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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to work in both the PACU and ward area in day surgery. Competency based training will be provided in both areas.

WARD

The duties of practitioners working on the ward area are to welcome and orientate all patients in the ward area. Pre-operatively: The patients are admitted and prepared for theatre which can include administration of Pre-operative medication, working to Patient Group Directives, ensuring patients have been seen by the surgeons and anaesthetists and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. Together with the anaesthetist and surgeon, the ward practitioner will plan the patient’s immediate and continuing care needs, Including their medical, physical, social and psychological needs.

Post operatively, Patients returning from theatre will be handed over to the ward staff by a qualified member of the theatre/recovery team.

Paediatric days: The ward team are made up with paediatric nurses from the children’s ward and members of the day surgery unit team.

Second stage recovery: Care includes assessment of patients returning from theatre. Observations completed as per protocols. Completion of written documentation on care pathway. Ensure that the patient has adequate diet and fluids during second stage recovery. Continuous assessment of the patient’s recovery and escalation of any concerns to the nurse in charge or surgical/anaesthetic team. Preparing/planning of discharge e.g. practice nurse referral. Ensure the patients have met the discharge criteria before discharge is commenced.

Discharge: The ward team are autonomous practitioners in nurse led discharges. Competencies are completed to enable you to become an autonomous practitioner. As part of the nurse led discharge, the nurse adds additional information to the letter. The dispensing of medication to be taken home, in line with protocol. The nurse will liaise with patient’s relative/friend/carer to arrange collection from the unit. The ward area is fast paced due to the need to safely discharge patients to manage the flow of patients throughout the day. We have two ward areas where the patients are admitted and discharge from. We care for patients having general, regional, sedation and local anaesthetics.

Trust IT systems include PCS Live, WebV, ICE, EPMA, Patient track and bluespier. The ward staff and ward clerk team work closely to ensure that patient records are available and prepared. The ward area to be prepared and ready for the next day.

PACU

The post anaesthetic care unit exists to provide a place of safety for patients recovering from general, regional, sedation and local anaesthetic. In the PACU the patient is consistently monitored by an experienced practitioner who will recognise and act upon any signs of deterioration in the patient’s condition. It is the priority of the PACU practitioner to perform an A-E assessment, in order to make their decisions about the patient’s stability.

Together with the anaesthetist and surgeon, the PACU practitioner will plan the patient’s immediate and continuing care needs, organising pain relief, physical and psychological support and assessment of all surgical and physiological considerations.

Once patients have been suitably recovered and having met the discharge criteria, patients can be safely transferred back to the Day Surgery ward, or an inpatient ward within HDFT, in a stable condition. Most patients can be managed within the PACU, but some may need to be transferred to a critical care environment, if further close monitoring and care are necessary.

After sedation, general or regional anaesthesia, all patients are recovered in a specially designated area, within the Day Surgery Unit of HDFT, post anaesthetic care is delivered across two recovery areas with a total of 5 equipped Bays. The recovery area is staffed by trained practitioners where each patient receives one to-one care until they have regained control of their airway, demonstrated cardiovascular stability and is able to communicate.

The PACU team is made up of both ODP’s and Nurses who are trained and experienced in Post Anaesthetic Care. All practitioners are trained in the management of supraglottic airways, and their removal. An Anaesthetist is always available if required. All PACU practitioners are trained and qualified in PILS, ILS, administration of IV drugs and have training for the management of the diabetic patient.