PACU

PACU RN – 16-Week Contract

Location: Birmingham, AL

Shift: 7:00 AM–7:30 PM, three 12-hour shifts per week. On-call requirement: three weekend nights and one weekend day per month.

Contract Duration: 16 weeks

About the Role

Join the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) team at the facility. You'll provide immediate post-operative care to patients recovering from surgical procedures, managing airway patency, hemodynamic stability, and anesthesia emergence. This role requires strong clinical judgment and the ability to recognize and respond to post-anesthesia complications including respiratory depression, hemorrhage, and hypotension.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess and monitor patients for airway patency, hemodynamic stability, and recovery from anesthesia
• Manage airway and ventilatory support during emergence
• Administer pain and nausea management per physician orders
• Collaborate with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and the care team on patient plans
• Educate patients and families on post-operative care and discharge instructions
• Document assessments and interventions accurately
• Determine readiness for transfer or discharge per facility criteria
• Maintain infection control and safety protocols

Required Qualifications

• Active RN license (state or compact)
• BLS and ACLS certification required
• Minimum 2 years' PACU or ICU experience
• Demonstrated ability to manage ventilators and infusions
• Experience with airway management and post-anesthesia recovery protocols
• Travel nursing experience preferred

Preferred

• CPAN (Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse)
• BSN