PACU Registered Nurse
La Plata, Maryland
University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center

Job Opportunity: PACU Registered Nurse

Location: La Plata, Maryland
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

• Provide Phase 1 & 2 recovery care for pediatric and adult patients.
• Patient cases include general surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, vascular, pediatric dentistry, and ENT procedures.
• Work closely with anesthesia team.
• Pediatric cases limited to dental, tonsillectomy, T&A, and PE tubes only.
• ICU recoveries typically transferred directly to ICU; may recover in PACU for up to 1 hour if bed management issues arise.
• Floating may be required to pre-op and within specialty areas as needed.
• Weekend and holiday coverage required as scheduled.
• On-call requirements: 1 weekday on-call shift per week and 1 weekend on-call shift every 4 weeks (24-hour weekend call with adjusted weekday schedule).

Schedule

• 4 shifts per week, 10 hours each (40 hours/week).
• Primary hours: 08:00 AM – 06:30 PM.
• One rotating late day per week: 09:00 AM – 07:30 PM.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Maryland.
• Minimum 2 years of Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) experience, with PACU experience within the last year.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Certifications:

  • Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) certification
  • Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) certification

Patient Census

• Average daily census: 15 patients.

Compliance and Documentation Requirements

• Background checks including 7-year criminal history, education verification, and state-specific exclusions.
• Drug screening: Negative 9 or 10 panel drug test (including fentanyl) within 30-45 days prior to start.
• Physical exam within 1 year of start date.
• Fit testing for N95 respirators within 1 year of start; must be medically cleared to wear.
• Immunizations and titers required:

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (required for units working with children)
  • Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella (positive titer or 2 vaccines/boosters)
  • Hepatitis B (positive titer or declination accepted)
  • Varicella (positive titer or 2 vaccines/boosters)
• TB testing: Negative QGOLD or TSPOT within 1 year or 2-step PPD testing as per protocol; must be updated annually.
• Seasonal flu vaccination or approved medical/religious exemption required during flu season (October–March).
• COVID-19 vaccination not required for this location but documentation collected for tracking.

Onboarding and Facility Requirements

• Completion of facility-specific documents including confidentiality agreements, dress code review, and computer system agreements prior to start.
• Photo for badge required (passport-style with solid background).
• Portfolio Epic training test-out form may be required depending on prior Epic experience.
• Two supervisory references within 1 year required.
• Employment application/resume must be completed within 30 days of start.
• Verification of previous 5 years of work history required.

Additional Notes

• Candidates must be prepared for weekend and holiday shifts as scheduled.
• Floating assignments may be necessary.
• On-call shifts include 24-hour weekend coverage with adjusted weekday schedules.
• Pediatric recovery cases are limited to specific procedures only.

This position offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic PACU environment with a diverse surgical patient population, including pediatric cases, in a supportive travel nurse role.