PACU Registered Nurse
Wilmington, North Carolina
New Hanover Regional Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse (Travel/Contract)

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

• Role involves caring for surgical patients in the Phase 1-2 Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) with some ICU experience required.
• May recover surgical patients in the ICU setting but will not float to ICU; however, PACU RNs may be assigned to the Surgical Trauma ICU (STICU) for patient recovery.
• Expected to float to areas with overflow patients, typically surgical short stay.
• Must participate in Storm Team and/or Hurricane Team assignments and may be required to report during catastrophic events or disasters.

Required Qualifications

• Specialty: Registered Nurse
• Minimum Years of Experience: 2 years (ICU experience required; candidates will be screened with ICU experience ratings 1-2)
• Prior Travel Experience: Required (explicit traveler experience required)
• Certifications:

  • ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
  • BLS (Basic Life Support)
  • PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
• Skills:

  • Experience with Phase 1-2 PACU
  • ICU background preferred
  • Ability to manage and upgrade care level in PACU
• Preferred Skills:

  • Charge Nurse experience
  • Conscious Sedation
  • Fetal Heart Monitoring (FHM)
  • Intracranial Pressure (ICP) monitoring
  • Telemetry
  • Ventilator management
  • Pediatric experience

Work Details

• Shift: 10-hour Mids (12 PM - 10 PM)
• Patient Ratios: 1:2
• Call Requirement: Once every four weeks
• Weekend Requirement: Varies
• RTO (Return to Office) Policy: Max 7 days; no RTO after booking allowed onsite
• Orientation: Comprehensive, individualized orientation tailored to experience and skill level
• Scrubs: Navy color required

Patient Population & Diagnoses

• Vascular and Endovascular
• Neurosurgery and Orthopedics
• Gynecology and Urology
• General Surgery and Bariatrics
• Plastics and ENT
• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric cases including Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy (T&A), ear surgeries, hernias, cleft lip/palate
• Phase II recovery when unit is full

Unit & Equipment Details

• Phase 1 Recovery Unit receiving patients from OR, EP Lab, Endoscopy, IR, MRI, and ICU for recovery before admission to units
• Recovery times vary from 30 to 90 minutes depending on discharge criteria
• Night and weekend duties include recovery and discharge of Phase II patients and care for overnight tower and ICU patients
• Equipment includes cardiac monitors, arterial lines, ICP monitors, dopplers, fetal heart monitors, EKOS, SCD pumps, wound vacs
• Unit systems: Pyxis (medication), EPIC (documentation), Perfect Serve (communication)
• Scheduling managed by a schedule committee

Compliance & Background Requirements

• Criminal background checks within 90 days for all locations lived in last 7 years
• Education verification for highest degree earned specific to nursing profession
• Drug screening within 30 days of start (10-panel, negative result required)
• Fit testing for N95 mask or completion of PAPR training (if fit test failed) within 1 year of start
• Physical exam within 1 year of start (or within 30 days if past positive TB)
• TB testing: Negative PPD, Qgold, or Tspot within 1 year; if positive, chest x-ray and physician clearance required
• Required immunizations or titers with no declinations accepted for:

  • Rubeola (Measles)
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B (facility-specific declination form required if titer negative/equivocal)
• Seasonal flu vaccine or approved medical/religious exemption required during flu season (9/1 - 10/31)
• Various state-specific healthcare registry and exclusion list checks within 90 days prior to start

Additional Notes

• Candidates must complete facility-specific orientation modules and sign confidentiality and hospital policy acknowledgments prior to start
• Must provide a passport-style photo for badge creation
• Expected to comply with hospital dress code and other facility-specific policies
• Must be prepared to work in a fast-paced, varied, and challenging PACU environment with potential for disaster response duties

This position is ideal for experienced Registered Nurses with ICU and PACU backgrounds who have prior travel experience and are ready to work in a dynamic surgical recovery setting in North Carolina.