PACU NURSE

Lake Surgical Hospital Slidell; Lakewood (LA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Our Lady of the Lake Surgical Hospital is seeking a PACU Nurse (RN) to provide comprehensive post-anesthesia care and monitoring for patients recovering from surgery and anesthesia. The role emphasizes accurate documentation, medication administration, and collaboration with the surgical team.

The ideal candidate will have an accredited nursing degree, an active Louisiana RN license, and BLS/ACLS/PALS certifications, with at least one year of PACU experience.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program.
• Current Louisiana RN license.
• BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications required.

Responsibilities

• Provides and coordinates patient care using the nursing process and established standards of practice.
• Continuously monitors patients recovering from anesthesia or conscious sedation and assesses their condition.
• Administers medications and manages controlled substances according to facility policies.
• Recognizes and responds promptly to changes in patient condition and emergency situations.
• Assists physicians with examinations, procedures, and other direct patient care needs.
• Acts as a patient advocate and collaborates with the surgical team to ensure safe, effective care.
• Evaluates patient progress and prepares patients for continued care and discharge.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and confidential patient medical records.
• Performs i-STAT testing, evaluates results, and troubleshoots errors as needed.
• Participates in rotating call coverage for after-hours and emergency operating room cases.

Skills

PACU nursing

Nursing assessment

Medication administration

Team collaboration

Documentation

Critical thinking

Call coverage

Emergency response

Education

RN license (Louisiana)

Associates or Bachelors in Nursing

Tools

i-STAT

Job description

• Job Category RN, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Registered Nurse (RN)
• Industry Healthcare, Hospitals and Health Systems
• Employee Type FT

Responsible for providing nursing care and intensive observation to patients recovering from surgical procedures, anesthesia, or conscious sedation. Monitors patient condition, manages post-operative care, maintains accurate patient documentation, and responds to changes in patient status to ensure safe recovery. Graduate of an accredited nursing program. Current Louisiana Registered Nurse (RN) license and BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications required. Minimum of one year of PACU nursing experience required.

As a PACU Nurse at our facility, you will play an important role in providing safe, high-quality care to patients recovering from surgery and anesthesia. You will be responsible for monitoring patients, assessing their recovery, administering medications, and identifying changes in their condition. Working closely with physicians and other members of the surgical team, you will help ensure patient safety and support a smooth recovery process.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Provides and coordinates patient care using the nursing process and established standards of practice.
• Continuously monitors patients recovering from anesthesia or conscious sedation and assesses their condition.
• Administers medications and manages controlled substances according to facility policies and procedures.
• Recognizes and responds promptly to changes in patient condition and emergency situations.
• Assists physicians with examinations, procedures, and other direct patient care needs.
• Acts as a patient advocate and collaborates with the surgical team to ensure safe, effective care.
• Evaluates patient progress and prepares patients for continued care and discharge.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and confidential patient medical records.
• Performs i-STAT testing, evaluates results, and troubleshoots errors as needed.
• Participates in rotating call coverage for after-hours and emergency operating room cases.

Qualifications

To join our team, you’ll need the following qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program (Associate Degree or Bachelor of Science in Nursing).
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of employment.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications required.
• Minimum of one year of PACU nursing experience required.
• Strong clinical assessment, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively in a fast-paced surgical environment.
• Ability to participate in rotating call coverage for after-hours and emergency OR cases.

Company Information

Why Work With Us?

At Our Lady of the Lake Surgical Hospital, we’re committed to excellence in patient care and in cultivating a collaborative, supportive work environment for our staff. Our facility is located in a friendly, community-focused area near New Orleans, offering both professional and personal growth opportunities.