PRE-OP/PACU Charge Nurse

TEEMA Group

  • Peoria, AZ
  • Today
  • $80,000–$105,000

Highlights

Support Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives, monthly department statistics, recordkeeping, equipment maintenance, authorized medication and controlled-substance purchasing, and staff orientation. In this role, you will provide high-quality nursing care throughout the surgical experience, including preoperative preparation, intraoperative support when assigned, post-anesthesia recovery, and discharge.

Numbers & Facts

LocationPeoria, AZ
Salary$80,000–$105,000

Description

Pre-Op/PACU Charge Nurse

Role Summary

We are seeking a skilled, compassionate, and dedicated Pre-Op/PACU Charge Nurse (RN) to join a patient-centered Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC)!

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Registered Nurse passionate about perioperative nursing, patient safety, clinical excellence, and teamwork.

In this role, you will provide high-quality nursing care throughout the surgical experience, including preoperative preparation, intraoperative support when assigned, post-anesthesia recovery, and discharge. You will also assist with daily Pre-Op and PACU operations, support clinical staff, maintain regulatory compliance, and contribute to quality improvement initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

Preoperative and Intraoperative Nursing Care

  • Perform and document preoperative assessments, including medical history, medications, allergies, vital signs, pain, fall risk, and required screenings.

  • Verify patient identity, procedure, surgical site, provider orders, consents, diagnostic results, NPO status, and readiness for surgery.

  • Identify and communicate abnormal findings, missing information, and changes in patient condition.

  • Establish IV access and administer medications and treatments according to orders, policies, and competency.

  • Educate patients and caregivers on procedures, recovery, pain management, discharge, and safety.

  • Serve as circulating nurse when assigned and competent, supporting safe and efficient procedural care.

  • Participate in surgical verification and time-outs, immediately escalating discrepancies or safety concerns.

  • Maintain aseptic technique and monitor equipment, positioning, supplies, medications, specimens, implants, and counts as applicable.

  • Assist with patient positioning, pressure-injury prevention, skin preparation, transfers, and patient privacy.

  • Document intraoperative care, interventions, personnel, medications, equipment, and patient responses accurately.

  • Coordinate with surgeons, anesthesia professionals, scrub personnel, radiology staff, and other team members.

Post-Anesthesia Care and Discharge

  • Provide Phase I and Phase II recovery care when assigned and competent.

  • Monitor airway, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, pain, nausea, wound, and surgical-site status.

  • Recognize changes in patient condition and initiate appropriate interventions.

  • Administer prescribed medications and treatments, evaluate effectiveness, and document responses.

  • Apply established discharge criteria and verify provider authorization when required.

  • Confirm responsible adult supervision and safe transportation when applicable.

  • Provide written and verbal discharge instructions covering medications, restrictions, warning signs, follow-up care, and emergency contacts.

  • Complete assigned post-discharge follow-up activities and report concerns.

Clinical Leadership, Medication Safety, and Compliance

  • Assist the Clinical Director with daily Pre-Op and PACU operations.

  • Provide clinical direction, task coordination, and real-time support to perioperative staff within assigned responsibilities.

  • Support Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives, monthly department statistics, recordkeeping, equipment maintenance, authorized medication and controlled-substance purchasing, and staff orientation.

  • Maintain accurate, complete, and timely medical records under the RN's own credentials.

  • Prepare, administer, verify, and document medications and IV therapies according to applicable standards, including independent double-checks when required.

  • Maintain controlled-substance accountability, medication security, wasting documentation, and chain-of-custody procedures.

  • Recognize and respond to airway emergencies, oversedation, anaphylaxis, malignant hyperthermia, cardiac arrest, and other clinical emergencies within demonstrated competency.

  • Participate in emergency drills and maintain familiarity with emergency equipment, medications, and transfer procedures.

  • Follow infection prevention, sterile technique, hand hygiene, PPE, sharps safety, and exposure-control requirements.

  • Perform assigned emergency equipment, medication storage, and procedure-room readiness checks.

  • Maintain clean, secure, organized, and inspection-ready clinical areas, equipment, and supplies; report deficiencies promptly.

  • Follow specimen handling, labeling, transport, surgical count, and implant/device documentation requirements.

  • Participate in chart audits, competency validation, staff education, peer review support, quality and incident reporting, infection surveillance, and accreditation preparation.

  • Maintain compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, Arizona regulations, accreditation standards, and facility policies.

  • Demonstrate professionalism, sound clinical judgment, ethical conduct, cultural sensitivity, teamwork, dependable attendance, and effective communication.

  • Maintain required credentials and health clearances, promptly disclose any restrictions or changes, and perform only duties within authorized scope and competency.

  • Perform other assigned duties within the RN scope of practice and demonstrated competency.

Required Qualifications

  • Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or higher from an accredited nursing program.

  • Current, active, unrestricted Arizona RN license or valid multistate compact privilege authorizing practice in Arizona.

  • Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for healthcare professionals.

  • Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.

  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification if required by the facility's patient population, services, or policies.

  • At least one year of recent RN experience in an ambulatory surgery center, operating room, PACU, critical care, emergency care, procedural nursing, or comparable setting.

  • Strong perioperative assessment, clinical judgment, medication administration, monitoring, documentation, and emergency-response skills.

  • Ability to work in pre-op, circulating, procedure-room, and recovery assignments following orientation and competency validation.

  • Knowledge of infection prevention, sterile technique, patient identification, surgical safety, and handoff communication.

  • Ability to prioritize quickly, remain calm during emergencies, and communicate effectively with patients, caregivers, providers, and team members.

  • Proficiency with electronic health records, medication administration systems, monitoring devices, and common ASC equipment.

  • Commitment to patient safety, confidentiality, teamwork, and continuous quality improvement.

  • Successful completion of required background screening, health clearances, orientation, and role-specific competency validation.

  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, continuously observe patients, and perform fine-motor clinical and documentation tasks.

  • Ability to routinely lift and carry up to 25 pounds and assist with patient transfers, positioning, and emergency response using appropriate equipment and assistance.

  • Sufficient visual, auditory, and communication abilities to assess patients, read labels and monitors, recognize alarms, and respond promptly.

  • Ability to work around blood, body fluids, infectious materials, radiation environments, anesthetic agents, cleaning chemicals, and other clinical hazards while using required protective measures.

Desired Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

  • Previous Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) experience.

  • Previous perioperative nursing experience.

If you're interested, please reply to this advertisement or directly email your resume to me at DSalgado@teemagroup.com. You are also welcome to call or text me to learn more about this opportunity!

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