Travel Nurse RN - PACU - Post Anesthesia Care
Ketchum, ID
Wellspring Nurse Source
4x10 hrs, Days

Registered Nurse (RN) - PACU

Unit Information

The Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) is located on the second floor and consists of 14 beds, including 3 dedicated PACU bays and 11 interchangeable bays for pre-operative, same-day discharge, and Endoscopy care.

Care Phases

Traveling Nurses will be assigned to various phases of care, including Phase 1 and Phase 2 recovery, pre-Endoscopy, and post-Endoscopy areas.

Nurse-Patient Ratios

Nursing practices adhere to the ASPAN guidelines.

Required Certifications

• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)

Common Cases

The following are frequently encountered cases within the unit:

• Orthopedic surgeries - total joints (inpatient and outpatient)
• Sports medicine
• Orthopedic trauma
• General surgeries
• Gynecological procedures
• C-sections
• Endoscopy
• Occasional plastics and neurosurgical/spinal cases
• Pediatric cases focusing on orthopedic trauma and some dental procedures

Experience and Skills

Applicants should possess solid Phase 1 care experience and significant general surgical recovery knowledge. Candidates must have a minimum of 2 years of PACU experience, although those with extensive inpatient nursing experience and at least 1 year in PACU may be considered. First-time travelers are welcome to apply. Experience with Endoscopy and C-sections is preferred but not mandatory.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

The facility uses Epic for documentation and patient management.

Team Structure

The unit is supported by charge nurses and an Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) scheduled Monday through Friday. Charge nurses typically do not have an assignment but assist with coverage during breaks and workflow improvements.

Nursing Assistants

Two CNAs are available from Monday to Friday to assist with patient care duties, including housekeeping tasks. All RNs are expected to participate in cleaning and room turnover as part of their responsibilities.

Critical Care

The unit does not accommodate ICU patients; however, patients requiring a higher level of care or ventilation support will remain in the OR or PACU with an anesthesia provider until transport arrives.

Shift Details

Shifts are structured between 8 to 10 hours, with start times ranging from 6 AM to 8 AM. Typically, travelers are not assigned 12-hour shifts.

Call Requirements

Weeknight call is scheduled from 6 PM to 7 AM, with an expected commitment of 5-6 shifts per month. Weekend call is required from Friday at 6 PM through Monday at 7 AM, assigned on a rotational basis. If a traveler is assigned a weekend call, their weeknight call obligations may be adjusted accordingly. During contractual periods that include holidays, travelers may be scheduled for call on those specific days.

Response Time for Call

All staff members must remain within 30 minutes of the healthcare facility while on call.

Float Requirements

Traveling nurses will have assignments across pre-op, PACU (both Phase 1 and Phase 2), pre-Endoscopy, and post-Endoscopy areas, which will not be classified as floating but are expected within their role.

Dress Code

Scrubs will be provided for all nursing staff.

Orientation

Travelers will undergo unit-specific orientation paired with a preceptor, covering unit norms and system values over 3-5 shifts.

Radius Rule

The facility enforces a radius rule. Candidates must provide their permanent address to confirm compliance with the specified distance requirement before proceeding with the application process.