PACU

PACU Travel Nurse — 13-Week Contract | Northridge, CA

This PACU position places you in a busy surgical recovery unit managing Phase 1 and Phase 2 patients across a broad range of surgical specialties, with a heavy emphasis on orthopedics and robotics-assisted procedures.

Shift & Schedule

• 12-hour days; staggered start times between 7:00–9:00 AM (2-hour notice of changes)
• Every other weekend rotation
• Call required on a rotational basis: typically 2 weekdays per week plus Saturday night and Sunday day or night

Clinical Scope

• Phase 1 recovery with working knowledge of Phase 2 and patient discharge
• Common cases: total joint replacement, spinal fusion, laminectomy, hysterectomy, robotic surgery, brain tumor excision, AV fistula, elective cardioversion, transesophageal echocardiogram, lap chole, D&C — *open hearts not recovered in this unit*
• ICU-level recovery performed collaboratively; call nurses may recover critical patients in the ICU together
• Patient population: day-of-birth pediatric through adult (no neonates)
• Must interpret telemetry strips independently, read ABGs, and troubleshoot ventilators (RT maintains vents but RN troubleshoots)
• Must be able to draw blood and perform EKGs

Requirements

• Minimum 2 years PACU or ICU experience
• BLS, ACLS, PALS required | CPAN or CCRN preferred
• First-time travelers welcome

Additional Details

• Scrub color: navy (or facility-supplied)
• Orientation: 3 shifts covering charting workflow, dual-patient management, and critical patient recovery
• Guaranteed 36 hours/week
• Cancellation policy: up to 4 shifts per 13-week contract