Hospital - PACU RN III (Full Time, 5x8s)

Job Description

The RN III, PACU functions at a proficient level and provides expert post-anesthesia nursing care. This nurse mentors staff, leads recovery room initiatives, and contributes to department-wide performance and safety goals. The RN III supports recovery of complex patients, serves as a clinical resource, and drives evidence-based practices that enhance outcomes in the post-anesthesia environment at UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty & Research Hospital. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, leading unit and shared governance activities, serving as charge nurse as needed, assessing the unit's needs related to practice and improvement opportunities, serving as a clinical resource for both unit and hospital staff, and coordinating unit and hospital-wide education in partnership with management.

Responsibilities

• Provides expert-level post-anesthesia care to patients recovering from sedation or general anesthesia.
• Serves as a shift resource for complex clinical interventions including ventilator care, airway management, and EKG monitoring.
• Mentors PACU nurses in patient recovery scoring, pain management, and sedation-related complication response.
• Leads orientation, skills training, and clinical development programs for new staff, travel nurses, or float pool nurses.
• Monitors recovery trends and collaborates with anesthesia and the inpatient care team to optimize discharge or transfer planning.
• Serves as an expert consultant during rapid response events, CERT activations, or emergency codes within PACU.
• Supports team situational awareness through real-time coaching, education, and team debriefs post-critical events.
• Leads quality improvement initiatives related to PACU-specific indicators, such as unplanned admissions or delayed recoveries.
• Develops and delivers in-service training or clinical huddles on recovery best practices and safety interventions.
• Participates in documentation audits and supports EMR optimization efforts across recovery workflows.
• Acts as a liaison for interdisciplinary rounding and patient throughput coordination.
• Assists in policy reviews and standard updates aligned with anesthesia recovery best practices.
• Collaborates with Nurse Manager on peer evaluations, performance coaching, and identifying skill gaps.
• Provides support to families and patients during recovery transitions, reinforcing discharge education and expectations.
• Supports PACU readiness through supply checks, equipment troubleshooting, and process refinement.
• Represents PACU interests on hospital-wide nursing councils, research pilots, or shared governance initiatives.
• Functions as relief charge nurse and supports workload adjustments based on acuity and census.
• Performs other job-related duties to promote safety, efficiency, and excellence in post-anesthesia care.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of post-anesthesia monitoring, airway management, and pain control.
• Demonstrates strong assessment, documentation, and prioritization skills in a high-acuity setting.
• Skilled in rapid recognition and intervention for post-op complications.
• Proficient in EKG interpretation, ventilator management, and sedation recovery protocols.
• Effective mentor and educator for staff, students, and interprofessional partners.
• Uses critical thinking and clinical judgment in time-sensitive situations.
• Supports change initiatives and leads safety improvements aligned with PACU indicators.
• Strong communication skills for collaboration with anesthesia, surgeons, and inpatient units
• Familiar with nursing-sensitive indicators and regulatory requirements for post-anesthesia care.
• Familiar with shared governance principles and unit-based performance improvement.
• Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team, patients, and their families.
• Demonstrates proficient time management skills. Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act.
• Competent with EMR and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to serve as a preceptor and a mentor by fostering a teaching environment. Position eligible for preceptor premium pay with completion of preceptor education and leader approval.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's of Science in Nursing Required
• Current Texas Board of Nursing (or Compact State) RN license; Or a Temporary Texas RN License (Permanent TX license within 90 days upon hire).
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, within 7 days of hire.

This position may require the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure per Texas EO-GA-48.