PACU

PACU Registered Nurse

Paducah, KY | 9-week contract | 3 × 12-hour shifts/week (8:00 AM–8:00 PM)

About the Role

The facility's Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) seeks an experienced Registered Nurse to deliver immediate post-operative care to patients recovering from surgical procedures. You'll assess and monitor airway patency, hemodynamic stability, and anesthesia emergence while managing pain, nausea, and post-operative symptoms. This is high-acuity, fast-paced nursing requiring strong clinical assessment and rapid response to complications.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor patients for airway patency, respiratory status, and hemodynamic stability during anesthesia recovery
• Recognize and respond promptly to post-anesthesia complications (respiratory depression, hemorrhage, hypotension)
• Manage airway and ventilatory support as needed
• Assess and manage pain and post-operative symptoms per physician orders
• Collaborate with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and the care team on plan of care
• Educate patients and families on post-operative recovery and discharge instructions
• Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately
• Determine readiness for transfer or discharge per facility protocol
• Ensure infection control and safety standards

Requirements

• Active, unrestricted RN license in Kentucky (or compact license)
• ADN or BSN (BSN preferred)
• BLS and ACLS certification required
• 1+ years of PACU or critical care experience
• Experience with airway management and post-anesthesia recovery protocols
• CPAN (Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse) preferred

Schedule

3 twelve-hour shifts per week (8:00 AM–8:00 PM). Call required: every third weekend (12 hours each day) plus six weeknight calls (8:00 PM–7:00 AM) per six-week cycle.