PACU Registered Nurse
Saint Louis, Missouri
Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Registered Nurse Travel/Contract Opportunity

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Facility Type: Short Term Acute Care, Magnet & Teaching Hospital, Level I Trauma Center
Unit: South Campus PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit)

Schedule & Contract Length

• Shift: 4x10 hour shifts, Monday-Friday, 1200-2230, rotating start times as needed
• Weekend Requirement: No weekends, no call, no holidays
• Contract Length: 13 weeks

Experience & Skills Required

• Minimum 2-3 years Level 1 ICU experience required (Level 2 ICU experience considered)
• Critical care experience in inpatient setting at a Level I Trauma Center
• Skills:

  • Phase I PACU care
  • Dysrhythmia recognition and management
  • Blood product administration
  • Phlebotomy
  • Starting IVs and managing IV vasopressors
  • ICP (Intracranial Pressure) monitoring
  • Care of ventilated patients
• Must be able to float within scope to meet facility needs
• First-time travelers accepted
• No block scheduling accommodation
• Local candidates not accepted (home address must be at least 75 miles from facility)
• Pending license accepted

Patient Population & Unit Details

• Patient population includes adults, occasional adolescents, and geriatric patients
• Surgical patients recovered include: Neurosurgery, ENT, plastics, orthopedics, thoracic, vascular, trauma, general surgery, colorectal, gynecology, urology, electrophysiology, interventional radiology, and transplant (excluding open heart surgeries and liver transplants)
• Unit has 38 patient bays and its own PCT/transport team
• Unit operates 24/7
• Critical care experience required due to patients with artificial airways, invasive monitoring, transfusions, and vasoactive drugs
• Night shift requires learning pre-op patient workup

Certifications Required

• BLS (Basic Life Support) - AHA only
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - AHA only
• Other certifications may be required depending on unit (e.g., PALS, NRP, TNCC, CPI/MAB, NIH Stroke Certification) - check unit-specific requirements

Licensure & Compliance

• Missouri RN license required (NURSYS verification required)
• Pending licenses accepted
• Background checks including criminal, EPLS/GSA/SAM, HHS/OIG, and state-specific searches required
• Education verification required
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, must include standard panels (amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, etc.)
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask testing required and must be renewed annually
• Immunizations and health documents required:

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (every 10 years)
  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray (2 negative PPDs or T-Spot/Q-Gold within 1 year)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella immunity or vaccination/declination
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption during flu season
• Facility-specific compliance documents: HIPAA acknowledgement, latex allergy questionnaire, confidentiality form, hand hygiene policy, fingernail policy, dress code policy, and others must be reviewed and signed prior to start

Additional Requirements

• No on-call required
• Guaranteed minimum of 3 shifts per 13 weeks
• References: Two professional references required (supervisors preferred)
• Unit-specific competency exams required and must be updated annually (e.g., medication test, dysrhythmia/EKG competency)
• Skills checklist required within 1 year of start
• Candidates must complete regulatory compliance education and pass with 80% or higher prior to start

Notes

• Candidates must be prepared to comply with all facility policies and complete all required documentation prior to start
• The unit does not recover open heart surgery or liver transplant patients
• Night shift nurses will need to learn pre-op patient workup procedures

This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for experienced ICU RNs with critical care skills to work in a high-acuity PACU environment at a prestigious Level I Trauma Center.