Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurses care for patients immediately after surgeries in the recovery room. PACU nurses monitor vital signs, control pain, and administer medications. These nurses must be skilled in critical thinking and have critical care experience because they closely monitor patients as they emerge from anesthesia. PACU nurses transfer patients from PACU to various units and need to be clear communicators with other nurses and members of the healthcare team. Explore the many PACU travel nurse jobs today.
PACU nurses communicate with patients' families and must be compassionate and professional. They also maintain patient safety and closely observe patients' level of consciousness. Shifts are typically 12 hours and many jobs require on-call commitments. Nurses working in the PACU must thrive in fast-paced environments as there is a high turnover of patients. There are many exciting job opportunities for PACU nurses. The annual salary in the United States for nurses working in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit ranges from $50,000 - $100,000 depending on location and experience.