Travel Nurse RN - PACU - Post Anesthesia Care
Wilmington, NC
GHR Healthcare - PH Division
3x12 hrs

PACU Registered Nurse (Travel RN) – Wilmington, NC (28401). 13-week travel contract; 12-hour day shifts; 1:2 patient ratio. Seeking an experienced PACU RN with ICU/critical care skills for perioperative and post-anesthesia care in coastal North Carolina.

Join a dynamic healthcare team in Wilmington, NC (zip code 28401) and work in a fast-paced Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) caring for a diverse surgical population. Wilmington offers beautiful beaches, a vibrant historic downtown, and great quality of life—an ideal destination for travel nurses and Registered Nurses looking for professional growth and a memorable assignment.

Compensation

• Estimated Weekly Pay: $1490 - $1570 per week

Key Job Details

• Position: PACU Registered Nurse (RN) / Travel RN
• Location: Wilmington, NC (28401) — Coastal North Carolina nursing job
• Contract Duration: 13 weeks (April 13, 2026 – July 13, 2026)
• Shift: 12-hour days (06:45 – 19:15), 3 shifts per week
• Hours per week: 36
• Patient ratio: 1:2
• Call requirement: Once every four weeks
• Float requirement: May float to surgical short stay unit for overflow
• Weekend requirement: Varies
• Orientation: Comprehensive, individualized orientation provided

Qualifications / Job Requirements

• Minimum 2 years of recent PACU experience (Post Anesthesia Care Unit)
• ICU / critical care experience required—able to manage ICU-level care when PACU converts to ICU
• Travel RN experience required (travel nurse, travel RN assignments)
• Active RN license (North Carolina or Compact)
• Current certifications: ACLS, BLS, PALS
• Epic charting experience preferred (electronic health record experience)
• Preferred experience: charge nurse, conscious sedation, telemetry, ventilator management, pediatric PACU
• Comfort caring for patients across all age groups (infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults, geriatrics)
• Ability to float to other units and participate in call rotations

Responsibilities

• Provide Phase I and Phase II PACU care for post-operative and post-anesthesia patients
• Manage recovery and stabilization of surgical patients; convert to ICU-level care as needed
• Monitor and manage cardiac, respiratory, and neurological status using advanced monitoring (cardiac monitors, arterial lines, ICP monitoring, dopplers, fetal monitors, wound vacs)
• Administer and monitor procedural sedation, analgesia, and emergency medications per protocol
• Perform assessments, documentation, and handoffs using Epic and unit systems (perioperative documentation, post-op instructions)
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (anesthesia, surgery, IV team, PT, RT, pharmacy, social work, rapid response)
• Participate in float assignments, call rotation, and emergency response (including Storm/Hurricane Team when needed)

Why This PACU Nursing Job in Wilmington, NC?

• Opportunity to expand perioperative and critical care skills in a high-volume PACU
• Comprehensive orientation and supportive interdisciplinary team culture
• Work in a desirable coastal location—Wilmington, North Carolina—offering outdoor recreation, dining, and cultural activities
• Ideal for experienced travel nurses and Registered Nurses seeking short-term travel assignments and professional development

Ready to apply? Apply now to join our healthcare team as a PACU Registered Nurse (Travel RN) in Wilmington, NC. Submit your resume and nursing credentials to be considered for this 13-week PACU nursing job. Join us and advance your perioperative and critical care nursing career!

401K with Matching, Healthcare, Dental and Vision

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity across our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.