RN / REGISTERED NURSE - POST ANESTHESIA CARE UNIT (PACU)
LEWES, DE, 19958, USA
- Healthcare
- Full-time
- Registered Nurse
- Post Anesthesia Care Unit
- PACU Nurse
The Registered Nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) provides comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care to patients recovering from anesthesia. This role includes monitoring vital signs, administering medications, managing complex clinical situations, and collaborating with surgical and anesthesia teams to ensure patient safety and optimal recovery. The position requires critical thinking, clinical judgment, and competencies in perioperative nursing processes and equipment usage in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Become part of the Beebe team - an inclusive team positioned in a vibrant, coastal community. Enjoy a fulfilling career as you support the health of our patients and a team focused on excellence.
In addition to competitive compensation and wellness benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription) Beebe Healthcare also offers:
- Sign-on and Referral Bonuses for select positions
- Tuition Assistance up to $5,000
- Paid Time Off
- Long Term Sick accrual
- Employer Contribution Plan
- Free Short and Long-Term Disability for Full Time employees
- Zero copay for drugs on prescription plan for certain conditions
- College Bound 529 Savings Plan
- Life Insurance
- Beebe Pers via WorkAdvantage
- Employee Assistance Program
- Pet Insurance
The PACU Registered Nurse delivers safe, evidence-based, compassionate care to patients requiring post-anesthesia recovery. This role requires full cross-training across all phases of peri anesthesia care, including Pre-op, PACU Phase I/II, extended recovery, and procedural support. The RN utilizes critical thinking, comprehensive assessment skills, and strong clinical judgment to ensure seamless, high-quality patient care throughout the perioperative continuum.
Responsibilities:Medication and Treatment Administration
- Identifies, labels, administers, and dispenses medications and solutions safely per established standards and policies.
- Demonstrates competency inserting and maintaining peripheral intravenous lines.
- Demonstrates knowledge of pain management protocols and administers appropriate therapies while monitoring patient response.
Clinical/Technical Competencies
- Demonstrates competency using LIS lab, Invision, and applicable electronic systems.
- Demonstrates competent use of the Philips cardiac monitor and other monitoring equipment.
- Conducts airway assessment and management including oxygen therapy, ventilator management, and assisting with intubation/extubation procedures.
- Demonstrates competency with arterial line, CVP, Swan-Ganz catheter, PA line monitoring and setup; interprets data to support patient status.
- Collects, labels, processes, and ensures proper transport of blood/urine specimens.
Peri anesthesia Nursing Process
- Completes comprehensive assessments, collecting and interpreting pertinent pre-, intra-, and post-operative data.
- Develops individualized care plans based on assessment findings and collaborates with anesthesia and surgical teams.
- Provides direct patient care and implements interventions to meet physical and psychological needs during recovery.
- Continuously evaluates patient response to interventions and modifies the care plan to achieve optimal outcomes.
- Completes thorough, timely, and accurate documentation of post-operative care.
Equipment, Supplies & Environment
- Accepts accountability for proper handling and optimal use of department equipment and supplies.
- Maintains a safe environment following infection control, patient safety, and regulatory guidelines.
Professional Expectations
- Communicates clearly with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members throughout the perioperative process.
- Uses critical thinking, prioritization, and time management skills in a fast-paced recovery setting.
- Demonstrates understanding of theoretical foundations of perianesthesia nursing and the rationale behind clinical interventions.
- Maintains competency through ongoing education, skills training, and participation in quality improvement initiatives.
- Must possess current hospital experience (within the past 5 years) or be a new graduate (within the last 2 years).Prefer minimum of 1 year recent PACU or Critical Care experience.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-stress environment
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
- Prior perioperative, ICU, PACU, ED, or critical care experience preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex postoperative patients and rapidly changing conditions.
- Must complete Point of Care Testing training as part of Department Orientation. Must be knowledgeable regarding the nursing process and its application--assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
- Clear Communication Skills Both Written and Verbal
- Able to Keep Confidential Information Regarding Patients, Team Members
- Able to Withstand Crisis Situations
- Has Skills to Provides Customer Service to Patients, Team Members and Visitors
- Knowledge And Experience with Electronic Health Records
- Current RN license
- BLS – Basic Life Saving Certification
- ACLS- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- NIH Stroke Certification
- PALS- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (preferred) Must obtain within 6 months of hire
- RN Diploma/RN Graduate Program




