Travel Nursing: PACU

Nurses who enjoy caring for patients of all ages and conditions will enjoy working in the post-anesthesia care unit, or PACU. Learn more about this surgical specialty and the requirements for becoming a PACU travel nurse below.

Requirements

PACU nurses (commonly called recovery nurses) take care of patients recovering from general or localized anesthesia following a surgery or outpatient procedure and work in hospitals or surgical centers. They monitor patients’ oxygen levels, pulse, blood pressure and other vital signs while they’re asleep and ensure that they’re as comfortable as possible.

Because pain management makes up the majority of PACU nurses’ responsibilities, these nurses must have a thorough knowledge of pain medications and their side effects.

They must also understand anesthesia and its effects and how to care for patients who become nauseated after a surgical procedure. Most patients stay in the PACU from 30 minutes to five hours, depending on the surgery and their condition, but some may stay longer.

PACU nurses ensure patients are conscious and have stable vital signs before they are transferred to a post-op unit or discharged from the facility. If preparing them to be discharged, these nurses make sure patients can void, keep fluids down and move comfortably (depending, of course, on the surgery). They also give patients discharge instructions and warn them about taking medications properly and their physical limitations once they’re home.

To be a PACU nurse, you must be trained in critical care and able to react quickly in emergencies, including allergic reactions to pain medication or difficulty breathing after surgery.

Education

To become a PACU nurse, you must earn an accredited nursing degree (preferably a bachelor’s in nursing) and pass the NCLEX. You can become a certified ambulatory perianesthesia nurse (CAPA) or a certified post anesthesia nurse (CPAN), but most nurses first gain experience by working in the emergency room or intensive care unit.

Note: Basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification, plus at least one year of clinical work experience, is required for all nurses that RNnetwork places.

Are you interested in a travel nursing career? Check out our open travel PACU nursing jobs, and learn more about perianesthesia nurses.