Registered Nurse Post Anaesthetic Care Unit

NSW Health; Sydney; On-site; AUD 56,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

NSW Health is seeking a Registered Nurse to join the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) at Westmead Hospital. You will deliver specialist post-anaesthetic care in a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment within the Perioperative Services team.

Daily duties include monitoring, assessing, and managing patients, mentoring staff, and ensuring safe transfer after procedures. The role offers mentoring, learning opportunities, and clinical development in a leading tertiary hospital.

Qualifications

• Current Nursing registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (AHPRA)
• Recent perioperative nursing experience in PACU or High Dependency Unit
• Ability to organise and prioritise work
• Evidence of person-centred care and effective communication
• Driver licence for on-call requirements
• Commitment to continuing professional development and sharing expertise

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to patients recovering from anaesthesia and surgery
• Monitor patient recovery and respond to changing conditions to support safe recovery and transfer
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care in the immediate post-anaesthetic phase
• Discharge planning, handover and communication with multidisciplinary team
• Mentor and support colleagues and students, contributing to efficient use of clinical resources

Skills

PACU nursing experience

Airway management

Communication skills

Leadership to junior staff

On-call driver licence

Education

Nursing degree (RN)

AHPRA registration

Job description

Registered Nurse Post Anaesthetic Care Unit

Join a leading tertiary hospital and high-performing perioperative team

Deliver specialist post-anaesthetic care in a dynamic clinical setting

Grow your career through mentoring, learning and development opportunities

Monitor, assess and manage post-anaesthetic patients while delivering exceptional PACU care in a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment.

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time (Up to 30th April 2027)
Position Classification:Registered Nurse
Remuneration: $41.22- $57.88 per hour
Hours Per Week:38
Location: Westmead Hospital

Where you'll be working

Join one of Australia's largest and most diverse health services at Westmead Hospital, a leading tertiary referral and teaching hospital recognised for excellence in patient care, innovation and clinical education. Working within a collaborative Perioperative Services team, you'll play an important role in delivering safe, compassionate and high-quality care to patients throughout their surgical journey.

Our team is committed to clinical excellence, continuous improvement and supporting each other to achieve outstanding patient outcomes.

Work alongside highly skilled nurses, anaesthetists, surgeons and multidisciplinary teams

Be part of a supportive and inclusive workplace focused on professional growth

Access opportunities for ongoing education, mentoring and clinical development

Contribute to a culture of patient-centred care, innovation and excellence

Experience a varied and rewarding caseload within a busy tertiary hospital environment

What you’ll be doing

As a Registered Nurse in the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU), you will provide high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to patients recovering from anaesthesia and surgery. You will use your clinical expertise and critical thinking skills to monitor patients, respond to changing conditions and support safe recovery and transfer following procedures.

Key responsibilities include

• Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care throughout the immediate post-anaesthetic phase
• Recognising and effectively managing post-anaesthetic and postoperative complications
• Monitoring patient recovery, ensuring discharge criteria are met and providing comprehensive clinical handover
• Advocating for patients and communicating effectively with patients, families, carers and the multidisciplinary team
• Supporting colleagues, mentoring staff and students, and contributing to the effective use of clinical resources

Make a difference where it matters most

Join a team that values collaboration, compassion and excellence in care. At NSW Health, you'll have the opportunity to grow your career, develop your skills and help deliver better health outcomes for the communities we serve.

Current Nursing registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (AHPRA)- Registered Nurse Division 1

Selection Criteria

• Recent perioperative nursing experience in PACU or similar High Dependency Unit with airway management
• Demonstrated ability to organise and prioritise work
• Demonstrated evidence of being able to provide person centred care
• Demonstrated effective communication skills – written and verbal
• Effective interpersonal skills showing initiative and leadership to junior members of team
• Current unrestricted NSW Driver License as On Call will be a requirement
• Evidence of participation in own professional development and commitment to maintaining competence and enhancement of skills.
• Willingness to share these professional expertise with colleagues

Requisition ID: REQ689291
Applications Close:22nd October 2026

People with disabilities who meet the selection criteria are encouraged to apply; and where required, WSLHD will implement reasonable adjustment consistent with industry standard.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.Stepping Up aims to assist Aboriginal job applicants by providing information about applying for roles in NSW Health organisations. For more information, please visit https://www.steppingup.health.nsw.gov.au/ .

Westmead hospital car parking allocation model is changing. There is a waitlist for parking for new staff commencing at Westmead Hospital. This does not apply for staff with disability.

Please note: A person who is not an Australian citizen or a permanent resident is only eligible for temporary employment for a period not longer than the duration of their current visa or a period not shorter than the duration of the advertised position.