RN Preadmission Testing

RN Preadmission Testing

 POSITION SUMMARY

* The Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) Registered Nurse is responsible for coordinating and conducting preoperative assessments to ensure patients are medically optimized and cleared for surgical or procedural interventions. This role emphasizes obtaining, reviewing, and validating all required medical clearances, diagnostics, and documentation in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and other healthcare disciplines. The PAT RN helps reduce day-of-surgery cancellations and ensures patient safety and compliance with regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

Preoperative Assessment & Evaluation

* Perform comprehensive nursing assessments (in-person or via phone) including medical history, medication reconciliation, allergies, and risk screening. * Identify comorbidities or risk factors that may impact surgical outcomes. * Utilize standardized protocols to determine the need for additional testing or specialty clearance.

Clearance Coordination (Core Function)

* Coordinate and obtain required medical clearances (e.g., cardiology, pulmonary, primary care, anticoagulation, anesthesia review). * Review and validate that all medical clearances meet facility, anesthesia, and surgeon requirements. * Track outstanding clearance items and follow up proactively to ensure completion prior to scheduled procedure. * Communicate deficiencies or concerns to appropriate providers and escalate when necessary.

Diagnostics & Documentation

* Order, review, and track preoperative tests (e.g., labs, EKGs, imaging) per protocol. * Ensure all results are received, reviewed, and appropriately filed in the patient record. * Collaborate with providers to address abnormal findings prior to surgery.

Patient Education & Preparation

* Provide preoperative instructions, including NPO guidelines, medication management, and arrival expectations. * Educate patients on procedure preparation and post-operative expectations. * Ensure patient understanding and compliance with pre-surgical requirements.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

* Serve as a liaison between patients, surgeons, anesthesia, primary care providers, and specialists. * Communicate readiness status and address barriers to clearance. * Participate in multidisciplinary planning for high-risk patients.

Documentation & Compliance

* Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation in the electronic health record (EHR). * Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and organizational policies. * Support audit readiness related to preoperative processes.

Key Competencies

* Clinical judgment: ability to identify risks and escalate concerns appropriately. * Organization & follow-through: strong tracking and task management skills for clearances. * Communication: effective coordination across multiple providers and departments. * Attention to detail: ensuring all requirements are complete and accurate prior to surgery. * Patient-centered care: ability to educate and guide patients through preoperative preparation.

 QUALIFICATIONS

1. · Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Georgia.   2. · Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN preferred).  3. · Minimum 2–3 years of clinical nursing experience (perioperative, PACU, ICU, or med-surg preferred).  4. · Strong knowledge of preoperative assessment and surgical risk factors.  5. · Proficiency in EHR systems and clinical documentation. 6. · Experience in pre-admission testing or surgical services.  7. · Familiarity with anesthesia requirements and surgical clearance protocols.  8. · Case management or care coordination experience.

Work Environment

* Hospital ambulatory surgery center setting. * Typically daytime hours with limited weekend/holiday requirements. * Occasionally can be floated to other areas as needed. * Combination of in-person patient interaction and telephone-based assessments.

Performance Metrics

* Reduction in day-of-surgery cancellations. * Percentage of patients fully cleared prior to scheduled procedures. * Turnaround time for clearance completion. * Compliance with documentation and regulatory standards. * Patient satisfaction with preoperative preparation.

9. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities * Excellent customer service skills. * Reads and understands the English language. * Ability to think critically and analytically with little or no supervision * Ability to work effectively in situations of high stress and conflict and communicate goals and outcomes. * Ability to process information and prioritize * Possesses exceptional verbal and written communication skills * Possesses independent work habits, is self-reliant and self-directed * Ability to learn, adapt, and change as required by the job functions * Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of material and information accessed and reviewed * Basic computer literacy * Ability to move freely, reach, bend, and complete light lifting * Ability to use good body mechanics while performing daily job functions and ability to follow specific OSHA guidelines * Ability to maintain attendance to meet standard job practices

2. Licensure * Licensed in good standing with the Georgia Board of Nursing and EKG Course. * BCLS * Additional certifications may be required: ACLS, PALS, etc. 3. Experience * 1 - 2 years experience preferred. 4. Interpersonal skills * Positive and effective communication skills 5. Essential technical/motor skills

7. Essential physical requirements * Heavy: Exert 50 – 100 lb. of force occasionally and/or up to 30 lb. of force frequently - >75%

8. Essential mental requirements

1. Essential sensory requirements 2. Other * Basic skills as defined by licensure/certification.

11. Equipment used

 OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

1. Exposure to hazards (body fluid exposure level) * Level I

2. Age of Patient Populations Served * Neonates 1 - 30 days * Infants 30 days - 1 year * Children 1 - 12 years * Adolescents 13 - 18 years * Adults 19 - 70 years * Geriatrics - 70+ years

 STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

* CRMC employees are devoted to serving our customers – including patients, physicians, fellow-employees and our community by adhering to the Standards of Performance. We are here to make all our customers feel special.

1. Respectful and Confidential – Employee respects the rights of privacy of our patients. Ensures cultural differences are respected. 2. Responsive – Employee responds quickly, graciously and appropriately to customer needs. Employee thanks customers. 3. Gratitude and Attitude – Employee’s behavior shows that he/she believes that each of us controls our own attitude and that what is important is not so much as what happens to us, but how we choose to react to it. 4. Pride, Ownership, and Image – Employee accepts all the rights and responsibilities of being a part of the CRMC family. 5. Communication – Employee is personally accountable for positive communication with the customer – patients, family members and co-workers. 6. Teamwork - Employee contributes positively to the CRMC team and is committed to treating coworkers with courtesy, honesty and respect. Employee abides by the Time and Attendance Policy. Employee has team pride in the purpose of our work – saving lives.

 JOB SPECIFIC DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

* Below are those tasks, duties, and responsibilities that comprise the means of accomplishing the position’s purpose and objectives. These are critical or fundamental to the performance of the position. They are the major functions for which the person in the position is held accountable. Following are the essential functions of the position, along with the corresponding performance standards. * Assesses and diagnoses patient and family needs in order to provide quality care to assigned