RN Preop Pacu Pat

PSN Services•Fredericksburg, TX

21h

About The Position

The PAT/PreOp/PACU RN provides pre-operative screening and post-anesthesia care. The role supports patients preparing for surgery and helps them recover after anesthesia, including guiding them as they regain consciousness, addressing personal needs, and administering medications. The nurse conducts pre-admission intake and assessment, obtains medical history by phone before surgery, performs surgeon-ordered tests, and may draw blood for laboratory work. The nurse also explains the surgical process, answers patient questions, and discusses post-surgical care plans. In the preoperative department, the nurse manages admissions, verifies patient identification and consents, confirms the surgeon and procedure, records vital signs, initiates IVs, and informs patients about their procedure and care team. In the PACU, the nurse assesses patients after surgery, monitors vital signs and condition changes, documents findings, manages IVs, transfusions and specimens, provides individualized care and education, and reports changes or responds to emergencies. The nurse also determines when patients are ready to move to their rooms and helps keep the postoperative space clean and sanitized.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
Current and active CPR certification.
Current and valid nursing license in good standing with the State licensing board.
Cognitive skills related to the position.

Nice To Haves

2–3 years of critical care nursing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct pre-admission intake, initial physical assessments, and patient interviews, including obtaining medical histories by phone before the day of surgery.
Perform surgeon-ordered tests, such as EKGs, and draw blood for laboratory work when required.
Explain the surgical process, answer patient questions, and discuss post-surgical care plans.
Manage patient admission to the preoperative department.
Assess preoperative health status and verify patient identification wristbands, operative consent, informed consent, surgeon, and planned procedure.
Record patients’ vital signs to assess readiness for surgery.
Initiate IVs and inform patients about their procedure and attending medical staff.
Assess patients after surgery and monitor vital signs, sedation levels, body temperature, IVs, and changes in condition.
Document findings in patient files and report condition changes to the doctor.
Answer patient questions and help keep patients comfortable.
Develop and follow individualized patient care plans.
Educate patients and families about procedures and medications.
Determine when patients are ready to be moved to their rooms.
Perform interventions during post-operative emergencies.
Manage blood and fluid transfusions and draw specimens.
Maintain a clean and sanitized post-operative space.
Change bandages and dress surgical wounds.