PACU Registered Nurse
Boise, Idaho
St. Luke's Boise Medical Center

Job Opportunity: PACU Registered Nurse

Location: Boise, Idaho
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit Overview

• Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) covering Phase I and II recovery in one area
• 31 beds total
• Three recovery areas: adult outpatient, adult inpatient, and pediatric (inpatient and outpatient)
• Nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:2 (based on ASPAN standards)
• Volume: 75-90 surgical cases per day
• Pediatric cases include ENT surgeries and complex spine surgeries
• Open heart surgeries are NOT recovered in PACU

Schedule & Shifts

• 4 shifts per week, 9 hours each (Monday-Friday)
• Shift end times: 8:30 PM, 9:30 PM, or 10:30 PM
• Option for a 3-day weekend
• No self-scheduling available
• Call is not required but may ask for volunteers occasionally
• Floating is rare and limited to nearby locations; may float to pre-op if experienced

Experience & Certifications

• Required Specialty Experience: Minimum 2 years in PACU (preference for candidates from large hospitals)
• Prior Travel Experience: Required (must have experience traveling and caring for both pediatric and adult patients)
• Certifications required: BLS, ACLS, PALS
• EPIC EMR experience is mandatory

Patient Care & Responsibilities

• Care for patients recovering from general anesthesia across all surgical specialties including total joints, neuro, cardiac, plastics, cath lab, IR, and endoscopy
• Pediatric patients include infants and children undergoing ENT and complex surgeries
• ICU patients recover in PACU unless intubated
• RNs are responsible for reading cardiac strips electronically
• Respiratory therapy support available for patients with airway devices

Staffing & Support

• 25-26 RNs staffed Monday-Friday; fewer overnight and weekend staff with call team coverage (travelers do not take call)
• Charge nurses rarely take patient assignments
• 6-7 CNAs Monday-Friday assist mainly with transport, mobility assessments, IV removal, bladder trials, EKGs, phlebotomy, room turnover, and stretcher cleaning

Orientation & Work Environment

• Approximately 3 days of unit-specific orientation covering all three recovery areas
• Blue scrubs provided
• Positive and welcoming department culture with strong anesthesia team support
• Use of Voalte phone system for communication with surgeons and anesthesia

Note: This is a high-volume, fast-paced PACU environment requiring strong clinical skills and flexibility to work across adult and pediatric populations.