Charge Nurse - PACU RN

Aspire Talent Solutions; Great Falls (MT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan with employer matching

Fully covered medical malpractice

Generous PTO

Education and leadership development

Job summary

A premier hospital in Great Falls, MT is seeking a full-time Charge Nurse for the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). You will lead the PACU team, oversee patient flow across Pre-Op and PACU, and coordinate staffing and schedules to ensure safe, efficient care.

Active MT RN license, ADN with BSN preferred, and BLS/ACLS/PALS certifications are required. Prior charge nurse or clinical leadership experience is highly valued; ICU background is a plus.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program (ADN required; BSN preferred).
• Active RN license in Montana (or compact/endorsement eligibility).
• BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications required; CPAN/ASPAN certifications highly desired.
• Minimum 2+ years PACU nursing experience.
• Previous Charge Nurse or clinical leadership experience preferred; ICU background a plus.
• Knowledge of CPAN guidelines and perioperative practice.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimize the daily patient flow across Pre-Operative and PACU clinical areas.
• Act as the primary shift leader, managing real-time staffing assignments, surgical schedule adjustments, and daily operational problem-solving.
• Ensure all clinical staff adhere to patient safety standards and documentation in line with CPAN/ASPAN guidelines.
• Work in close daily collaboration with the PACU Supervisor and maintain cooperative relationships with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and allied health staff.
• Provide clinical direction, mentorship, and support to the Pre-Op/PACU nursing and support team.

Skills

PACU nursing

Clinical leadership

Staff coordination

CPAN guidelines

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing

BSN preferred

Job description

Charge Nurse - Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU RN)

Job Type: Full-Time | On-Site Clinical Leadership

Location: Great Falls, Montana

We have partnered closely with a premier hospital organization dedicated to becoming Montana's healthcare provider of choice, serving over 250,000 residents across 17 regional counties. We are currently seeking a full-time, dynamic Charge Nurse for the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) to join their perioperative leadership team in Great Falls. Boasting exceptional nurse-to-patient ratios that allow for deeply personalized care, this facility fosters a tight-knit culture of teamwork, safety, and modern medical technology.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and optimize the daily patient flow across both the Pre-Operative and PACU clinical areas.

Operational Hours: 6:00 AM - 7:30 PM Varied Shifts

Call Requirements: Shared Rotation (~4 weeknights/month + 1 weekend every other month)

• Plan, implement, and continuously evaluate clinical care for surgical patients from admission through phase II recovery.
• Act as the primary shift leader, managing real-time staffing assignments, surgical schedule adjustments, and daily operational problem-solving.
• Ensure all clinical staff consistently adhere to strict patient safety standards and documentation requirements in alignment with CPAN/ASPAN guidelines.
• Work in close, daily collaboration with the PACU Supervisor and maintain cooperative relationships with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and allied health staff.
• Provide clinical direction, mentorship, and support to the Pre-Op/PACU nursing and support team.

Qualifications:

• Education: Graduate of an accredited nursing program (Associate Degree in Nursing required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred).
• Licensure: Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the State of Montana (or immediate compact/endorsement eligibility).
• Certifications: Core certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are required. CPAN or ASPAN national certifications are highly desired.
• Required Experience: Minimum of 2+ years of dedicated professional nursing experience within a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
• Preferred Experience: Previous experience working as a Charge Nurse or in a clinical leadership role is highly preferred. Background in Critical Care (ICU) nursing is a strong plus.
• Knowledge & Skills: Strong working knowledge of basic nursing principles, principles of asepsis, and CPAN guidelines for perioperative practice.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance packages.
• Robust retirement savings plan with a generous employer matching contribution.
• Fully covered medical malpractice insurance.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) allocation to support a healthy work-life balance.
• Abundant opportunities for continuous education, professional growth, and leadership development.

Note on Compensation & Hiring Requirements:

Final hourly compensation will be verified and determined by the organization based on your documented years of clinical and leadership experience. All job offers are contingent upon the successful completion of standard pre-employment screenings, including a criminal background check, drug screening, and health/immunization verification.

Note on Employment Status:

The comprehensive benefits package and compensation structure detailed above are explicitly offered for full-time positions. Eligible benefits may vary or be prorated for part-time arrangements.