PACU Registered Nurse
Saint Louis, Missouri
Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Registered Nurse - PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit)

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Details

• Shift: Monday-Friday, 3 shifts of 12 hours each (rotating start times: 1900-0730 or 1700-0530)
• Call: 24 hours of on-call required within a 6-week period
• Patient Ratio: 1:2
• Guaranteed Hours: 40 hours per week
• Floating: May float within the service line as needed
• Local Radius Rule: Home address must be at least 75 miles from the facility
• Pending License: Accepted
• Relias EKG Exam: Must pass Relias Basic Dysrhythmia exam; interpretation and management of dysrhythmias required
• Charting System: EPIC

Unit & Patient Population

• Level 1 Trauma Center PACU
• Surgical patients including GU, GYN, colorectal, bariatric, ENT, minimally invasive procedures
• Separate Interventional Radiology pre/post area
• Manage complicated postoperative patients with multiple drains, vasoactive drips, mechanical ventilation, and recovery from general anesthesia
• Night shift nurses expected to pre-op patients for first cases from 0530-0730 when no PACU patients are present

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Valid RN license in Missouri
• Minimum 1 year of PACU (Post Anesthesia Care) experience within the last year
• ICU (Intensive Care Unit) experience
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification
• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification issued by the American Heart Association

Required Certifications

• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
• Ventilator management
• IV Start
• Telemetry
• Critical Care certification

Licensure

• Valid RN license for Missouri accepted
• Pending licenses accepted
• Primary source verification required (NURSYS for Missouri)

Compliance & Background Requirements

• Government-issued ID required
• Criminal background check within 6 months, including statewide and nationwide searches
• Quarterly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks
• Education verification of highest nursing degree required
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, covering a comprehensive panel
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask testing (N95) required and must be renewed annually
• Immunizations and health screenings required:

  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray (with yearly questionnaire)
  • Tdap vaccine or declination
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella immunity or vaccination/declination as applicable
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption during flu season
• Facility-specific documents including HIPAA acknowledgement, confidentiality form, latex allergy questionnaire, hand hygiene, fingernail, and dress code policies must be reviewed and signed prior to start
• Orientation modules required through online platform unless previously completed in the current calendar year

Additional Requirements

• Must complete unit-specific competency exams annually, including medication/pharmacology and dysrhythmia/EKG competency
• Skills checklist required within 1 year of start, including oncology skills if applicable
• Two professional references required (supervisors preferred)
• Employment application must be submitted and uploaded for facility review

Notes

• No local candidates accepted
• No block scheduling accommodation
• Return to work restrictions: no more than 7 days off before returning
• Parking available with fees for day/rotating shifts; free parking for straight night shifts

This position is ideal for a Registered Nurse with critical care experience seeking a travel contract in a high-acuity Level 1 Trauma PACU setting with complex postoperative patients.