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Job detail
Registered Nurse – Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
Provide comprehensive nursing care for patients recovering from anesthesia, including monitoring vital signs and managing invasive lines. Coordinate with surgeons and anesthesiologists to ensure safe patient transitions and maintain accurate medical records in MHS GENESIS.
Requirements summary
Requires a Bachelor's degree in Nursing, a valid RN license, and certifications in BLS, PALS, and ACLS. Candidates must have at least 2 years of PACU experience or 1 year of Critical Care experience.
At PQC, our people are our greatest strength. We are committed to fostering a workplace where every individual feels respected, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. Our culture is built on collaboration, innovation, and growth—because we know the best results happen when everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute.
Here, you’ll find meaningful, challenging work in a supportive environment where your impact truly matters. If you’re ready to grow your career and help deliver exceptional results for our customers, we’d love to hear from you.
PQC is currently seeking a Registered Nurse – Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
Work Environment
Monday–Friday, 10-hour shifts with a 45-minute unpaid meal break
Day
Shift: 08:45AM–19:15PM
Day Shift personnel will be required to work one (1) evening shift within a 6-week scheduling block.
Evening
Shift: 12:45PM–23:15PM
Responsibilities
Shall be knowledgeable of equipment and supply terminology and skill sufficient to identify and use necessary equipment and supplies properly and to communicate proper use with nurses, medical staff, patients, and family members.
Shall be knowledgeable and possess nursing skills necessary to provide care appropriate to any age-related needs of the patients.
Shall be knowledge of the principles of growth and development appropriate to patient population served: Infants, Children, Adolescent, Adults, and Geriatric (>65).
Shall, assess, coordinate, facilitate, deliver and evaluate care for infant to geriatric patients using the nursing process.
Will be expected to effectively manage the care of potentially critical patients for up to two hours.
Shall be knowledge of a wide range of medical disorders/conditions, diagnostic studies and treatments related to prevention, and detection of illnesses in adults, is desirable.
Shall be knowledgeable in professional care theories, principles, practices, and procedures to perform nursing assignments of moderate difficulty, with special needs, paralysis, amputations, and expressive disorders.
Will be able to fully comprehend and be fluent in speaking and writing the English language.
Shall be able to assist with bed-to-bed, bed-to-chair, chair-to-chair, wheelchair-to-commode, and commode to wheelchair transfer patients
Will be able to walk the distance of 500 yards without needing rest, push an occupied wheelchair, push an occupied gurney, and lift linen bags of 30 lbs.
Will be able to type efficiently and prepare medications from vials for patient care,
Will be able to read (with or without assistive devices) computer screens and medication vials/packets.
Will care for critically ill patients, including the management of invasive lines and advanced monitoring.
Will be responsible in recognizing and responding to life-threatening changes in a patient's condition; titration of vasoactive medications and operating specialized medical equipment. This includes but is not limited to epidurals pumps, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) devices, cardiac monitors, IV pumps, airway adjuncts, and mechanical ventilators.
Provide a scope of care which includes emphasis on evaluation, management, and education of patients undergoing Anesthesia (general, regional, or local), Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) or Moderate Sedation.
Conduct duties in accordance with PACU policies and procedures.
Delivery of treatment within the personnel and equipment capabilities of the MTF, provision of mandated nursing surveillance and preventive services.
The quality and timeliness of treatment records and reports required to document procedures performed and care provided.
Participate in educational and continuous improvement programs to include training of the enlisted, LPN/CNA staff assigned to the PACU.
Assess nursing needs, formulate, and implement a plan of nursing care for each patient consistent with established nursing standards and protocols for this unit and with the prescribed plan of medical care.
Contribute to the medical/nursing plan of care by observing, recognizing, recording, and reporting changes in the patient's condition, subjective symptoms and objective signs, reactions to medications, and responses to therapy.
Performance of supportive life functions such as management of medications, suctioning (to include tracheostomy suctioning) maintenance and electrolytic fluids, and oxygen administration for maintenance of airway, cardiovascular, and respiratory functions.
Monitor patients recovering from anesthesia in accordance with PACU protocols, including vital signs, airway management and pain control.
Communicate effectively with surgeons, anesthesiologists, Perioperative Staff, and other care team members to ensure safe patient transitions.
Collect, document, and evaluate patient data for a wide variety of adult patients with medical or surgical problems to include maintenance and discontinuation of NG tubes, foley catheters, leg bags, colostomy bags, rectal tubes, arterial line, and TR Bands, etc.
Maintain all required patient care records and report pertinent information to the medical officer and charge nurse as appropriate.
Administer prescribed medications and intravenous therapy.
Safely administer prescribe medication, including Opioids, per WRNMMC policy, and in compliance with Bar-Code Medication Administration (BCMA) and MTF Narcotic Handling Procedures.
Demonstrate knowledge and competency in monitoring and assessing patients with chest tubes, including recognition of complications and appropriate emergency interventions.
Understands and safely administers blood transfusions using the Bridge Medical System, following all established protocols and documentation requirements.
Will be knowledge of a variety of pharmacological agents used in patient treatment, the desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use as well as the accurate administration of the pharmacologic agent, including dosage calculations as required.
Will be knowledgeable in administrative requirements for the documentation of patient's condition, progress and acknowledgement of teaching, and follow up care.
Will be familiar with local anesthetic administration devices such as On-Q and a Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia (PCEA).
Conduct a complete physical screening assessment utilizing techniques of observation, inspection, auscultation, palpitation and percussion, as well as proper use of instruments to aid in the evaluation.
