PACU Registered Nurse

ISONG; Altoona (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Free scrubs with laundry service

Free meals

PTO

401(k) retirement plan with 4% match

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness reimbursement

Job summary

OakLeaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona, WI is seeking a PACU Registered Nurse (RN) to provide high-quality post-anesthesia care. This 0.6 FTE position (24 hours per week) requires monitoring, pain management, and rapid response to post-operative needs.

A $1,500 sign-on bonus is offered with an application deadline of 10/30/2026. Responsibilities include establishing a professional, compassionate care approach, documenting assessments in the medical record, and coordinating with anesthesia and

Qualifications

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from an accredited nursing program is required.
• Current licensure in the State of Wisconsin is required.
• BLS certification is required upon hire.
• ACLS and PALS certification must be obtained within six months of hire.
• Prior PACU, CCU, or ER nursing experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide care to patients recovering from anesthesia in the PACU.
• Continuously monitor vitals, airway, and pain levels; respond to changes.
• Administer prescribed medications for pain, nausea, and post-op symptoms.
• Educate patients and families on postoperative care and recovery expectations.
• Document care and patient responses in the medical record accurately and promptly.
• Collaborate with anesthesia, surgical teams, and inpatient unit for safe handoffs and transitions.

Skills

Medical Terminology

EMR systems

HIPAA compliance

English communication

Attention to detail

Computer proficiency

Time management

Teamwork

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Tools

Job description

PACU Registered NurseOakLeaf Surgical HospitalAltoona, WI, United States**Description**SIGN-ON BONUS $1,500 APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10/30/2026 Job Summary: The PACU Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing critical, high-quality care to patients recovering from anesthesia following surgical or procedural interventions. Working a fast-paced environment, the PACU RN performs continuous monitoring, manages pain and post-anesthesia symptoms, and responds to urgent clinical needs during the immediate post-operative period. Hours: .6 FTE - 24 hours per week 12-hour shifts Essential Job Functions: Advocate for patients’ rights, preferences, and needs, ensuring that they receive high-quality, compassionate care that is tailored to their individual circumstances Project a professional demeanor and appearance while maintaining the confidentiality of the patient, coworkers, and the organization, as appropriate Assess patient health problems and needs to develop, implement, and evaluate care in collaboration with healthcare team Educate patients and their families on health conditions, medications, treatment care, and post surgical care Ensure infection control protocols and safety standards are followed in all aspects of patient care Promptly record all care information concisely, accurately, and completely Respond to emergency situations using appropriate interventions Promptly report and document any occurrences of unusual events, safety concerns, or incidents in accordance with organization policies and procedures Participate in the department’s on-call rotation and respond promptly to call-ins to ensure continuous patient care and surgical support as needed Continuously assess vital signs, airway, consciousness, pain level, and surgical site for stability following anesthesia Manage airway, administer oxygen, suction as needed, and respond rapidly to changes in condition, including respiratory or cardiac complications Administer prescribed medications and interventions to manage pain, nausea, and other post-operative symptoms; monitor effectiveness Recognize and act upon early signs of post-operative complications or adverse reactions and report to anesthesia and provider promptly Accurately record assessments, interventions, medications administered, and patient responses in the medical record in a timely manner Provide post-op instructions and emotional support; ensure patients and caregivers understand recovery expectations prior to transfer or discharge Collaborate with anesthesia, surgical teams, and inpatient unit to ensure safe and efficient patient handoffs and transitions of care Safety transfer patients to appropriate unit or discharge them per protocol once discharge criteria are met Provides for accurate care and handling of specimens Observes, checks, and monitors all equipment used during surgery to confirm it is functioning properly, removes any malfunctioning equipment from service, and reports it in the appropriate manner Review postoperative instructions, prescriptions, and post-op instructions from the provider with patient and family Assists in positioning and responding to the comfort and safety of the patient May be cross-trained and assigned to other nursing departments within the hospital, with responsibility for carrying out the essential functions of the assigned role Use the organization's secure messaging platform in accordance with departmental protocols, including timely receipt and responses to communications Perform other duties as assigned Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Medical Terminology Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems Quality assurance and accreditation standards Understanding of HIPAA regulations, patient confidentiality laws and patient rights Effective English communication in verbal and written format Quality work including attention to detail and accuracy Carry out customer service standards Basic computer proficiency Carry out organization customer service standards Prioritize tasks effectively through managing workload based on urgency and importance Capacity to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team Continuously learn and improve through staying up to date on job specific trends, policies, and new technologies Successfully demonstrate organization-wide performance review competencies Qualifications: Demonstrates eligibility for employment in the U.S. Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from an accredited nursing program required Current licensure in the State of Wisconsin BLS certification is required upon hire Must be able to achieve ACLS and PALS certification within six months of hire Previous PACU, CCU, or ER nursing experience is preferred Must possess a cell phone that interfaces with the organization’s secure messaging system Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance Health Savings Account with an employer contribution Company paid life insurance Free scrubs with laundry service Free meals PTO 401(k) retirement plan with 4% company match Tuition reimbursement Wellness reimbursement Equal Employment Opportunity & Work Force Diversity Our organization is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, creed, sex, religion, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, parental status, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic testing results or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. This practice relates to all personnel matters such as compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, layoffs, etc. Furthermore, our organization is committed to going beyond the legal requirements of equal employment opportunity to take positive actions which ensure diversity in the workplace and result in a multi-cultural organization. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.