Job Description:

Acute Pain RN

PRN I First Shift

Surgical Services I Lexington, KY

Baptist Health Lexington Surgical Services Department encompasses several key areas: the Pre-Op Department, 20 operating rooms with a business office staff responsible for scheduling, a Postoperative Care Unit, an Endoscopy Department with dedicated pre- and post-op areas, and a Sterile Processing Department.

Description:

Acute Pain Nurse will autonomously plan, provide, oversee, and document the professional nursing care of the surgical patient who will undergo a regional anesthesia procedure. Work within the anesthesia, surgical and nursing teams to develop a patient plan of care.Follow the nursing process to complete specialized assessment of this patient followed by the planning and implementation of a safe and efficient block procedure for this surgical patient prior to going to the operating room. Specialized knowledge of nerve anatomy, specialized assessment of patients receiving a nerve block technique including assessing risks and contraindications in the patient population.Performs education of patients and their families on block procedure as well as post-operative care and management.Set up of block procedure for chosen patient plan of care—communicating with all care providers and acting in an autonomous manner to assure safe efficient delivery of careKnowledge of all block equipment including ultrasound and nerve stimulator.Increased safety measures in this specific patient population including emergency airway equipment checks and time our protocol initiation.Knowledge of local anesthetic medications.Be able to act independently to plan and provide care for this patient in accordance with physician order and facility policy and procedure. The acute pain nurse will be expected to think critically and demonstrate strong procedural performance in a pre-surgical environment. Perform rounds on patients daily to evaluate pain levels and assess the function of the block/medicines that are infusing via the nerve catheter. Evaluate the catheter placement and its effectiveness. Individual phone calls will be made to patients to evaluate pain and assess medication use. Evaluation will be documented and communicated to block team members. Data collection will be performed, and the acute pain nurse will initiate the research process. Goal will be to publish results and improve patient care

Requirements:

Current RN licensure and work permit in Kentucky. Bachelor's or an associate degree in nursing from an accredited college/university. Applicants with an associate degree in nursing and less than 10 years of experience must enroll within 12 months of hire in a bachelor’s degree program and must have achieved the degree within 5 years. ACLS/PALS/NRP and successful completion of dysrhythmia class as required before end of orientation.

If you would like to be part of a growing family focused on supporting clinical excellence, teamwork and innovation, we urge you to apply now!

Baptist Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.