Travel
PACU
Louisville, KY
PACU Registered Nurse
Location: Louisville, KY
Shift: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, with call requirements (one weekday 7:00 PM–11:00 PM shift; weekend on-call no more than every 6th weekend, 7:00 AM–7:00 PM)
Contract Duration: 13 weeks
About the Role
The facility's Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) is seeking a detail-oriented Registered Nurse to provide immediate post-operative and post-anesthesia recovery care. You'll assess and monitor patients emerging from anesthesia, manage airway patency and hemodynamic stability, and respond quickly to post-operative complications including respiratory depression, hemorrhage, and hypotension.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitor airway, breathing, circulation, and anesthesia recovery status
- Manage pain, nausea, and other post-operative symptoms per physician orders
- Manage airway and ventilatory support during emergence as needed
- Collaborate with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and the interdisciplinary team
- Educate patients and families on post-operative care and discharge instructions
- Document assessments and interventions accurately in the EMR
- Determine readiness for transfer or discharge per facility criteria
- Ensure adherence to infection control and safety protocols
Required Qualifications
- Active RN license in Kentucky (or compact license as applicable)
- Minimum 1 year of PACU or critical care experience
- BLS, ACLS, and NIHSS certifications
- Nursing Diploma or Associate's Degree in Nursing
- Experience with airway management and post-anesthesia recovery protocols
Preferred Qualifications
- BSN
- CPAN (Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse)
- Pre-operative experience