Registered Nurse – Pre-Op/PACU (Per Diem)

Performance Ortho; Bridgewater (MA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Performance Ortho is seeking a registered nurse for an as-needed, per diem role at our ambulatory surgery center in New Jersey. The nurse will perform focused preoperative assessments, verify identities and orders, prepare patients for procedures, and monitor recovery after anesthesia or surgery.

Experience in perioperative or acute care, current NJ RN license and certifications (BLS/ACLS/PALS) are required.

Qualifications

• Active New Jersey RN license.
• BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications.
• 1+ year of acute/critical-care or perioperative nursing experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform focused preoperative assessments including vitals, allergies, medication history, NPO status and readiness.
• Verify patient identity, procedure, site, consents, orders, and documentation per policy.
• Prepare patients for procedures including IV access and preoperative medications.
• Monitor patients in PACU post-anesthesia or post-surgery and escalate changes.
• Teach postoperative care, wound care, and activity restrictions to patients and families.

Skills

Patient assessment

Prioritization

Communication

Clinical escalation

Electronic documentation

Education

RN license (NJ)

Associate/Bachelor nursing degree

Tools

EHR systems

Job description

Bring calm clinical judgment, compassionate care, and ownership to every patient’s surgical journey.

WORK ARRANGEMENT

COMPENSATION

$52–$53 per hour

PRIMARY COVERAGE

Tuesday–Thursday, based on volume

LOCATION

Performance Ortho Ambulatory Surgery Center, New Jersey

Why This Work Matters

Adult and adolescent patients rely on a skilled, steady nurse to help them feel prepared before a procedure and safe as they recover from anesthesia and surgery. Under current facility policy, adolescents are ages 11 through 18. In this role, your assessments, clinical judgment, education, and handoffs directly influence readiness, comfort, safety, and confidence at some of the most vulnerable moments in a patient’s care.

Why Performance Ortho

Our mission is to Transform Lives with Love. We bring orthopedic, spine, pain-management, and surgical care together around the patient, and we expect every team member to pair clinical excellence with empathy, accountability, and service. We also believe leadership can be demonstrated at every level. Here, growth means continuing to learn, contribute, use sound judgment, and help the people around you succeed—without requiring a formal title.

The Impact You Will Make

Create a safe beginning. Complete focused preoperative assessments, verify readiness, and identify concerns before the procedure begins.

Guide a stable recovery. Monitor patients closely after anesthesia or surgery, respond to changes, and **escalate** concerns promptly.

Build confidence. Help patients and families understand what to expect, how to recover safely, and when to seek help.

Strengthen the whole care team. Communicate clearly, document accurately, and support reliable transitions throughout the surgical journey.

What Success Looks Like

You arrive prepared for accepted shifts, learn our workflows and safety standards, and contribute reliably to a volume-driven ambulatory environment.

Your assessments are focused and complete, your documentation is accurate and timely, and your handoffs give the next caregiver what they need.

You recognize subtle changes in condition, respond within your scope, and communicate concerns early to anesthesia providers, surgeons, and nursing colleagues.

Patients and responsible adults leave with clear instructions and a sense that they were treated with skill, dignity, and genuine care.

You protect quality and safety while supporting efficient patient flow, regulatory readiness, and a collaborative team experience.

How We Will Support You

Your first 90 days are an onboarding and integration period—not a probationary period. You will learn the people, workflows, standards, and expectations that support safe practice and early success. Ongoing coaching, required competencies, and professional development will help you remain current and continue growing in the role.

What You Will Own

Preoperative Care

Complete focused preoperative assessments, including vital signs, allergies, medication history, NPO status, relevant health history, pain, and procedure readiness.

Verify patient identity, procedure, site, consents, orders, required testing, clearances, and documentation in accordance with facility policy.

Prepare patients for procedures, including IV access and preoperative medications under authorized orders and within scope of practice.

Recognize and promptly communicate clinical concerns or readiness issues to the anesthesia provider, surgeon, and care team.

Provide clear education and calm emotional support to patients and families before the procedure.

PACU and Postoperative Care

Provide comprehensive care to adult and adolescent patients recovering from anesthesia and/or surgery; under current facility policy, adolescents are ages 11 through 18.

Monitor airway, respiratory status, hemodynamic and neurologic stability, pain, nausea or vomiting, surgical sites, bleeding, and other potential complications.

Use clinical judgment to initiate appropriate nursing interventions, administer ordered medications and treatments, and **escalate** changes in condition.

Apply established discharge or transfer criteria and coordinate a safe transition to the next level of care or discharge home.

Teach postoperative care, medication use, wound care, activity restrictions, follow-up, and signs or symptoms that require clinical attention.

Teamwork, Documentation, and Readiness

Deliver accurate handoffs and maintain complete clinical records of assessments, interventions, medications, patient response, education, and discharge readiness.

Support Environment of Care checks, emergency readiness, infection prevention, quality improvement, and compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, AAAHC, and facility standards.

Complete other clinically appropriate assignments from the Director of Nursing that align with licensure, competency, scheduled hours, and this role’s purpose.

What You Bring

Current, active, and unrestricted New Jersey Registered Nurse license or valid multistate privilege to practice in New Jersey.

Associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program.

At least one year of recent nursing experience in an acute or critical-care environment, such as perioperative or surgical services, emergency nursing, critical care, or medical-surgical nursing.

Current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications.

Strong patient-assessment, prioritization, communication, clinical-escalation, and electronic-documentation skills.

The ability to work calmly and collaboratively in a fast-paced ambulatory surgical environment and perform the role’s essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Helpful Additional Experience

Direct preoperative, PACU, ambulatory surgery center, orthopedic, or pain-procedure nursing experience.

Two or more years of relevant perioperative or post-anesthesia nursing experience.

CPAN or CAPA certification. These credentials are welcomed but are not required.

The Performance Way in This Role

Mission First, Team Over Self — coordinate care and share information so patients experience one connected team.

Be Humble Yet Bold — ask questions, speak up about risk, and **escalate** concerns early.

Engage Energetically — bring focus, preparation, and compassionate presence to every accepted shift.

Play to Win, Don’t Lay Up Short — protect high standards for safety, quality, education, and reliable follow-through.

Act Like an Owner, Not a Worker — use sound judgment, stay accountable, and care for the environment and outcome.

Total Rewards

Hourly compensation: $52–$53 per hour. Placement within the range considers directly relevant Pre-Op/PACU or ambulatory-surgery experience, current certifications, demonstrated competencies, and role needs.

Professional development: Access to role-relevant learning, continuing education, required competency development, and growth conversations, subject to company policy and approval processes.

Sick leave: Paid sick leave is provided where required by New Jersey law and administered in accordance with company policy.

Per diem benefit eligibility: This role is not eligible for company-sponsored medical coverage or the standard annual bonus program. Other benefit eligibility is governed by applicable plan terms, company policy, and law.

Schedule and Availability

This is an as-needed, volume-driven per diem role. Shifts are offered based on procedure volume and staffing needs; you indicate your availability and may accept offered shifts. Hours are not guaranteed.

Candidates should be available for at least one shift per month to remain active in the per diem staffing pool.

Tuesdays are typically the highest-need anesthesia days. Additional shorter coverage may be offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays when a second procedure room is operating.

Availability across Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday is preferred. There are no weekend, holiday, or on-call requirements.

Once you accept a shift, reliability matters. If an unscheduled absence occurs, notify your supervisor as soon as possible and, whenever practicable, no later than two hours before the scheduled start.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodation

Performance Ortho is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without unlawful discrimination and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources.