OR EDUCATOR

The Operating Room Educator at Riverside Healthcare is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs that enhance the skills and competencies of the surgical team. This role ensures that all perioperative staff members are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide the highest quality of care. The educator will collaborate with nursing leadership and other healthcare professionals to maintain a continuous learning environment and ensure compliance with regulatory standards and best practices.

Essential Duties

• Patient Assessment and Care Planning: Conduct comprehensive assessments of patients physical, emotional, and psychological needs. Develop and implement individualized care plans in collaboration with patients, families, and the healthcare team.
• Treatment Administration: Administer medications, treatments, and procedures as ordered by the provider. Monitor patient responses to treatments and adjust care plans as necessary to ensure optimal outcomes.
• Surgical Support: Assist the surgical team in preparing the operating room and patients for procedures, including pre-operative care, patient positioning, draping, and ensuring a sterile environment.
• Intra-Operative Care: Monitor patients vital signs during surgery and respond appropriately, working under supervision. Ensure continuous communication with the surgical team to anticipate needs and respond to emergencies.
• Post-Operative Care: Assist with post-operative care, including transferring patients to the recovery area and providing necessary follow-up support.
• Documentation: Accurately document patient care, administered medications, and procedural details in electronic medical records (EMR).
• Compliance and Safety: Follow hospital policies, procedures, and AORN standards, ensuring adherence to safety protocols and patient care expectations.
• Clinical Leadership and Staff Development: Act as a resource for staff, charge nurses, and physicians in the OR, articulating and maintaining clinical practice standards. Assist in coordinating staffing and resource allocation to meet patient needs efficiently.
• Patient Education: Educate patients and their families about their medical conditions, treatment options, and post-discharge care. Provide support and resources to help patients manage their health and recovery.
• Patient Experience: Engage with patients and their families in a manner that promotes comfort, trust, and understanding. Address patient concerns with empathy and professionalism, striving to create a positive and supportive environment that fosters a sense of security and well-being.
• Employee Experience: Contribute to a positive and collaborative work environment. Offer constructive feedback and assistance to peers, and engage in open communication to promote a culture of mutual respect and teamwork.
• Team Collaboration and Audits: Attend and contribute to key meetings, including OR Ad Hoc Committee, Infection Control, and Nursing Forums. Participate in monthly audits related to time-out procedures, fire risks, and scrub preparation.
• Professionalism and Teamwork: Foster a team-oriented work environment that prioritizes patient safety, quality improvement, and evidence-based practices. Promote ongoing professional development for staff and ensure adherence to hospital policies and procedures.
• Emergency Response: Respond to medical emergencies with quick and effective intervention, including performing life-saving procedures and stabilizing patients as needed.
• Infection Control: Adhere to infection control protocols and ensure a clean and safe environment for patients and staff. Implement standard precautions and safety measures to prevent the spread of infections.
• Additional Duties: Flexibly support the team by taking on additional tasks as needed to promote efficiency and safe patient care.

Non-essential Duties

• Participate in hospital-wide educational committees and initiatives as needed.
• Assist with the preparation and management of the operating room education budget.
• Attend professional development courses and conferences to stay current with industry trends and best practices.

Preferred Experience

• Progressive experience in specialty with minimum of 2 years of experience.

Required Licensure/Education

• Graduate of an approved school of nursing.
• CPR

Preferred Education

• BSN
• Facilitator for licensed Periop 101 course preferred.
• CNOR preferred

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our Commitment to You:

Riverside Healthcare offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and nationally rated employee well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more so your journey at and away from work is remarkable. Our Total Rewards package includes: 

Compensation

•              Base compensation within the positions pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
•              Premium pay such as shift differential, on-call
•              Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits - .5 to 1.0 FTE

•              Paid Time Off programs
•              Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
•              Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
•              Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
•              Educational Assistance Program

Benefits - .001 to .49 FTE:

•              Paid Leave Hours accrued as you work

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements:

Exposure to: 

• Chemicals: Disinfectants, glutaraldehyde 
• Video Display Terminals: Average 
• Blood and Body Fluids: Limited unless assisting in patient care areas. Appropriate universal precautions are used and protective apparel as necessary, i.e., gloves, goggles, gowns, etc. 
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: Patient diagnostic presentations do pose high risk; however, the OR follows universal precautions on all cases thus greatly reducing the risk to the OR personnel.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch): 

• Speech: Required to communicate with patients/families/staff/physicians. 
• Vision: Required to perform necessary assessments of patient status; comforting patient, operating controls on equipment, SIS. 
• Smell: Helpful to note presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety. 
• Hearing: Necessary to hear call lights, calls for help, hear patient's concerns, hear families' concerns, hear intercom for help in a room, hear alarms (fire, etc). 
• Touch: Necessary to perform percussive assessments and to comfort patients. Also needed to manipulate tools.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to: 

• Sit: 60% 
• Twist: 0%
• Stand: 20%
• Crawl: 1%
• Walk: 20%
• Kneel: 1%
• Lift: 1%
• Drive: 0%
• Squat: 1%
• Climb: 0%
• Bend: 1%
• Reach above shoulders: 1%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

• Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 20 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 35 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 50 lbs: Not Required
• Up to 75 lbs: Not Required
• Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
• Over 100 lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.): 

Carry X-ray folders weighing 5-15 lbs. a distance of 10-15'. Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh more than 35#. Carry instrument trays 50-100' at or above waist height and away from body. Possibility of carrying fire extinguisher 5 floors.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

• Sit: 90
• Twist: 0
• Stand: 45
• Crawl: 1
• Walk: 30
• Kneel: 1
• Lift: 2
• Drive: 0
• Squat: 2
• Climb: 1
• Bend: 2
• Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):

• Simple grasp<5#>
• Pushing & pulling no greater than 35# without assistive device
• Fine Manipulation: Writing and typing reports, using marker on board for assignments each day, pen or pencil for time cards each week.

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: 

• Raise and lower OR tables, eye beds, PACU carts with moderate pressure

Environmental Factors (Time Spent):

• Inside hours: 10+
• Outside hours: 0
• Temperature: Normal Range
• Lighting: Average
• Noise levels: Average
• Humidity: Normal Range
• Atmosphere: Fumes, odors

Special Hazards: Mechanical, Electrical, Radiation, Chemical - Sterilizers, both steam and chemical, electrical equipment (bovies), infrequent portable x-rays/Fluoro in OR rooms and PACU.

Protective Clothing Required: X-ray jackets/shields as indicated for exposure.