Registered Nurse - Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

SSM Health; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 72,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus eligibility

Job summary

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, MO is seeking a PACU nurse to perform age-specific physical and psychosocial assessments, formulate nursing diagnoses, and develop a tailored plan of care for post-anesthesia patients.

The role supports evidence-based practice and requires collaboration with a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced surgical setting. Responsibilities include thorough admission assessments for PACU, documenting care plans, communicating changes to

Qualifications

• Graduate of accredited school of nursing or education equivalency for licensing
• No experience required

Responsibilities

• Completes and documents a thorough PACU admission assessment and develops an appropriate plan of care based on assessments, orders, and procedure-specific criteria.
• Demonstrates knowledge to meet physical, psycho-social, spiritual, cultural, and age-appropriate needs of each patient.
• Performs all aspects of nursing care in routine and emergency situations and communicates patient condition changes to physicians and staff promptly.
• Administers medications and treatments per policy and uses written protocols for pain, sedation, skin, restraints, and parental bonding.
• Evaluates progress toward outcomes, meets discharge and education needs, and communicates patient information to the responsible caregiver on transfer.

Job description

It's more than a career, it's a calling

MO-SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital

Worker Type:

Regular

Job Highlights:

Join a team where your work matters—every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you’ll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact.

Department:

Post Anesthesia Care Unit - Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital

Schedule:

Variable shifts ranging from 5:45 am - 7:00 pm, call requirements vary for week nights/ weekend days and nights.

Sign-On Bonus:

Ask your recruiter about sign-on bonus eligibility

Apply today. SSM Health – We bring out the incredible in you, everyday.

Job Summary:

Performs age-specific physical, psychological, and social assessments, formulates nursing diagnoses, and develops a plan of care, which includes individualized treatment strategies for the post-anesthesia setting.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements:

Primary Responsibilities

• Completes and documents a thorough and accurate PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) admission assessment and utilizes critical judgment to analyze patient assessment data to develop an appropriate plan of care. Implements a plan of care or care pathway to provide individualized care for each patient. Plan of care is based upon patient assessment, physician and anesthesia orders and preferences, and procedure specific criteria in a manner that is prioritized and timely.
• Demonstrates and maintains knowledge and skills necessary to meet physical, psycho-social, spiritual, cultural, and age appropriate needs of each patient.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to perform all aspects of nursing care in both routine and emergency situations. Communicates changes in patient condition to physicians and necessary staff in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate administration of medications and treatments according to policy, procedure and protocol. Verbalizes knowledge and demonstrates consistent use and compliance for written protocols (i.e.; pain, conscious sedation, skin, restraint, abuse, parental bonding, etc.)
• Evaluates and documents patient's progress toward achievement of outcomes. Meets discharge and ongoing patient educational needs related to treatment, procedures, disease process, equipment, medications, physician orders, and follow up care.
• Communicates with patient family members while patients are in PACU in a timely manner.
• Reports outcome progress and patient specific information to responsible caregiver when leaving department, end of shift, or upon transfer to another unit.
• Demonstrates competence in delegation, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Evaluates care given by team members and gives feedback. Effectively supervises team members and maintains accountability for standard of care provided. Acts as a resource to other team members.
• Organizes and utilizes time efficiently. Demonstrates appropriate prioritization. Maintains an organized work environment. Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively on a team. Demonstrates positive interpersonal relationships with patients, significant others, multidisciplinary team members, and co-workers. Assists in other surgical services departments as needed.
• Applies the existing body of evidence-based practice and scientific knowledge in health care to nursing practice, ensuring that nursing care is delivered based on patient’s age-specific needs and clinical needs as described in the department's Scope of Service.
• As an SSM Health nurse, I will demonstrate the professional nursing standards defined in the professional practice model. Uses the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses to guide his/her response to the current and evolving health and nursing needs of our patients and our patient populations.
• Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

• Graduate of accredited school of nursing or education equivalency for licensing

Experience

• No experience required

Physical Requirements

• Constant use of speech to share information through oral communication.
• Constant standing and walking.
• Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs.
• Frequent sitting, reaching and keyboard use/data entry.
• Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors.
• Frequent use of smell to detect/recognize odors.
• Frequent use of hearing to receive oral communication, distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc.
• Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs.
• Occasional lifting/moving of patients.
• Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting, gripping and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements.
• Occasional driving.
• Rare crawling and running.

Required Professional License And/Or Certifications

State of Work Location: Missouri

• Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• And
• Registered Nurse (RN) - Missouri Division of Professional Registration
• Or
• Registered Nurse (RN) Issued by Compact State
• And
• Advanced Life Support (ALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - American Academy Pediatrics (AAP)
• Or
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Or
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Essentials - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Work Shift

Day Shift (United States of America)

Job Type:

Employee

Department

4418000010 Ambulatory Surgery

Scheduled Weekly Hours

32

SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Click here to learn more.