Registered Nurse PACU

Location: Great Falls, Montana | Schedule: Full-Time, On-Site Overview A prominent regional healthcare system is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) to join its surgical services division as a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurse in a Hospital-Based Outpatient Department (HOPD) / Perioperative & Observation setting. Located in a scenic Montana community known for its quality of life and outdoor recreation, this role offers a supportive clinical environment with strong nurse-to-patient ratios, administrative backing, and a collaborative team culture. Operational hours are 6:00 AM – 7:30 PM with varied shifts, and call requirements include a shared rotation of approximately 4 weeknights per month plus 1 weekend every other month. What you'll do Safely assess, prepare, and optimize patients arriving for elective or outpatient surgical procedures Monitor and manage post-operative patients during the acute recovery phase, ensuring physiological stability prior to discharge or internal facility transfer Recover higher-acuity post-operative patients requiring advanced monitoring tools, including chest tubes, central lines, arterial lines, multiple titration IVs, and short-term ventilator support (comprehensive training provided if required) Provide direct clinical care to medical and surgical observation patients admitted to observation beds directly from the Emergency Department, direct admissions, or post-surgical status Coordinate care plans dynamically with Providers, Anesthesia teams, Nurse Managers, and Charge Nurses Act as a clinical resource on the floor, offering professional directional support to LPNs and CNA staff Required qualifications Graduate of an accredited nursing program; Associate Degree in Nursing required Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the State of Montana (or immediate compact/endorsement eligibility) Certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) required upon hire Minimum of 2 to 4 years of recent professional hospital experience within an acute Medical/Surgical or Critical Care nursing environment Advanced understanding of basic nursing principles/procedures Proficient intravenous (IV) insertion/management skills Basic computer/office technical literacy Preferred qualifications Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred Dedicated background or professional familiarity with Critical Care (ICU) workflows is highly preferred Compensation and benefits Up to $25,000.00 retention bonus to support transition and long-term commitment (available for external candidates only) Excellent nurse-to-patient ratios designed to foster highly personalized care and balanced clinical workloads Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance packages Robust retirement savings plan with a generous employer matching contribution Fully covered medical malpractice insurance Generous paid time off (PTO) allocation to support a healthy work-life balance Final hourly compensation determined based on documented years of nursing experience All job offers contingent upon successful completion of standard pre-employment screenings, including criminal background check, drug screening, and health/immunization verification Comprehensive benefits package and compensation structure apply to full-time positions; benefits may vary or be prorated for part-time arrangements Why this role This position offers a supportive clinical environment with strong nurse-to-patient ratios and administrative backing, combined with the professional development opportunities of an acute care hospital setting and the lifestyle benefits of a scenic Montana community. #J-18808-Ljbffr