Staff Nurse V-Inpatient Clinical - Surgery/Recovery

San Joaquin General Hospital is seeking an experienced nurse to fill this key position as the Clinical Educator for the Perioperative Services Department.  Perioperative Services encompasses the following units: Operating Room (OR), Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), GI, Anesthesia, and Sterile Processing.  Ideal candidates should demonstrate strong preceptor skills, problem-solving skills, an ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and an ability to mentor current and new nursing staff as well as scrub and circulating experience.

Typical Duties:

•  Initiates the nursing process and performs highly skilled, clinical patient care including therapeutic measures prescribed by medical authority within the limits of the Nurse Practice Act and department policy; participates in preparation and implementation of written nursing care plans for individual patients.
• Evaluates the total nursing needs of the patient including physical, psychological, spiritual, cultural and socio-economic; participates in planning, coordinating and administering total patient care; evaluates symptoms, reactions, and progress; participates in preparation and implementation of written nursing care plans for individual patients.
• Works with patients and families through teaching, counseling, and other methodology in order to help them understand, cope with, and accept illness, treatment, and therapy; assists in self care strategies; may supervise and participate in therapy groups, individual counseling and family conferences, as necessary; provides crisis intervention, stabilization and follow-up therapy; makes crisis referrals as required.
• Implements and interprets standards of care; communicates and records assessments, nursing diagnoses, interventions, and evaluations of patient's progress using nursing care plans; maintains a safe, therapeutic environment for patients.
• Serves as a preceptor for new employees by orienting, teaching, participating in the evaluation process, and by serving as a role model and resource person.
• Keeps records of patient's health care treatment and/or hospital stay; prepares reports and standard forms; initiates and completes performance improvement and other studies in cooperation with the Nursing Department Manager.
• Assumes full responsibility for the supervision of a unit or shift in the absence of an Assistant Nursing Department Manager or Nursing Department Manager; supervises and assists nursing personnel in the performance of patient care.
• Maintains and updates knowledge base and nursing skills by reading literature, attending workshops, lectures, conferences and classes as may be required by the Administration of the Department of Health Care Services.
• Participates on committees as assigned; may represent the department to outside organizations.
• Participates in the identification of staff development needs for members of the nursing staff.
• Prepares and presents, within established guidelines, clinical projects as assigned; as applicable, consults and coordinates projects with Clinical Nurse Specialists, the Education and Training Division, or other divisions as appropriate for preparation of courses for Nursing and other staff.