Registered Nurse-Post Anesthesia Care Unit

Veterans Health Administration • Louisville, KY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Robley Rex VA Healthcare System in Louisville, Kentucky, is recruiting a Registered Nurse for its Ambulatory Surgery Unit/Post Anesthesia Care Unit (ASU/PACU). The PACU RN provides specialized assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care across the peri-anesthesia continuum, including pre-anesthesia, post-anesthesia Phase I and Phase II, and extended care following sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia for surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures.

The nurse applies knowledge of physiology related to anesthesia techniques and surgical interventions. The role includes assessing and preparing patients, identifying contraindications to anesthesia or surgery, applying appropriate post-sedation scoring, and evaluating postoperative status—including cardiovascular and respiratory systems, airway management, neurological status, hemodynamic stability, pain, comfort, and mental status. The RN implements interventions to maintain or restore physiological systems to baseline or above, follows current ASPAN standards and applicable VHA directives and service procedures, and ensures timely, complete, and accurate documentation in the electronic health record.

The work schedule is based on service needs and may vary according to staffing. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The appointment is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. The posting describes an intermittent appointment; intermittent employees do not earn leave, and retirement credit and insurance eligibility may be limited as stated in the announcement.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying foreign nursing education as described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the applicable VA Nurse grade and level education, experience, and dimension criteria.
• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a qualified non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must undergo pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements where applicable and pass required background and security investigation.
• Complete required onboarding and provide acceptable identification documents; non-REAL ID-compliant state identification cannot be used for employment identification beginning May 7, 2025.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements, including applicable influenza vaccination and TB screening or testing.
• Complete a pre-placement physical examination and be physically and mentally fit for the duties.
• Have visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.
• Be able to tolerate potentially long periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; lift at least 50 pounds; and transfer patients or objects when required.
• Be able to work effectively in stressful situations, remain flexible, and shift priorities according to organizational needs.
• Complete all application requirements specified in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in an ASU or perioperative environment.
• Experience in an outpatient procedural area.
• Acute care experience.
• BSN or MSN.

Responsibilities

• Assess and prepare patients appropriately for procedures.
• Perform clinical assessments and recognize contraindications to anesthesia or surgical intervention.
• Apply appropriate post-sedation scoring and assess postoperative status, including cardiovascular and respiratory systems, airway needs, neurological status, hemodynamic stability, pain, comfort, and mental status.
• Implement interventions to maintain or return physiological systems to baseline or above.
• Maintain knowledge of current ASPAN standards, VHA directives, and service-level standard operating procedures.
• Document all phases of care accurately, completely, and promptly in the electronic health record.
• Provide care throughout the pre-anesthesia, post-anesthesia Phase I and Phase II, and extended-care phases following procedures involving sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Potential for performance awards.
• Federal health insurance, subject to position eligibility.
• Federal benefits package; eligibility depends on appointment type and whether the position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.
• Retirement coverage may apply to qualifying intermittent appointments, with credit limited to hours or days actually worked.
• Life insurance coverage is excluded for intermittent employees except under the stated regulatory exception.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree