RN, Per Diem - PTU/PACU, Westwood

UCLA Health; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA Health seeks a skilled PTU Nurse to care for patients recovering from anesthesia after surgical procedures. You will monitor vitals, assess consciousness, manage pain, and identify complications in the immediate recovery period.

Join a world-class academic medical center, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, high-quality post-anesthesia care and support families through the recovery process.

Qualifications

• BSN or MSN required with current licensure.
• BLS certification from ARC or AHA.
• Minimum of 2 years ICU experience.
• Ability to push, pull, lift up to 35 lbs.
• Strong clinical skills and patient assessments.

Responsibilities

• Assess and monitor patients in the immediate post-anesthesia recovery period.
• Evaluate level of consciousness and monitor vital signs.
• Manage pain and identify postoperative complications.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, high-quality care.

Skills

ICU nursing

Post-anesthesia care

Strong documentation

Patient assessments

Team collaboration

Crisis management

Flexible scheduling

Education

BSN or MSN

BLS certification (Red Cross or AHA)

Tools

POMR charting

Job description

Onsite or Remote

Fully On-Site

Work Schedule

as needed; 530-1800

Posted Date

09/09/2026

Salary Range: $96.74 - 96.74 Hourly

Employment Type

Duration

Indefinite

Job #

33055

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

We are seeking a highly skilled and compassionate PTU Nurse to provide exceptional care for patients recovering from anesthesia following surgical and procedural interventions. In this role, you will be responsible for assessing and monitoring patients during the immediate post-anesthesia recovery period, evaluating levels of consciousness, monitoring vital signs, managing pain, and identifying and treating post-operative complications or side effects of anesthesia.

As a PTU Nurse at our world-class academic medical center, you will play a critical role in ensuring safe, high-quality patient care while providing reassurance and support to patients and their families throughout the recovery process. We are looking for a nurse who is committed to clinical excellence, patient-centered care, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Job Qualifications

*Please ensure your resume and application clearly specify the unit(s) you have worked on as part of your work experience*

Required:

• BSN or MSN
• BLS from the American Red Cross or American Heart Association
• Minimum of 2 years of recent ICU experience
• Ability to push, pull, lift, up to 35 lbs.
• Demonstrated clinical skills applicable to the nursing specialty.
• Ability to perform comprehensive patient assessments, including historical, physical, and behavioral evaluations using appropriate clinical frameworks.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality patient care utilizing team, primary, or functional nursing care models.
• Skilled in implementing appropriate nursing interventions and evaluating patient responses.
• Strong documentation skills with the ability to accurately record assessments, interventions, and outcomes.
• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate individualized patient care plans in collaboration with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Knowledge of Problem-Oriented Medical Record (POMR) charting.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to effectively manage workload in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate patient assessments, nursing interventions, and care plans.
• Ability to remain calm and work effectively in stressful and crisis situations.
• Commitment to maintaining departmental standards regarding attendance, punctuality, professionalism, and flexible scheduling requirements.
• Knowledge and application of proper body mechanics and safe patient handling practices.

Preferred

• 2 years of PACU experience
• Pediatric (Peds) experience

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. Current/former UC employees are subject to a personnel file review.