Provide individualized health teaching for patients and their significant others throughout hospitalizations to ensure that transfer or discharge objectives can be achieved.
Utilize diversified professional concepts, principles, and practices while performing procedures, treatments, and tasks related to the specialty area.
Interpret and operate highly specialized equipment used for required patient care. (To include external fixators, JP drains, TLS drains, wound vacs, etc.)
Assist in nursing quality assurance activities through problem identification, development of nursing practice evaluation criteria, development of plans of action, and result monitoring.
Perform special tests and procedures following appropriate standard protocols (serum glucose fill-and-pull, I-Stat, and bladder scanner)
Provide support and proper referral for those patients and families experiencing critical illness and/or potential death.
Assist in maintenance of the unit environment and with ordering supplies and equipment. Be responsible for the security of narcotics, dangerous drugs, and other controlled substances.
Provide emotional empathy with patients and coworkers; engage in purposeful work-related conversations in a manner that conveys dignity and respect for others, improves individual resiliency, and is directed at achieving a safe and harmonious environment of care.
Keep current Command certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, IV administration and venipuncture. Keep current in nursing practice within the specialty of practice.
Provide through and timely hand-off communication during shift changes and patient transfers to other units.
Our facility does perform elective terminations of pregnancy (Elective D&E), and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) as prescribed by DOD instruction. Nurses who object to participating in the care of patients undergoing these procedures must make their conscience known by informing the charge nurse and every attempt will be made to reassign the care, if able. Contractors should refer to the nursing practice act of their state, patient abandonment and refusal of care, when confronted with this issue.
Promote patient and staff safety through adherence to accepted safety and infection control standards. Maintain a clean, safe, orderly, and therapeutic working environment.
Participates in emergency measures including cardiopulmonary resuscitation in absence of a physician according to established protocols.
Contractors will have thorough knowledge of documentation requirements and hospital policies regarding the release of information to outside agencies; prepare correspondence and summaries to a variety of requestors, such as the Veterans Administration Hospitals, Social Security Administration, and Insurance Companies. Employees must abide by the Privacy Act to determine what types of patient information can be released.
Contractors shall assure his/her contract personnel comply with the Privacy Act, 38 USC 5701 and 38 USC 7332 in accordance with FAR Clauses 52.224-1 Privacy Act Notification and 52.224-2 Privacy Act.
MHS GENESIS: Contractors will use MHS GENESIS for evaluation of diagnostic testing, documenting patient treatments as indicated, and performing other required patient functions. The government will provide training to contract employees. Access to such patient data systems is an "Automated Data Processing Sensitive" position requiring compliance with AR 25-2 and AR 380-67.
MHS GENESIS: Contractors will use MHS GENESIS computer system for evaluation of diagnostic testing, prescribing medications, writing doctor's orders, ordering ancillary procedures, laboratory testing, documenting patient encounters not limited to preoperative and post-operative evaluations. Access to such patient data systems is an "Automated Data Processing Sensitive" position requiring compliance with AR 25-2 and AR 380-67.
Must be able to type and document patient record of care into electronic medical record.
Accurately document assessments, interventions, medication administration, and patient response in the electronic health record (MHS Genesis) in real time.
Assist with mobility needs of patients to include hospital falls policy, assisted ambulation, transfers, and education on transfer devices.
Ensure quality of care issues are documented and reported to appropriate personnel and corrective action is taken.
Staff Orientation: Contractors shall participate in all staff orientation or training that may be required as a precondition to performance as may be prescribed by the hospital Director or designee. Such orientation may include instruction on automated processing, standing operating procedures (SOP), local in-services, quality improvement programs, safety programs. This shall be conducted during the contractors’ regularly scheduled shift.
Additional training: Contractors may be assigned additional training, such as customer service, computer, new equipment, annual refresher, sexual harassment or discrimination training, resiliency, or other training as assigned by the Nurse Manager or higher authority, to ensure competence and compliance with mission. These will be conducted at the Governments’ expense.
HCW shall perform in accordance with established principles, practices, and ethics of applicable healthcare profession and written policies, procedures and requirements of WRNMMC and shall apply age specific knowledge and competency appropriate to patient population served, given organizational guiding principles, and the standards of performance for all HCW in the professional category to which he or she belongs.
Shall report to the Nurse Manager. Will take direction from charge nurse and house supervisor as required in maintaining a safe environment for staff and patient(s).
When assigned, shall serve and participate in committees, functions, and other meetings. Provide relevant and timely information and assist with decision-making and process improvement.
As required, participate in customer service initiatives and medical readiness activities, designed to enhance health services.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's Degree, Registered Nursing. Graduate from a college or university accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Certifications
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Experience
Minimum at least 2 years of current experience as a PACU RN in an inpatient Phase 1 recovery unit, or at least one year of experience in Critical Care.
Board Certification
Board Certification will be from a National League of Nursing (NLN) approved program. Successfully pass the NCLEX exam. Copy of Certificate and license required.
Have successfully completed a Post-Anesthesia Care course/training program or is nationally certified as a Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CP AN).
License
Possess current, active, valid, unrestricted license in at least one U.S. State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth, Territory, or jurisdiction.
Misc
Possess a valid state driver’s license.
Possess, or be able to obtain, a background screening.
Must complete initial and annual training independently.
Excellent oral communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse group of people for the purpose of informing the healthcare team of plans/actions, for teaching/education to benefit the patient/family and organization. Effectively uses appropriate communication format in addressing professional issues.
Excellent written communication skills to perform accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity in accordance with requirements.
Completes orientation and competency verification programs in accordance with established guidelines.
Contributes to professional environment using appropriate leadership skills.
