Staff Nurse/Recovery Room

Job description

Position Title: Surgery RN
Shift: Days – 7:00am – 5:30pm.
Status: Full-time
Compensation: $36.00 — $50.00
The estimated range is the budgeted amount for this position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications and comparisons to colleagues in similar roles.
About Us
Saint Anthony Hospital is a diverse and community-centric hospital your career can thrive in, while addressing the health and wellness challenges that families in our neighborhood face. Our employees deliver on our mission and achieve success by working together to provide excellent customer service and patient care.
As part of Saint Anthony Hospital’s commitment to providing the highest quality health care, we will be building a new state-of-the-art hospital to serve as an anchor to the Focal Point Community Campus. Learn more at focalpointchicago.org.
The Pre / Post-Operative Registered Nurse (RN) delivers comprehensive nursing care to patients undergoing ambulatory or inpatient surgical procedures. This dual role spans both pre-operative preparation (getting the patient ready for the operating room) and post-anesthesia care / Phase II recovery (monitoring the patient as they wake up and preparing them for a safe discharge home). Operating in a fast-paced environment, this nurse collaborates closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and operating room staff to optimize patient throughput and ensure high standards of patient safety.
Duties and Responsibilities
Pre-Operative Care Phase
• Patient Assessment & Prep: Conduct comprehensive physical and psychological health assessments, review medical histories, verify allergies, medications, and pre-admission lab or EKG results.
• Safety Protocols: Verify the surgical consent forms, planned procedure, and anatomical surgical site markers in alignment with facility guidelines.
• Clinical Interventions: Insert peripheral intravenous (IV) lines, draw ordered pre-op labs and administer prescribed pre-operative medications (such as antibiotics or anxiolytics).
• Collaboration & Handoff: Communicate critical patient information or anesthetic contraindications directly to the surgical and anesthesia teams and provide a structured handoff when transferring the patient to the OR.

Post-Operative / PACU Phase
• Immediate Recovery Monitoring: Assess and stabilize patients immediately returning from surgery. Frequently monitor and record vital signs, respiratory status, oxygen saturation, cardiovascular/neurological changes, and surgical dressings.
• Symptom Management: Administer post-operative medications to manage pain, nausea, or hemodynamic instability according to standardized provider protocols.
• Complication Response: Recognize early warning signs of respiratory distress, cardiac dysrhythmias, hemorrhage, or surgical emergencies (such as Malignant Hyperthermia) and intervene immediately.
• Discharge Readiness: Evaluate patients using standardized recovery scoring systems to ensure they meet objective ambulatory discharge criteria.

Patient Education & Administrative Duties
• Patient & Family Education: Instruct patients and caregivers on what to expect during the perioperative process, explain post-operative care restrictions, and thoroughly review at-home wound care, medication schedules, and warning signs before discharge.
• Documentation: Maintain meticulous electronic health records (EHR) of all clinical assessments, vital signs, medication administrations, and nursing interventions.
• Environment Maintenance: Perform daily safety checklists on code carts, manage medical supply inventory in patient bays, and strictly adhere to sterile and infection control techniques.

Benefits
• Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (Medical/Dental/Vision) Benefits are effective upon start date.
• Employer-Matching Retirement Plans
• Qualifying Employment for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free parking

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
• Saint Anthony Hospital is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment based on age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected status.