PACU Nurse (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse)

Description

Position Summary:

The PACU Nurse is responsible for providing specialized nursing care to patients recovering from anesthesia following surgical or diagnostic procedures. This role requires close monitoring of vital signs, managing post-anesthesia side effects, addressing pain control, and ensuring patients are stable before transfer or discharge. The PACU Nurse must respond quickly to changes in patient condition and collaborate with the surgical and anesthesia teams to provide safe, high-quality care.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Education:
   
  • Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
     
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
     
• Licensure:
   
  • Current and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Texas (or compact state under the Nurse Licensure Compact).
     
• Certifications:
   
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
     
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) required.
     
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) preferred or required based on patient population.
     
  • CPAN or CAPA certification (preferred, not required).
     
• Experience:
   
  • Minimum of one (1) year of nursing experience required; previous PACU, ICU, or critical care experience strongly preferred.
     
  • Knowledge of post-anesthesia recovery protocols and emergency response procedures is advantageous.
     
• Skills and Abilities:
   
  • Excellent clinical judgment and critical thinking skills.
     
  • Ability to rapidly assess and respond to emergent patient conditions.
     
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
     
  • Proficiency in electronic documentation systems.
     
  • Physical ability to assist with patient transfers and respond in emergency situations.