RN / REGISTERED NURSE - PACU

Beebe Healthcare•Lewes, DE

16d

About The Position

The Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Registered Nurse is a clinically competent, registered, professional nurse who demonstrates expertise in perioperative and post-anesthesia nursing. The PACU RN is responsible for the safe delivery of comprehensive nursing care to surgical patients as they recover from anesthesia and sedation. Utilizing the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation, and evaluation, the PACU RN provides vigilant physiological monitoring, pain management, airway support, and patient education. This role requires strong clinical judgment, the ability to respond rapidly to changes in patient condition, and collaboration with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and interdisciplinary care teams to ensure optimal patient outcomes. The PACU RN advocates for patient safety, comfort, and dignity while maintaining compliance with professional nursing standards, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies. This is a full-time role that requires flexibility, attention to detail, and a commitment to high-quality perioperative care.

Requirements

Must possess current hospital experience (within the past 5 years) or be a new graduate (within the last 2 years).
Must be knowledgeable regarding the nursing process and its application--assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
RN - Registered Nurse
BLS - Basic Life Saving certification
ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support
NIH - Stroke Certification
PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support (or ability to obtain within 6-months)
RN, Graduate of an accredited nursing program

Nice To Haves

Prefer minimum of 1 year recent PACU or Critical Care experience.
Must complete Point of Care Testing training as part of Department Orientation.
Emergency Department and/or Critical Care Experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Medication & IV Therapy Management
Safely identifies, labels, prepares, dispenses, and administers medications and solutions in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
Demonstrates competency in the insertion, maintenance, and monitoring of intravenous (IV) lines.
Patient Assessment & Nursing Process
Utilizes the nursing process throughout the perioperative and post-anesthesia setting, including:
Assessment: Collects, interprets, documents, and communicates relevant patient data related to surgical and recovery care.
Care Planning: Uses assessment data to develop individualized perioperative and post-operative nursing care plans.
Implementation: Provides direct patient care to meet physical and psychological needs during recovery from anesthesia.
Evaluation: Continuously evaluates patient response to interventions and modifies the plan of care to achieve desired outcomes.
Airway & Respiratory Management
Performs comprehensive airway assessments and interventions, including oxygen therapy, ventilator management, and assistance with intubation and extubation.
Demonstrates competency in managing patients requiring advanced airway and respiratory support.
Cardiac & Hemodynamic Monitoring
Demonstrates competency in the use of Philips cardiac monitoring systems to assess and monitor cardiac status.
Performs appropriate setup, monitoring, and management of invasive hemodynamic lines, including arterial lines, central venous pressure (CVP) lines, cardiac output monitoring systems, and Swan-Ganz catheters.
Pain Management
Demonstrates knowledge of pain physiology and pain management principles.
Assesses, implements, monitors, and evaluates pain management interventions using established protocols and communicates patient response effectively.