RN: Pre-Operative & Post Anesthesia (PACU)

Department: Surgical Services
Status: Full-Time | 1.0 FTE
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Call Requirement: On-call rotation with a 30-minute response time

🏥 Position Highlight

Provide exceptional perioperative nursing care while helping patients safely navigate one of the most important moments of their healthcare journey—from pre-operative preparation through recovery from anesthesia.

Position Summary

Pagosa Springs Medical Center is seeking an experienced and compassionate Pre-Operative & PACU Registered Nurse to join our Surgical Services team.

This role provides comprehensive nursing care throughout the entire perioperative continuum, including pre-operative assessment, post-anesthesia recovery, conscious sedation, and pre-admission testing. Working closely with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and the interdisciplinary surgical team, you'll advocate for patients, monitor their recovery, educate patients and families, and ensure safe, high-quality surgical care.

Why Join PSMC?

• Work in a collaborative, patient-centered surgical environment
• Care for patients across multiple surgical specialties
• Practice a wide variety of advanced nursing skills
• Partner closely with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and operating room staff
• Enjoy meaningful one-on-one patient interactions
• Live and work in beautiful Pagosa Springs, Colorado

What You'll Do

Pre-Operative Care

• Perform comprehensive pre-operative nursing assessments
• Complete pre-operative checklists and verify informed consents
• Prepare patients physically and emotionally for surgery
• Initiate IV therapy and administer medications as ordered
• Verify provider orders, laboratory results, and required documentation
• Coordinate patient readiness with the surgical team

PACU Recovery

• Monitor patients recovering from general, regional, MAC, and local anesthesia
• Assess cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, hemodynamic, and pain status
• Recognize and respond quickly to changes in patient condition
• Manage pain, airway, cardiac monitoring, IV therapy, and fluid management
• Apply Aldrete discharge criteria to determine recovery readiness
• Provide safe discharge education to patients and families

Patient & Family Education

• Explain procedures, recovery expectations, medications, and discharge instructions
• Support patients and families through the perioperative experience
• Reinforce physician instructions and treatment plans
• Promote patient safety and positive outcomes through education

Clinical Collaboration

• Work closely with surgeons, anesthesia providers, OR nurses, and support staff
• Participate in patient handoffs using SBAR communication
• Assist with conscious sedation and procedural support as needed
• Help maintain a safe, efficient, and patient-focused surgical environment

Documentation & Quality

• Complete accurate documentation in Cerner
• Maintain compliance with National Patient Safety Goals
• Ensure medication safety using the seven rights of medication administration
• Support quality improvement initiatives and department standards
• Participate in continuing education and competency validation