Travel PACU Registered Nurse

A PACU Registered Nurse provides specialized post-anesthesia nursing care to patients recovering from surgical, procedural, or diagnostic interventions requiring anesthesia or sedation. This role focuses on airway management, hemodynamic monitoring, pain control, patient safety, and timely identification of postoperative complications.

The PACU RN supports patients across age groups and acuity levels during Phase I and Phase II recovery. The role requires close collaboration with anesthesiologists, surgeons, perioperative nurses, respiratory therapists, and other interdisciplinary team members to promote safe recovery, effective handoff communication, and appropriate transition to the next level of care.

Travel PACU Registered Nurses work contract assignments in a variety of healthcare facilities and perioperative settings. Assignments may require rapid adaptation to new clinical environments, documentation systems, unit workflows, and facility-specific protocols. Work may include rotating shifts, on-call coverage, weekends, holidays, and floating to related perioperative or recovery areas when appropriate based on competency and patient care needs.

Responsibilities

• Assess and monitor patients recovering from general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, moderate sedation, or monitored anesthesia care.
• Maintain airway patency, monitor respiratory status, and initiate appropriate nursing interventions for post-anesthesia complications.
• Monitor vital signs, cardiac rhythm, oxygenation, level of consciousness, pain, nausea, and surgical site status during recovery.
• Administer medications, IV fluids, analgesics, antiemetics, and other treatments as ordered and within nursing scope of practice.
• Identify and respond to changes in patient condition, including respiratory distress, hypotension, bleeding, altered mental status, or uncontrolled pain.
• Collaborate with anesthesia providers, surgeons, and perioperative teams to coordinate postoperative care and discharge readiness.
• Provide patient and family education regarding recovery expectations, postoperative instructions, pain management, and follow-up care.
• Document assessments, interventions, medication administration, patient responses, and handoff communication accurately in the EHR or EMR.
• Follow infection prevention, patient safety, medication safety, and post-anesthesia monitoring standards.
• Prepare patients for transfer to inpatient units, outpatient discharge, or higher levels of care based on clinical status and established criteria.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
• Licensure: Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse license. Compact nursing license may be accepted where applicable.
• Certifications
• BLS
• ACLS
• PALS
• Skills: Strong PACU nursing skills, including post-anesthesia assessment, airway monitoring, pain management, medication administration, clinical judgment, and rapid response to changes in patient condition. Requires accurate documentation, clear handoff communication, effective prioritization, patient safety focus, and collaboration with anesthesia, surgical, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams.

Experience

Minimum one year of recent PACU Registered Nurse experience required for travel assignments. Two years of recent post-anesthesia, perioperative, ICU, or critical care nursing experience may be preferred depending on assignment requirements and patient acuity. Experience with Phase I and Phase II recovery, conscious sedation recovery, and surgical patient monitoring is commonly preferred.

Preferences

• CPAN certification
• CAPA certification
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Recent experience in high-acuity PACU or perioperative settings
• Experience with pediatric, adult, and geriatric post-anesthesia recovery
• EHR or EMR documentation experience
• Quality improvement or patient safety experience

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plan (401(k))
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Sick Leave
• Continuing Education Assistance
• Professional Development
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Life Insurance
• Travel and Housing Support