Job Title
Registered Nurse - Pre-Operative & Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
Job Summary
Join a dedicated team as a Registered Nurse in the Pre-Operative and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) at a community hospital in Ithaca, New York. This role is integral to providing high-quality care for patients undergoing a wide range of surgical procedures across 7 operating rooms.
The hospital supports diverse specialties including Neuro, Plastics, ENT, Breast, General, GYN, Urology, Ortho, Vascular, and Endoscopy. You will be responsible for comprehensive pre-operative assessment and preparation, as well as expert post-anesthesia monitoring and recovery care for a varied patient population.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct thorough pre-operative patient assessments, including medical history review, vital sign monitoring, and patient education.
- Prepare patients for surgery, ensuring all necessary pre-operative protocols are followed.
- Provide expert post-anesthesia care, continuously monitoring vital signs, airway patency, pain levels, and neurological status.
- Administer medications safely and effectively, including pain management and antiemetics.
- Manage post-operative complications and emergencies with prompt and appropriate interventions.
- Educate patients and their families on post-operative care instructions and discharge planning.
- Collaborate effectively with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare team members to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all patient care activities.
Required Qualifications
- Active Registered Nurse (RN) license.
- Minimum of 1-2 years of recent experience in Pre-Operative or Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) settings.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
- Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
Preferred Qualifications
Not specified.
Skills & Competencies
- Proficiency in pre-operative assessment and patient preparation.
- Expertise in post-anesthesia recovery, including airway management and hemodynamic monitoring.
- Strong IV insertion and phlebotomy skills.
- Ability to interpret EKG rhythms.
- Excellent pain assessment and management skills.
- Competency in administering a wide range of medications.
- Proficient in operating and interpreting data from patient monitoring equipment.
- Exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective patient and team interaction.
- Ability to adapt quickly to changing patient conditions and surgical schedules.
- Commitment to patient safety and quality care.
Shift Details
- Shift Type: Night Shift (NOC)
- Shift Duration: 8 hours
- Days per Week: 5 days
- Contract Length: 13 weeks
- Start Date: September 20, 2026
- End Date: December 19, 2026
- Call Requirements: Approximately 3-4 weeknight calls (9:00 PM - 7:00 AM) and one 24-hour weekend call (7:00 AM - 7:00 AM) within an 8-week period. Call frequency may vary based on departmental staffing needs.
Licensing Requirements
- Active and unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of New York.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association.
- Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification from the American Heart Association.