PACU Registered Nurse
Bellingham, Washington
PeaceHealth Saint Joseph Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse (Travel/Contract)

Location: Bellingham, Washington
Facility Type: Short-Term Acute Care, Level II Trauma Center
Beds: 248 Total Staffed Beds
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Position Details

• Unit: Recovery Room (PACU)
• Start Date: ASAP (4 weeks from offer for compliance)
• Shift: Variable shifts (8, 10, or 12 hours) on days, evenings, or nights based on unit needs
• Guaranteed Hours: 36 hours per week
• Ratios: 1:5, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 (per ASPAN guidelines)
• On-Call: Yes, potentially two-night call shifts per month (2100-0530) and one weekend call (2100 Friday to 0530 Monday)
• Floating: May float to ICU occasionally if qualified
• Orientation: Held bi-weekly on Tuesdays
• Locals Accepted: No
• Pending License Accepted: Yes

Experience & Skills Requirements

• Specialty: Registered Nurse with PACU focus

• Years of Experience: Greater than 1 year PACU experience required

• Additional Experience: Previous ICU experience required

• Charting: 1 year EPIC charting experience/competence required

• Preferred: Pediatric experience preferred

• Skills:

  • Caring for patients across the lifespan
  • Tele Interpretation
  • Ventilator management
  • IV insertion, PICC lines required
  • PA lines preferred

• Prior Travel Experience: Previous travel experience preferred but first-timers accepted

Certifications Required

• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
• NIHSS (NIH Stroke Scale Certification)

Patient Population & Procedures

• Top Diagnoses/Procedures:

  • Total joint replacements (hip and knee)
  • Laparoscopic appendectomy
  • Laminectomy
  • Ophthalmologic surgery
  • Open reduction internal fixation for distal joint
  • Arthroscopic joint surgeries (shoulder, knee)
  • Exploratory laparoscopy/laparotomy
  • Laparoscopic hysterectomy
  • EVAR (Endovascular aneurysm repair)
  • Pacemaker insertion/lead extraction
  • Robotic-assisted thoracoscopy/thoracotomy
  • TURBT (Transurethral resection of bladder tumor)
  • TURP (Transurethral resection of the prostate)

• Special Procedures on Unit:

  • Post-operative nerve block placement
  • Lumbar puncture
  • Epidural blood patch

• Equipment Used:

  • Stryker rolling stretchers
  • Phillips monitors
  • Baxter SpectrumIQ IV pumps
  • Bair Hugger warming system

• Number of Beds in Unit: 16

Work Environment & Policies

• Scrub Color: Any color or pattern; teal provided for PACU
• Charting System: Epic
• Parking: Free
• Dress Code: Provided prior to start
• Masking Policy: N95 fit testing completed onsite if providing patient care; facial hair must be clean-shaven for N95 use

Compliance & Documentation Requirements

• Background checks including SS verification, criminal, federal, and state-specific searches
• Education verification (transcripts/diploma acceptable if school closed)
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask test within 1 year, updated annually
• Immunizations or declinations required for:

  • Tdap
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Flu seasonal vaccination or approved declination/exemption
• Drug testing within 30 days of start
• Respiratory safety clearance required for onsite candidates
• Orientation modules and quizzes with 100% passing score required prior to start
• References: Two references from Charge RN or higher within last 3 years, covering 1 year in specialty
• Employment history verification for last 7 years with proof of 1 year specialty experience

Additional Notes

• Weekend requirements: To be determined
• Block scheduling: To be determined
• Must sign various facility-specific forms including orientation manual review, criminal disclosure, demographic form, and vaccination declinations if applicable
• Candidate must complete orientation checklist and submit prior to or on first day
• Facility accommodates onsite fit testing on a case-by-case basis

This position is ideal for a Registered Nurse with PACU and ICU experience, comfortable with variable shifts and on-call responsibilities, and who meets the certification and compliance requirements listed above. Prior travel experience is preferred but not mandatory.