Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Registered Nurse

Quick Facts

• Role: Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Registered Nurse (RN)

Description

Provide peri-anesthesia nursing care in the PACU by assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient status across the peri-anesthesia continuum (pre-anesthesia phase, Post-anesthesia Phase I and II, and extended care from sedation/analgesia and/or anesthesia). Use knowledge of anesthesia physiology to recognize contraindications, perform clinical assessments, apply post-sedation scoring, manage airway and physiological parameters, and support safe recovery to baseline or above. Administer medications per established policies, document all phases of care in the electronic health record, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to improve outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Assess and prepare patients for procedures

• Recognize contraindications for anesthesia and/or surgical intervention

• Perform postoperative status assessment including cardiovascular, respiratory/airway needs, neurological status, hemodynamic stability, pain/comfort, and mental status

• Implement interventions to maintain/return physiological systems to baseline or above

• Apply post sedation scoring and evaluate recovery during Phase I and Phase II

• Maintain knowledge of ASPAN standards and applicable directives/SOPs

• Ensure comprehensive, timely, accurate electronic health record documentation

• Participate in unit/org shared governance councils using evidence-based practice

• May perform on-call duties

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular increases and potential performance awards

• Paid Time Off: 50 days/year (annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays)

• Retirement: traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contributions

• Insurance: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care options

• Licensure: 1 full, unrestricted RN license from any U.S. state/territory

• Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm; onsite (not eligible for telework)

• Relocation/recruitment incentives: may be authorized for highly qualified eligible new federal appointees/former federal employees with required break in service