RN PACU (Full Time 36 Hours), West Penn Hospital

Highmark Health•Pittsburgh, PA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) assesses patient responses and plans, implements, and evaluates nursing care for individuals and families. The nurse is accountable for the quality of care delivered and is responsible for all actions as a licensed nurse. At West Penn Hospital, the PACU nurse cares for patients recovering after procedures across specialties including robotics, general surgery, bariatrics, women’s health, and oncology. Responsibilities include interpreting cardiac rhythms; weaning blood-pressure medications; managing pain; and assessing airways, breathing, and surgical drains when applicable. The nurse collaborates with surgeons, anesthesia, and other units and departments to support safe transitions of care. The position includes call time under department guidelines, and nurses must be able to arrive at the hospital within 60 minutes when called. The RN provides professional leadership, supports and mentors colleagues, delegates tasks based on patient needs and staff competency, participates in interdisciplinary care and quality initiatives, and promotes patient safety. The nurse uses the nursing process to develop and implement individualized care plans, assesses changes in patient condition, communicates concerns to physicians or supervisors, and evaluates patient and family satisfaction. The role also involves continuing professional development, culturally and age-appropriate care, compassionate communication, and effective time management. West Penn Hospital is a four-time Magnet-recognized hospital with private patient rooms and free employee parking. Allegheny Health Network is a nine-hospital system and part of Highmark Health, with an emphasis on inclusive practices and employee growth and educational opportunities.

Requirements

Current Pennsylvania RN license or current multistate licensure through the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
CPR certification.
Act 34 Criminal Background Clearance Certificate.
Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance Certificate.
Act 73 FBI Fingerprinting Criminal Background Clearance Certificate.
Ability to arrive at the hospital within 60 minutes when called.

Nice To Haves

Certification in the area of specialty.
One or more years of inpatient bedside RN experience in a cardiac telemetry unit or higher-acuity setting.

Responsibilities

Recover post-operative patients in the PACU across a variety of procedural specialties.
Interpret cardiac rhythms; wean blood-pressure medications; manage pain; and assess airways, breathing, and surgical drains when applicable.
Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia, and other units or departments to coordinate safe transitions of care.
Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care for patients and families.
Provide leadership in a professional practice setting and support team development through role modeling, mentoring, and sharing knowledge.
Assign or delegate tasks based on patient needs, intervention complexity, anticipated outcomes, and staff skill level; assign duties and lunches when acting in a charge role.
Provide peers with verbal and written feedback regarding clinical practice and role performance.
Participate in interdisciplinary evaluation of clinical care and health services, department quality initiatives, evidence-based practice, and patient safety initiatives.
Use appropriate order sets and supervise, delegate, and evaluate assigned LPN practice as appropriate.
Assess patient condition and changes, notify the physician or supervisor, intervene appropriately, and document accordingly.
Develop culturally and age-appropriate expected outcomes with patients, families, and other healthcare providers.
Accept assignments outside the primary unit and perform duties within individual competency.
Pursue ongoing learning, use current research and evidence to maintain clinical skills, and participate in professional organizations and peer review.
Evaluate patient and family satisfaction, participate in department patient-satisfaction initiatives, communicate compassionately, and attempt to resolve concerns.
Manage time effectively and meet hospital time and attendance guidelines.
Respond to call and be able to arrive at the hospital within 60 minutes.