Functions as a dependent practitioner, academically and clinically prepared to provide health care services with direction from and under the supervision of a licensed surgeon. Carries out procedures or tasks that are routinely performed within the normal scope of the surgeon's practice for applicable areas, as delegated by the supervising surgeon.
Responsibilities:
Performs the following tasks within the scope of practice and under physician supervision: monitors effectiveness of therapeutic interventions; provides patient education; applies and/or removes casts or splints after examination by the supervising physician; inserts and/or removes a Foley or Cudae catheter into the urinary bladder; and performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Assists during the pre-operative phase by communicating significant findings to appropriate personnel, physicians, and staff.
Acquires x-rays if applicable and makes positive identification of patient utilizing patient name band and verbal response.
Provides emotional support to the patient by responding to needs and by communicating with the patient (i.e., explains procedure such as positioning, environment, etc.) during the intraoperative phase.
Participates in the identification and verification of the surgical site with other members of the surgical team.
Helps move the patient to the OR table in a safe manner, maintaining proper body alignments and avoiding circulatory compromise and pressure upon nerves and other areas of the body areas, and ensures that patient is not left alone on the OR table.
Assists in surgical procedures under the direct supervision of the surgeon who is in close proximity and present during surgery, and only when the participation is indicated on the informed consent form.
These procedures may include: handling of tissue; using instruments (e.g., retractors); providing hemostasis and placing sutures as part of the surgical procedure; and closing subcutaneous tissue and skin.
Performs surgical hand scrub according to procedure, adhering to sterile technique, taking appropriate action when break occurs and carrying out surgical "preoperative" according to procedure.
Carries out surgical "draping" procedure, maintaining a sterile field, and prepares surgical work area (i.e., place light handles and electrosurgical units, etc.).
Provides first or second assists on assigned cases and anticipates surgeon's needs.
Wears appropriate protective gear as mandated by O.S.H.A.
Communicates with the surgical team concerning case progression, and changes in patient condition and reporting unusual occurrences.
Assists with dressing application and field breakdown and anesthesia.
Maintains awareness of drains, tubing, etc. and protecting the patient at all times while moving patient to cart.
Assists in transporting patient to Post-Anesthesia Care Unit and/or Intensive Care Unit in a safe and secure manner.
Maintains knowledge of and supports system policies, procedures, philosophy and objectives and all department standards and adheres to them consistently.
Maintains skills by attending internal and external education in-services.
Promotes understanding and optimum function of department and hospital and takes emergency surgery according to call procedure.
May be contacted at times when not on call and additional help is required. Assists with education and training of medical and/or surgical residents, medical students, P.A. students, etc.
Evaluates new products and provides timely and complete feedback.
No Staff Assistant shall otherwise perform surgery, act as a surgeon, hold himself or herself out as a surgeon, practice medicine independently, or hold himself or herself out as physician as defined in Chapter 4731 of the Revised Code. No Staff
Assistant shall perform a surgical task or procedure which is the primary purpose of the surgery.
Other duties as assigned.
Education:
APRN: EDUCATION: Effective 05/01/2014: MSN required upon hire or within 5 years of hire for external hires and internal hires moving from a non-APRN licensed role to an APRN licensed role.
Graduate of an accredited ARPN training program.
PA: EDUCATION: Graduate of an A.R.C.-approved Physician Assistant Program.
Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies and/or applicable state license through the State Medical Board for certificate to practice.
Competencies (Complexity of Work):
APRN/PA: Excellent analytical and decision making skills are required.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
Demonstrated competency and the ability to perform advanced assessment and diagnosis.
Demonstrated ability to utilize the electronic medical record.
Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.
Depending on practice, surgical fields may require surgical experience.
Work Experience:
APRN: Two years clinical advanced practice nursing experience preferred.
PA: Two years relative clinical experience preferred.
Physical Requirements:
APRN/PA: Typical physical demands include the ability to walk and stand for long periods of time.
Manual and finger dexterity and eye/hand coordination to perform physical examinations.
Requires corrected vision and hearing to a normal range.
Occasionally lifts and carries items weighing up to 50 pounds.
May require exposure to communicable diseases and/or body fluids.
Personal Protective Equipment:
Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.
The policy of Cleveland Clinic Health System and its system hospitals (Cleveland Clinic Health System) is to provide equal opportunity to all of our caregivers and applicants for employment in our drug free environment. All offers of employment are followed by testing for controlled substances.
Cleveland Clinic Health System administers an influenza prevention program. You will be required to comply with this program, which will include obtaining an influenza vaccination on an annual basis or obtaining an approved exemption.
Decisions concerning employment, transfers and promotions are made upon the basis of the best qualified candidate without regard to color, race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. Information provided on this application may be shared with any Cleveland Clinic Health System facility.
Please review the Equal Employment Opportunity poster.
Cleveland Clinic Health System is pleased to be an equal employment employer: Women / Minorities / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities