RN

Catholic Health•Village of Roslyn, NY

About The Position

The Clinical Nurse provides comprehensive nursing care to patients recovering from general, regional, and monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The role includes receiving postoperative patients from the operating room, obtaining handoff reports, assessing and monitoring patients, responding to complications, and coordinating care with physicians, anesthesia providers, surgical teams, and other healthcare professionals. The nurse evaluates readiness for transfer or discharge, provides patient and family education, maintains accurate documentation, and contributes to patient safety, infection prevention, and quality improvement activities. The position is at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center®, a specialty-designated cardiac center and member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. The hospital emphasizes high standards of patient care and a supportive environment for healthcare professionals to develop their expertise and credentials. The listed salary range is USD $56.39–$83.99 per hour. Catholic Health offers benefits, tuition assistance, a defined benefit pension plan, and support for professional and educational growth.

Requirements

Current and unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the applicable state.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification, or ability to obtain it within the organization's specified timeframe.
Strong knowledge of anesthesia recovery, postoperative assessment, and management of acute patient conditions.
Strong clinical assessment, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment.
Competency in post-anesthesia assessment and monitoring; airway management and respiratory assessment; hemodynamic monitoring and recognition of cardiovascular instability; pain management and sedation monitoring; management of postoperative nausea and vomiting; recognition and management of anesthesia-related complications; emergency response and resuscitation; safe medication administration; patient transfer and discharge readiness assessments; and patient and family education.

Nice To Haves

Previous PACU, critical care, emergency department, or perioperative nursing experience.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, preferred or required when applicable to the patient population.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive nursing care to patients recovering from general, regional, and monitored anesthesia care (MAC).
Receive postoperative patients from the operating room and obtain a comprehensive handoff report from anesthesia and surgical personnel.
Perform initial and ongoing assessments of airway, breathing, circulation, neurological status, pain, and level of consciousness.
Continuously monitor vital signs, oxygen saturation, cardiac rhythm, and other appropriate physiological parameters.
Recognize and respond promptly to postoperative complications, including airway obstruction, respiratory depression, hemodynamic instability, bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and altered mental status.
Manage oxygen therapy, airway support, and other interventions within established competencies and protocols.
Administer prescribed medications, IV fluids, and blood products in accordance with organizational policies.
Assess and manage postoperative pain using appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
Monitor surgical sites, dressings, drains, IV access, and other postoperative devices.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of assessments, interventions, medications, and patient responses.
Evaluate patient readiness for discharge or transfer based on established recovery criteria and provider orders.
Provide patient and family education regarding postoperative care, discharge instructions, medications, and follow-up requirements.
Communicate effectively with physicians, anesthesia providers, surgical teams, and other healthcare professionals.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized patient care environment.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives, infection prevention activities, and patient safety programs.
Adhere to organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and professional nursing standards.