Registered Nurse / RN PACU

Overview

Responsibilities

• PACU staff provides care for patients recovering from general, regional, or local anesthesia.
• Unless complicationsoccur, most patients only stay in the PACU for a few hours before returning home or to another department of the hospital.
• The PACU staff, generally composed of highly trained nurses, performs many tasks vital to the care of post-anesthesia and post- operative patients.
• These essential activities include: Monitoring vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and respiratory rate) Treating symptoms of postoperative nausea and vomiting (or PONV) Managing post-operative pain Treating post-anesthetic shivering Monitoring surgical site(s) for excessive bleeding, discharge, swelling, hematoma, redness, etc.
• Additionally, PACU RNs often coordinate the delivery of care for post-anesthesia patients immediately following surgical procedures, so that the physical, psychological, safety, rehabilitative and education needs of patients and their family members are met.

Qualifications

Job Requirements

• Current valid NJ State Professional Registered Nurse license or a valid multistate Registered Nurse License from the NCL required. 2 years minimum as OR, PACU, critical care or Same Day surgery experience BLS certification must be obtained within 14 days of hire or transfer into the role and prior to providing direct patient care. Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification (ACLS) by the American Heart Association (AHA) or the American Red Cross (ARC) required. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) by the American Heart Association (AHA) or the American Red Cross (ARC) required.
• Preferred
• Job
• Requirements: CNOR or CPAN Certification in a specialty Rate of pay is determined based on experience and education and may include other pay components such as differentials and call pay based on role.