PACU

Ghost RX Inc; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

GhostRx is recruiting a full-time PACU Registered Nurse for the Surgical Specialty Clinic at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. You will recover Veterans after general, regional, and monitored anesthesia care, managing airway, hemodynamics, pain, and post-operative changes from Phase I through Phase II and discharge or transfer.

Qualifications include active RN license, BSN/ADN, and at least 1 year of PACU/critical care experience.

Qualifications

• Active RN license in any U.S. state
• Graduate of BSN/ADN or diploma nursing program with NCLEX-RN
• Minimum 1 year PACU, post-anesthesia, or critical care RN experience within past 3 years

Responsibilities

• Receive Veterans from the operating room and perform immediate post-anesthesia assessment
• Monitor hemodynamic status, oxygenation, pain, nausea, and surgical sites through Phase I/II recovery
• Administer post-operative medications, IV fluids, and titrate analgesia per orders
• Recognize and respond to post-anesthesia complications and initiate emergency interventions
• Prepare Veterans for surgery with pre-operative assessment and consent verification
• Determine readiness for discharge or transfer and provide handoff to inpatient units
• Collaborate with anesthesia, surgeons, OR staff to maintain safe patient flow
• Float to other units as needed and document care in VA EHR (CPRS/VistA)

Skills

PACU experience

Registered Nurse license

Critical care experience

Education

BSN/ADN

Job description

GhostRx is recruiting a full-time Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Registered Nurse for the Surgical Specialty Clinic at the Phoenix VA Health Care System’s Carl T. Hayden Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, a tertiary care teaching hospital in central Phoenix with a 24-hour Emergency Department, a 24-bed ICU, and inpatient medicine, surgery, and psychiatry services supporting Veterans across Arizona. You will recover Veterans following general, regional, and monitored anesthesia care for surgical and procedural cases, managing airway and respiratory status, hemodynamics, pain, nausea, and post-operative complications from Phase I through Phase II recovery and discharge or transfer to an inpatient unit. You will also support pre-procedure preparation and work closely with anesthesia, surgeons, and OR staff to keep the perioperative schedule moving safely.

GhostRx is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that places clinicians at VA and federal healthcare facilities nationwide. Our contract clinicians work side by side with VA staff, are supported by a credentialing team that handles the federal onboarding process, and serve the Veterans who served us. Tour hours for this position are to be determined and will be confirmed at the time of offer. Phoenix, Arizona offers more than 300 days of sunshine a year, a lower cost of living than most major West Coast metros, no shortage of hiking, golf, and outdoor recreation, and one of the fastest-growing healthcare job markets in the country.

Qualification and Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident (Green Card) status required to perform services under this federal contract
• Ability to read, write, and speak English well enough to communicate effectively with patients, families, and the care team; basic computer literacy required
• Active, current, and unrestricted Registered Nurse license in any U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth
• Graduate of an accredited BSN, ADN, or diploma nursing program with successful completion of the NCLEX-RN
• Minimum of 1 year of PACU, post-anesthesia, or critical care RN experience within the preceding 3 years
• Current ACLS certification required; PALS if required by the facility; CPAN or CAPA certification preferred
• Competency in airway management, post-anesthesia assessment (Aldrete or equivalent scoring), pain management, and malignant hyperthermia and code response
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross
• Must pass a test-based clinical competency assessment prior to submission and provide professional references with current contact information
• Ability to successfully complete a federal background investigation, fingerprinting, and VA credentialing package, including primary-source license verification
• Documented immunizations and TB screening; annual privacy, information security, and bloodborne pathogen training required
• Willingness to complete orientation and unit training during day shift hours before transitioning to the assigned tour
• Ability to work the assigned tour, which may include on-call, early start times, and holidays as scheduled

Responsibilities

• Receive Veterans from the operating room and procedure areas and perform immediate post-anesthesia assessment of airway, breathing, circulation, and level of consciousness
• Monitor and manage hemodynamic status, oxygenation, pain, nausea, temperature, surgical sites, and drains through Phase I and Phase II recovery
• Administer post-operative medications, IV fluids, and blood products and titrate analgesia and antiemetics per anesthesia and surgeon orders
• Recognize and respond to post-anesthesia complications, including respiratory depression, hemorrhage, and malignant hyperthermia, and initiate emergency interventions
• Prepare Veterans for surgery and procedures, including pre-operative assessment, IV placement, and verification of consents and site marking when assigned
• Determine readiness for discharge or transfer using standardized scoring criteria and provide handoff to inpatient units or discharge education to Veterans and caregivers
• Collaborate with anesthesia providers, surgeons, OR staff, and the surgical specialty clinic team to maintain safe patient flow
• Float to other units within your competency and skill set when directed by nursing leadership
• Document care accurately and in real time in the VA electronic health record (CPRS/VistA) and communicate patient status changes during shift report
• Comply with VA and Joint Commission standards, infection control and safety policies, HIPAA and the Privacy Act, and all facility rules and procedures
• Complete required orientation, annual training, and competency validations and report to work as scheduled, including during emergencies or adverse weather