PACU Registered Nurse - Ortho Center

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

Job Family

Nursing: Nursing provides patient care, promotes health, prevents illness and supports positive patient care outcomes through comprehensive care and patient advocacy.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

Job Subfamily

Postanesthesia Care nurses provide a critical role in the continuum of surgical care in all surgical settings by providing pre and post operative care to patients recovering following surgery or other procedures. They monitor vital signs, manage pain, and ensure patients regain consciousness safely. These nurses are essential in identifying complications early and providing immediate interventions.

Career Level

N2: Provides care to patients in structured environments. Performs established nursing interventions using current clinical knowledge. Begins mentoring and supporting peers. Applies knowledge of disease processes and treatments. Demonstrates growing clinical judgment in patient care. Manages moderately complex cases. Identifies subtle changes in patient status and independently initiates appropriate interventions. Works with intermediate support. Manages care independently within established protocols. Explains care plans to patients and families. Participates in team discussions and interdisciplinary planning.

Essential Functions

• Performs comprehensive pre-operative assessment and Phase 1 and Phase 2 (SSU- Phase 2 only) recovery assessments for Inpatient/ambulatory outpatients; identifies abnormal findings and initiates protocol-based interventions.
• Provides nursing care for patients recovering from moderate sedation, general anesthesia, and regional anesthesia in Inpatient/ambulatory settings.
• Monitors and interprets post-anesthesia recovery data, including capnography, oxygenation, pain, nausea, and discharge readiness indicators.
• Independently stabilizes common recovery issues using standing orders and established protocols, including airway positioning, oxygen titration, pain control, and rescue treatment for nausea and vomiting.
• Identifies ambulatory discharge risk factors and collaborates with anesthesia and procedural teams to support safe discharge planning.
• Administers medications and treatments in accordance with peri-anesthesia protocols and monitors patient response.
• Executes structured handoffs from Pre-Op to OR and OR to PACU/SSU and ensures continuity of information across care transitions.
• Provides patient and family education on recovery expectations, discharge instructions, medications, and follow-up needs using teach-back.
• Maintains a safe peri-anesthesia environment by adhering to monitoring standards, medication safety practices, and equipment protocols.
• Coordinates timely ambulatory discharge and communicates changes in patient status or readiness with the interdisciplinary team.
• Serves as an informal resource for routine ambulatory recovery workflows and supports onboarding of newer staff.
• At the discretion of department operational and patient care needs, this position is required to work rotating schedules, which may include variable hours, weekends, nights, and holidays to meet the staffing and patient care demands of a 24/7 complex health system. Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance during assigned shifts is considered an essential function of the role. 

Qualifications

Licenses Required

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the interstate compact if switching residency to State of Utah. Must maintain current Interstate Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider ALS eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The ALS eCredential is to be obtained within 90 days of hire

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intensive work that may exert up to 100 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients while providing medical care. Workers in this position may be exposed to infectious diseases and may be required to function around prisoners and behavioral health patients.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Color Determination, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Walking