PACU Registered Nurse

Surgery Partners Careers•Altoona, WI

About The Position

The PACU Registered Nurse (RN) provides critical, high-quality care to patients recovering from anesthesia after surgical or procedural interventions. In a fast-paced environment, the RN continuously monitors patients, manages pain and post-anesthesia symptoms, and responds to urgent clinical needs during the immediate post-operative period. The position is 0.9 FTE, or 36 hours per week, with 8-hour and 10-hour shifts, and includes participation in the department’s on-call rotation. The RN assesses and documents patient status and care, delivers interventions and medications, supports patients and families through recovery, and coordinates handoffs with anesthesia, surgical teams, and inpatient units. The role also includes following infection-control and safety standards, handling specimens, monitoring equipment, using the organization’s secure messaging platform, and potentially cross-training in other nursing departments.

Requirements

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.
Eligibility for employment in the United States.
Medical terminology knowledge.
Familiarity with electronic medical record (EMR) systems.
Knowledge of 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.
Ability to carry out customer service standards.
Basic computer proficiency.
Ability to prioritize tasks and manage workload according to urgency and importance.
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Commitment to ongoing learning and staying current with job-specific trends, policies, and technologies.
Ability to demonstrate organization-wide performance review competencies.
Must possess a cell phone that interfaces with the organization’s secure messaging system.

Nice To Haves

Previous PACU, CCU, or ER nursing experience.

Responsibilities

Advocate for patients’ rights, preferences, and needs, providing compassionate care tailored to individual circumstances.
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 in all aspects of patient care.
Record care information concisely, accurately, completely, and promptly.
Respond to emergency situations using appropriate interventions.
Report and document unusual events, safety concerns, and incidents in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
Participate in the department’s on-call rotation and respond promptly to call-ins to support continuous patient care and surgical services.
Continuously assess vital signs, airway, consciousness, pain level, and surgical site after anesthesia.
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 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, ensuring patients and caregivers understand recovery expectations before transfer or discharge.
Coordinate with anesthesia, surgical teams, and inpatient units to support safe and 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.
Observe, check, and monitor equipment used during surgery; remove malfunctioning equipment from service and report it appropriately.
Review provider instructions, prescriptions, and post-operative instructions with patients and families.
Assist with patient positioning and respond to patient comfort and safety needs.
Cross-train or work in other nursing departments within the hospital as assigned, carrying out the essential functions of the assigned role.
Use the organization’s secure messaging platform according to departmental protocols, including timely receipt of and responses to communications.
Perform other duties as assigned.