Registered Nurse Preoperative/Post Anesthesia Care Unit

Job Summary:

The Registered Nurse in Preoperative (Preop) and Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) provides comprehensive nursing care by assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating, and documenting patient care in accordance with professional nursing standards and organizational policies. This role involves managing patient needs across physical, psychological, social, and developmental domains, coordinating multidisciplinary care, and ensuring safe and effective perioperative nursing services. The nurse is accountable for quality nursing care delivery and collaborates closely with patients, families, and healthcare teams. Responsibilities:

• Assess patient physical, psychological, social, spiritual, educational, developmental, and cultural needs pre- and post-operatively.
• Review patient history, physical exams, diagnostics, and laboratory data, reporting abnormalities to physicians and caregivers.
• Formulate, initiate, and revise individualized plans of care including discharge planning, with patient and multidisciplinary team input.
• Provide direct patient care, coordinate, delegate, and supervise healthcare team activities based on physician orders and nursing care plans.
• Promote continuity of care by effectively communicating patient status and care plans to caregivers.
• Evaluate patient and family responses to care and education, adjusting plans as necessary.
• Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately and timely in patient records.
• Participate in facility shared leadership, education, orientation, precepting, and mentoring of staff and students.
• Support quality improvement initiatives and participate in nursing research activities as applicable.
• Provide relief charge nurse duties and assist with department workflow as needed.

Required Skills & Certifications:

• Current, valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice or compact RN licensure.
• Associate's Degree or Diploma in Nursing or higher.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certifications.
• Minimum one year licensed RN experience in Preop/PACU or ICU/ED for full-time/part-time; minimum two years for PRN roles.
• Strong clinical assessment, patient care planning, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced perioperative environment.

Preferred Skills & Certifications:

• Experience specifically in Preop/PACU nursing strongly preferred.
• Completion of Perianesthesia Academy within four months if newly licensed or transitioning to Preop/PACU.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification within 90 days if assigned to pediatric ambulatory surgery center services.

Special Considerations:

• Must be able to stand, walk, bend, squat, reach, and stretch frequently during patient care.
• Physical ability to lift up to 75 pounds and use proper body mechanics for patient transfers.
• Compliance with standard precautions due to exposure risk to blood and bodily fluids.
• Effective communication skills required for interaction with patients, families, healthcare teams, and external providers.
• May perform relief charge nurse duties and assist with department leadership and workflow management.

Scheduling:

• Per diem position with a commitment to 4 days per week.
• Shift assignments based on department needs; may include day or evening shifts typical of Preop/PACU settings.