PACU Registered Nurse

Surgery Partners, Inc•Altoona, WI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The PACU Registered Nurse (RN) provides critical, high-quality care to patients recovering from anesthesia following surgical or procedural interventions. In a fast-paced environment, the nurse continuously monitors patients, manages pain and post-anesthesia symptoms, and responds to urgent clinical needs during the immediate post-operative period. This position is listed as 0.6 FTE, or 24 hours per week, with 12-hour shifts, and participates in the department’s on-call rotation. The nurse may also be cross-trained and assigned to other nursing departments within the hospital.

Requirements

Demonstrated eligibility for employment in the United States.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from an accredited nursing program.
Current licensure in the State of Wisconsin.
BLS certification upon hire.
Must be able to achieve ACLS and PALS certification within six months of hire.
Must possess a cell phone that interfaces with the organization’s secure messaging system.
Knowledge of medical terminology, electronic medical record systems, and quality assurance and accreditation standards.
Understanding of HIPAA regulations, patient confidentiality laws, and patient rights.
Effective verbal and written English communication.
Attention to detail and accuracy, basic computer proficiency, and ability to meet customer service standards.
Ability to prioritize workload according to urgency and importance and work independently as well as with a multidisciplinary team.
Willingness to stay current with job-specific trends, policies, and technologies and demonstrate organization-wide performance review competencies.

Nice To Haves

Previous PACU, CCU, or ER nursing experience.

Responsibilities

Advocate for patients’ rights, preferences, and needs and provide compassionate, individualized care.
Maintain a professional demeanor and appearance and protect the confidentiality of patients, coworkers, and the organization.
Assess patients’ health problems and needs; develop, implement, and evaluate care in collaboration with the healthcare team.
Educate patients and families about health conditions, medications, treatment, and post-surgical care.
Follow infection-control protocols and safety standards.
Record care information accurately, completely, and promptly.
Respond to emergencies using appropriate interventions and report and document unusual events, safety concerns, and incidents according to organizational policies.
Participate in the department’s on-call rotation and respond promptly to call-ins.
Continuously assess vital signs, airway, consciousness, pain, and surgical site for post-anesthesia stability.
Manage airways, administer oxygen, suction as needed, and respond rapidly to changes in condition, including respiratory or cardiac complications.
Administer prescribed medications and interventions for pain, nausea, and other post-operative symptoms and monitor their effectiveness.
Recognize early signs of post-operative complications or adverse reactions and promptly report them to anesthesia and the provider.
Document assessments, interventions, medications, and patient responses in the medical record in a timely manner.
Provide post-operative instructions and emotional support and ensure patients and caregivers understand recovery expectations before transfer or discharge.
Coordinate with anesthesia, surgical teams, and inpatient units to support safe, efficient handoffs and transitions of care.
Safely transfer patients to the appropriate unit or discharge them according to protocol once discharge criteria are met.
Ensure accurate care and handling of specimens.
Check and monitor equipment used during surgery, remove malfunctioning equipment from service, and report it appropriately.
Review provider instructions and prescriptions with patients and families.
Assist with patient positioning and attend to patient comfort and safety.
When cross-trained or assigned to another nursing department, carry out the essential functions of the assigned role.
Use the organization’s secure messaging platform according to departmental protocols, including timely receipt of and response to communications.
Perform other duties as assigned.