Registered Nurse (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit / Ambulatory Surgery)

Quick Facts

• Role: Registered Nurse in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU)

• Practice area: perioperative continuum (Peri-Anesthesia, Phase I, Phase II, Extended Care)

Description

This RN is responsible and accountable for nursing care across the perioperative continuum in the PACU-ASU, providing care to surgical and procedural specialties. The role includes independent, high-acuity practice and leadership through precepting, mentoring, and coordinating staff and resources to improve unit processes. The nurse also supports safe management of mechanically ventilated patients and pacing patients, and leads resuscitation efforts when needed.

Responsibilities

• Serve in charge nurse and preceptor roles
• Practice independently and contribute to unit/team/workgroup-level improvement
• Organize and coordinate staff and resources to identify problems and needs
• Organize, lead, or facilitate interdisciplinary meetings to improve practice for groups of patients
• Precept and mentor others; collaborate with other disciplines to achieve desired outcomes
• Precept and coach others on mechanically ventilated patient management
• Precept and coach others on safe and therapeutic care for patients with epicardial and transvenous pacing
• Lead resuscitation during code blue or rapid response situations
• Assist the Unit Performance Coordinator (UPC) and Nurse Manager with the Units Score Card
• Prioritize Veteran-centered needs and respond to operational challenges within allocated resources
• Function as an expert in clinical practice and in areas related to role/responsibility assignment
• Guide, develop, and support staff from a leadership perspective
• Identify policies, procedures, standards, guidelines, and protocols needing review or revision
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Current, full, active, unrestricted RN license
• Minimum 2 years of current experience in PACU or ICU providing critical care-level services
• Demonstrated competency across the perioperative continuum (Phase I, Phase II, extended care)
• Strong clinical skills in airway management, hemodynamic monitoring, pain control, and post-anesthesia recovery
• Current BLS and ACLS certifications
• Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) credential (preferred)
• Ability to independently assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment
• Demonstrated leadership (charge nurse duties, precepting, mentoring)
• Experience caring for a wide range of surgical/procedural patient populations
• Experience with mechanical ventilation, cardiac monitoring, and emergency response (code blue/rapid response)
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Effective communication and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams
• Commitment to adhering to policies, standards of care, and professional nursing practice

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases and potential performance awards
• Paid Time Off: 50 days per year (26 annual leave, 13 sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays)
• Retirement: traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options