Registered Nurse-Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

The Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) is responsible for providing critical care to patients emerging from anesthesia immediately following surgery. This position is located at the VA Clinic South Charlotte NCGeneral Description of Assigned Duties:Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific components. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.The Nurse Inpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care. The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction. Ability to formulate a plan of care based on nursing assessments. Seeks guidance in how to improve care provided to patients and families. Delegates elements of care to the appropriate individual based upon assessed needs, condition, and safety of the patient. The nurse brings principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skills. Provides specialized care in the assessment, planning, implementing and evaluation of care throughout the peri anesthesia continuum to include the Pre anesthesia Phase, Post anesthesia Phase I, Post anesthesia Phase II, and extended care from sedation/analgesia and/or anesthesia for surgical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures. The PACU RN possesses knowledge related to the physiology associated with various anesthesia techniques and surgical interventions. The PACU RN assesses and prepare patients for procedures appropriately. Performs clinical assessment of the patient and readily recognizes contraindication for anesthesia and/or surgical intervention. The PACU RN applies the appropriate post sedation scoring and assesses the patient's postoperative status to include cardiovascular and respiratory systems and airway management needs, neurological system, hemodynamic stability, pain, and comfort needs and mental status, implementing appropriate interventions to maintain or return all physiological system to baseline or above. The PACU RN maintains knowledge of current American Society of Peri anesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) standards, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directives and service level standard operating procedures (SOPs). The PACU RN is responsible for ensuring comprehensive documenting of all phases of care and is timely, complete, and accurate in the electronic health record (EHR). May be required to perform on-call duties.VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total RewardsPay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awardsPaid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territoryWork Schedule: 8am-4:30pm M-FTelework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not AuthorizedPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO):Not Authorized