, and exams and documents on patient record.
Transcribes physician orders accurately and legibly.
Observation of accuracy and legibility.
Uses appropriate abbreviations.
Documented oral orders - “read back” is present as well as date, time and signature.
Administers medications, including IV’s according to hospital policy and procedure.
Observed administering and documenting medications according to hospital procedure.
Inserts IV’s as ordered. Documents appropriately on patient record.
Correct usage of Pyxis and documentation of wasted narcotics.
Adhere to Patient Safety Goals of medication administration.
Demonstrates cost-conscious use of supplies; maintains equipment in a clean and safe manner.
Demonstrates responsibility for containment of hospital costs and conservation of supplies and equipment.
Demonstrates fiscal responsibility for overtime and patient charges.
Maintains and demonstrates the standards of nursing care within the guidelines of the nursing department, PNA, ASA, and ASPAN Standards.
Demonstrates knowledge of and implements PACU specific, Administrative and Nursing policies and procedures.
Implements physician orders pertaining to LSCU/PACU care.
Participates in the orientation of new staff and in the clinical experience of students.
Assumes personal responsibility for professional development and continuing education.
Attendance at in-service programs - continuing education programs outside of the hospital and that is required.
Attends unit meetings, other meetings, reads notices and memos.
Participates in nursing councils.
Maintains skills in the assessment, treatment, and care appropriate to the unique needs of the perioperative patient (i.e. age groups, disease process of the patient).
Completes/maintains biannual ACLS certification.
Completes annual house wide and LSCU/PACU specific recredentialing.
Completes/maintains biannual ACLS certification.
Completes annual house wide and LSCU/PACU specific recredentialing.
Recognizes and reports findings outside the normal range for this age group.
Critical lab values and correct response.
Vital signs and correct reporting.
Ability to communicate and serves as a liaison between patient’s family and services needed.
Is perceptive to the impact of changing life roles.
Considers limitation of patient and takes measures to protect them.
Utilizes appropriate hand out materials for reinforcement.
Involves both patient and caregivers to be included in care.
Consults Social Services for questions concerning home care.
Knowledgeable of importance of patient safety assessment.
Completes fall assessment on admission and updates upon return from the O.R.
Identifies patient at risk for falls.
Ambulates using two staff as needed.
Use care in positioning and pulling patients up in stretcher.
Follows hospital protocols to avoid restraint use whenever possible.
Transports safely.
Provide adequate warmth.
Keep cubicles well lit.
Is aware of the responsibility and mechanism to report abuse specific to this age group which may include financial as well as physical abuse.
Demonstrates the ability to provide age specific dietary considerations.
Makes appropriate dietary referrals when indicated.
Serves appropriate nourishments in proper containers.
Establishes and documents diet at home - Give choices.
Promote good nutrition when applicable.
Verify adherence to preop dietary restrictions.
Assesses pain intensity utilizing scale appropriate for age.
Utilize numeric pain score 0/10 for adolescent, adult, geriatric.
Recognize presence of pain and document findings in the non-communicated patient.
Identifies appropriate equipment for age/size of patient.
Applies appropriate size NIBP cuff.
Promotes adequate oxygenation.
Utilizes appropriate oxygen therapy for age.
Inserts correct sized nasal/oral airway.
Applies appropriate size pulse oximeter probe.
Medium Work - Lifting, Carrying, Pushing, Pulling 20 - 50 Lbs. occasionally, 10 - 25 Lbs. frequently or up to 10 Lbs. constantly.
Occasionally - Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
Frequently - Extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.
Frequently - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands. Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand, such as to turn a switch or shift automobile gears.
Frequently - Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
Frequently - Noting attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
Frequently - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or to the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
Frequently - Perceiving the nature of sounds by ear.
Frequently - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less.
Occasionally - Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This factor is required when doing near point work at varying distances from the eye.
Frequently - Ability to identify and distinguish colors.
Minimum education, knowledge, skills, and abilities required
Professional knowledge of nursing theory and practice at a level normally acquired through completion of an accredited School of Nursing. Specialty units may have additional requirements according to their policy.
Current State Nursing License.
Communication skills necessary to effectively: Provide instruction to the patient and/or significant other
Provide explanations to the patient and/or significant other
Explain nursing intervention
Communicate with other members of the health team.
ACLS, PALS and BLS.
Normal patient care environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, and temperature changes. A large part of work time is standing or walking.
Subject to certain distasteful patient care activities and exposure to communicable diseases.
May be scheduled overtime, weekend and/or holiday hours.
May be exposed to potential hazards such as chemical wastes, body wastes, fluids and other possible infectious material.
MMC commits to review, under the intent of this standard, and in coordination with medical professional opinion’s and physical demands job analysis performed by certified professionals, an individual’s ability to be reasonably accommodated within the role they are responsible and qualified to perform.
MMC is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and providing equal opportunity employment for qualified persons with disabilities. All employment practices and activities are conducted on a nondiscriminatory basis. Meadville Medical Center will follow any state or local law that provides individuals with disabilities greater protection that the ADA.
Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, this in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific tasks does not exclude them from the position if the task is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position, or is imperative for patient care and to meet emergency situations.
Candidates must have completed an accredited School of Nursing and hold a current State Nursing License. Required certifications include ACLS, PALS, and BLS, along with the ability to meet medium-level physical demands.
Market context
Pennsylvania nursing roles are typically in steady demand across hospitals, outpatient settings, and long-term care, especially for RNs with current state licensure and BLS certification. These positions are competitive because employers often prefer candidates with a BSN and recent medical-surgical experience, and this platform’s AI-summarized requirements and benefits help you review the original posting faster. Before applying, confirm your Pennsylvania RN license, BLS status, and whether your experience matches the unit’s preferred background.
