PACU Registered Nurse
State College, PA
Access Healthcare
3x12 hrs, Days

Registered Nurse (PACU) - Contract Position

Location: State College, Pennsylvania
Employment Type: Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Days (Options include 2 two-hour shifts plus 2 twelve-hour shifts, or 3 twelve-hour shifts; approximately 36-40 hours per week) with a call component

Job Summary

Provide professional nursing care in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) during Phase I and Phase II recovery, ensuring safe transition of patients from anesthesia to less acute care. Care is provided to patients ranging from pediatric to geriatric. Responsibilities include patient assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation based on current nursing knowledge and ASPAN standards.

Essential Functions

• Perform initial patient assessments, prioritize care based on severity, anesthesia reports, and medical records.
• Develop and coordinate individualized care plans considering anesthetic agents, surgical specialty, and potential post-anesthesia complications.
• Implement nursing interventions including airway management, oxygen saturation maintenance, and pain management.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, and healthcare team members.
• Ensure emergency supplies and equipment are available and functional.
• Continuously evaluate patient progress toward PACU discharge criteria and revise care plans as needed.
• Provide thorough postoperative reports to receiving nursing staff and ensure safe patient transport.
• Maintain ongoing knowledge and competency in post-anesthesia nursing through unit competencies, current trends, scientific advances, biomedical equipment, and ethics.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Pennsylvania
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Minimum of 2 years of recent Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) experience, including experience within the last year
• Current American Heart Association certifications in:

  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Other relevant nursing experience

Skills and Abilities

• Strong verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to function effectively as a team member and liaison between patients and staff.
• Professional demeanor with tact, sensitivity, sound judgment, and emotional resilience when interacting with patients, families, and coworkers.

Hours Per Week

Approximately 36 hours per week.

Note: Prior travel experience is not required for this position.