looking for information on roles and responsibilities of perioperative nurses?

Answer 1

This will help you:
http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/pn-career.html
http://www.ssmonline.org/ssmonlinemedia/Documents/70.pdf

As witih any field in nursing, some of your responsibilities will vary with the instituition which hires you. The basic responsibilites though will be the same.

Answer 2

Perioperative Nursing Competencies
The perioperative nurse has to be able to implement nursing
actions to ensure and maintain a safe environment for the
patient. He or she demonstrates the proper use of all OR
equipment such as...electrosurgical equipment, placement of
the ESU (electrosurgical equipment) pad and proper placement
of SCD's (sequential compression device). The nurse has to
have knowledge of the working of and be able to troubleshoot
problems with any and all equipment used in the OR's:
Microscope, phacoemulsification machine, dermatomes, IV pumps,
light sources,video equipment (camera, printer, insufflator).
If there is a problem with any of the equipment the nurse has
to be able to initiate corrective action for the
malfunctioning equipment.
Other equipment that is used in the OR that has to be
checked for availability and functioning is:
surgical lights, OR tables, accessories and furniture,
oxygen and nitrous oxide lines, suction systems,
arterial lines, blood warmers, nitrogen tanks, drills,
batteries for equipment, pulse lavage system, cement system,
emergency cardiac equipment and warming blanket/Bair hugger

The perioperative nurse that functions as a Circulating RN
in the operating room performs sharps, sponge, and instrument
counts per policy with the scrub tech or scrub nurse. She
implements the safe transfer of the patient to and from the
OR bed and ensures that the side rails and safety straps are
used appropriately.

Before the patient enters the OR suite the chart is checked for
surgical and anesthesia consents, allergies, history and physical
physician's preoperative orders, laboratory, electrocardiogram
values, x-ray reports, correct patient name, number and surgical
procedure and NPO status. This information is then verified
with the patient and after proper verification the patient is
taken into the OR suite. Accurate and effective verification of
information and documentation of same is necessary on the
surgical record, charge slips, quality assurance monitors and
lab slips. Patient confidentiality is maintained and patient
information is communicated only as needed to provide continuity
of care. The dignity of the patient is protected by providing
as much physical protection as possible.

The Circulating RN is responsible for positioning of the
patient using proper body alignment and body mechanics and
demonstrates proper positioning of the patient on the OR
equipment that is appropriate to the operative procedure
(beach chair, stirrups for lithotomy position, hip table,etc.).
The nurse maintains the patient's skin integrity and ensures
that clothing and bedding are clean and dry, uses proper techniques
when prepping the surgical site and adjusts bedding and clothing
by lifting rather than using shearing force. The apropriate
dressing is applied when the operative procedure is finished
and at that time the RN provides equipment for transporting
the patient and supplying any equipment needed for airway
maintenance during transport of the patient ( i.e. portable
O2, ambubag, portable monitors, nasal airway).

Demonstration of competency to create and maintain the sterile
field and the use of universal precautions and the recommended
hand wash for scrubbing for operative procedures is followed
per policy.

The perioperative Circulating RN checks sterility of items
to be used during the operative procedure by verifying the
expiration date, package integrity and by the sterile indicator
color change. Sterility is maintained when opening sterile items
and moniting of draping and the sterile field for breaks
in technique or sterility. If a break in sterility or technique
occurs, corrective action is taken to correct the break.

Other competencies are opening instruments and sterile supplies
using sterile technique to the back table of the scrub, pouring
sterile solutions into sterile containers, adjusting the OR
lights, preparing labels and taking care of specimens per policy,
remaining with the patient during induction of anesthesia
and assisting anesthesia with the induction, assisting with
gowning of surgical team members, anticipating needs of the
surgical team members and supplying items as needed, sending for
the next patient in a timely manner and perparing for
subsequent procedures.