PACU Registered Nurse
State College, PA
PRIDE Health
3x12 hrs, Days
Referral Bonus

Registered Nurse (PACU) - Contract Position

Location: State College, Pennsylvania
Employment Type: Contract (13 weeks)
Shift: Days (8 and 12 hour shifts), call optional but not required
Hours per Week: 36

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 through 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 post-operative reports to receiving units and ensure safe patient transport.
• Maintain ongoing competency in post-anesthesia nursing through unit competencies, current trends, biomedical equipment, and ethical standards.

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 experience in Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), with experience within the last year
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification issued by the American Heart Association

Preferred Experience

• Previous experience in Critical Care preferred.

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.
• Demonstrates tact, sensitivity, sound judgment, and professionalism when interacting with patients, families, and coworkers.
• Maintains mental and emotional resilience in a high-stress environment.

Additional Information

• Contract length: 13 weeks
• Prior travel experience: Not required