Registered Nurse Preop PACU

About the role

As an RN in the Pre-Op/PACU unit at St. Anthony Hospital, you will facilitate, communicate, and collaborate with the healthcare team and patient/family to meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, advancing modern nursing through compassionate care. You will promote optimal patient health, well‑being, and safety via the nursing process, adhering to patient care standards, guidelines, and the State Nurse Practice Act, while demonstrating personal accountability for relationship‑based care and the organization’s mission. The unit comprises a 36‑bed pre‑op area and a 12‑bay PACU supporting 17 OR suites with an average of 30+ cases daily. You will work in teams of six or more per shift, floating between the main OR and the surgery center to provide continuous coverage, conducting pre‑op calls, Pre‑Admission Testing (PATs), coordinating patient transports, and managing clinical recovery. St. Anthony Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center in Lakewood, Colorado, with Magnet designation and numerous specialty accreditations, offering a fast‑paced environment where you can practice to the top of your profession in trauma, cardiology, stroke, neurosciences, breast imaging, cancer/oncology, surgery, and more.

Responsibilities

• Assess patient’s physical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs through observation, interview, review of medical records & clinical data.
• Evaluate patient’s response and intervene to ensure optimal patient outcome.
• Develop and implement patient plan of care and observe outcomes in accordance with nursing standards and in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrate competency in a variety of therapeutic/diagnostic interventions including, but not limited to, IVs, incision/wound care, medication administration, catheterization, and specimen collections.
• Maintain thorough and confidential patient charts and records.
• Document ongoing status, interventions, patient response, and outcomes in an accurate, timely manner.
• Conduct pre‑op calls and Pre‑Admission Testing (PATs).
• Coordinate patient transports.
• Manage clinical recovery, including Phase I recovery in PACU and occasional Phase II support.

Requirements

• Associate’s Degree in Nursing; Nursing Diploma or by endorsement.
• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing (required for new graduates, preferred for experienced RNs).
• Current RN license; valid state nursing license or RN license from a participating state in the National Licensure Compact.
• Minimum one year of nursing experience.

Qualifications

• Previous PACU experience or strong clinical background.
• Previous PACU/ICU/ED experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (preferred).

Pay

$36.51 – $59.00 per hour.

Schedule

PRN – variable according to surgical volume and unit needs. Policy requires a minimum availability of 5 shifts in a 6‑week schedule block and 2 holidays per year. Call is not required.