Overview

Perioperative services encompass the journey of the surgical patient from the pre-anesthesia testing (PAT) clinic, through their operation, to their recovery in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). We offer careers in both adult perioperative and pediatric perioperative nursing. AU Nurses have the opportunity to work in:

• Pre-Anesthesia Testing clinic (PAT): A pre-surgical screening team of RNs (often with  an anesthesiologist) will perform a thorough examination of the pre-surgical patient to evaluate any testing and educational needs necessary to determine a patient’s health prior to surgery.
• Day surgery: Nurses work with all surgical specialties and electric convulsive therapy patients. They collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, residents, physician assistants (PAs), social workers, and physical/occupational therapists to navigate the patient through a safe surgical experience.
• Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU): Nurses need to have excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently. Prior PACU or ICU experience is preferred. Nurses recover the post-operative patient prior to admission to an inpatient unit, or to be discharged home. The PACU team works collaboratively with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and residents, along with other specialists.
• Operating Room (OR): AUMC is a Level I Trauma Center with an OR that provides trauma surgery. OR nurses work with medical staff, anesthesia, surgery, radiology, pathology and other hospital services and clinics. The nursing staff goes through an extensive orientation and new nurses attend an operating room nurse residency program.
• Central Sterile Processing (CSP): Trained to sterilize instruments and supplies to operating rooms, hospital clinics, and outlying clinical areas. CSP follows strict infection control procedures and has a strict quality control program to assure cleanliness and sterility of all instruments and flexible scopes. AU Health hires nurses who are graduates of sterile processing programs and also provides extensive orientation in sterile reprocessing.

Requirements

All new-hires go through Periop 101: A Core Curriculum^TM, a comprehensive, blended education program developed by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses based on the latest evidence-based guidelines. New graduate hires join other new graduate nurses for a one-year Nurse Residency Program.

Certification opportunities

Many of our registered nurses (RN) have extended their education and are certified in perianesthesia nursing and perioperative nursing, becoming highly recognized for their education, experience, and knowledge. Our nurses seek certification in order to provide the best care and surgical outcome for each and every patient. Our goal is to have all staff certified within a 3-year period. AU Health is proud of our:

• Certified ambulatory perianesthesia nurses (CAPA)
• Certified OR nurses (CNOR)
• Certified post-anesthesia nurses (CPAN)
• Many of the staff members in CSP are certified through IAHCSMM

Commitments

• Shifts: 8, 10, or 12 hour shifts, Monday through Friday, covering urgent and emergent cases after hours through rotational call.