Registered Nurse | RN - Pre-Op / PACU

Job Description

Job Description

Registered Nurse – Pre-Op / PACU

Compensation: $29 to $44 per hour Depending on years of experience

Position Purpose

As a Pre-Op / PACU Nurse, you will provide comprehensive care to patients preparing for and recovering from surgical procedures. This role requires strong assessment skills, attention to detail, and the ability to respond quickly to changes in patient condition. You will support patients and families through pre-operative preparation, peri-anesthesia monitoring, and post-operative recovery, ensuring safety, comfort, and quality outcomes.

Minimum Education

• Associate Degree in Nursing (required; BSN preferred)

Experience

• Entry level applicants welcome
• Prior perioperative, PACU, or critical care experience preferred

Licenses / Certifications

• Active RN license in Wisconsin and/or Illinois (based on assignment)
• Current BLS certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross (required, or ability to obtain within 6 weeks)
• ACLS and PALS certification preferred (or ability to obtain within designated timeframe)

Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of peri-anesthesia care standards and recovery protocols
• Proficiency in airway management, hemodynamic monitoring, and pain control strategies
• Ability to stay calm and act decisively in fast-paced or emergent situations
• Excellent communication skills to collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and surgical staff
• Compassionate, patient-centered approach to care and teaching

Key Responsibilities

• Assess patients prior to surgery, ensuring readiness and answering questions to ease anxiety
• Monitor and manage patients emerging from anesthesia in the PACU, prioritizing airway, pain control, and hemodynamic stability
• Administer medications, IV therapies, and treatments safely and according to policy
• Recognize and respond rapidly to post-anesthesia complications and emergencies
• Provide education and reassurance to patients and families before and after surgery
• Maintain a clean, organized, and well-supplied environment to promote safety and healing
• Collaborate with the surgical and anesthesia team to ensure smooth patient transitions between phases of care
• Support orientation and training of new nurses and nursing students in the perioperative setting