Registered Nurse- PACU and Anesthesia Record Keeper Coordinator
Veterans Health Administration
Fredericksburg, Virginia
The Pre-Operative and Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse is a professional registered nurse (RN) responsible for all aspects of the nursing process in delivering and supervising direct patient care.
Posted Oct 2
- Unit and setting
- Pre-Operative and Post Anesthesia Care Unit · Military General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Urology, Orthopedics, and Podiatry
- License
- RN license
- Term
- Permanent
Do you qualify?
- License
- Registered Nurse license in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the US, or District of Columbia Check your license
- Certification
- Adult Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Maintains current certification in Adult Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
- Also asks
- English language proficiency In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
- Also asks
- U.S. Citizenship
- Also asks
- Pre-employment drug screening urinalysis All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
- Also asks
- Pre-employment physical evaluation/examination Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
- Also asks
- Annual seasonal influenza vaccination or exemption Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Preferred
- Certification
- Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN®) or Certified Ambulatory PeriAnesthesia Nurse (CAPA) -Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN®) or Certified Ambulatory PeriAnesthesia Nurse (CAPA) credentials preferred.
- Experience
- PACU or critical care ICU experience Minimum of two (2) years of current experience in Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that provides critical care-level services.
What it pays
- Against similar roles
- Virginia staff median is $95k/yrVirginia staff postings that state pay run $64k/yr to $122k/yr, the middle half $82k/yr to $107k/yr, across 1,223 postings. This posting's $82k/yr to $162k/yr is wider than that, so where you land depends on the offer.
- Pay reviews
- Regular salary increases and potential for performance awards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards
Benefits
- Benefits50 days of paid time off per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays)Paid 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)
- BenefitsTraditional federal pension (5 years vesting)Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
- BenefitsFederal 401K with up to 5% match by VA
- BenefitsFederal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insuranceInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
- Competitive salary
- regular salary increases
More benefits (4)
- potential for performance awards
- 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
- federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
- Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care
The role and schedule
- Charge
- Charge shifts are part of the role
- Day to day
- Provides comprehensive pre-operative and Phase I/II post-anesthesia nursing care Provides comprehensive nursing care during the pre-operative period as well as Phase I and Phase II post-anesthesia recovery.
- Day to day
- Administers prescribed medications including ACLS drugs and anticoagulants
- Day to day
- Responds during resuscitation, code blue, or rapid response events -Responds effectively during resuscitation situations, safely participating in code blue or rapid response events.
- Day to day
- Intervenes for anesthesia effects and escalates concerns Demonstrates clinical competency regarding the effects of anesthesia and provides appropriate interventions, escalating concerns in a timely and effective manner.
- Day to day
- Transduces pressure lines and evaluates hemodynamic parameters Transduces pressure lines, when necessary, in emergent situations and accurately evaluates hemodynamic parameters.
- Day to day
- Manages thermoregulation, cardiac, and hemodynamic status throughout perioperative and recovery periods Manages thermoregulation, cardiac, and hemodynamic status of patients throughout the perioperative and recovery periods.
- Day to day
- Performs phlebotomy, peripheral IV insertion, 12-lead ECG, blood transfusions, and urinary catheter placement
- Day to day
- Reinforces preoperative and preprocedural education for multiple surgical specialties
- Day to day
- Reviews discharge instructions and educational materials with patients and caregivers Reviews discharge instructions and educational materials with the patient and their caregivers, ensuring understanding and compliance.
- Day to day
- Functions independently in patient care with periodic charge nurse oversight -Functions independently in patient care, guided by patient assessment and established discharge criteria, with periodic oversight by the Charge Nurse.
- Day to day
- Performs core informatics functions
- Details
- Telework not available Telework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.
- Details
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS) not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
- Details
- Subject to background/security investigation Subject to background/security investigation.
- Details
- Probationary period may be required You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Details
- Physical demands include lifting, prolonged standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, and climbing stairs
The workplace
Worth asking
- Can you walk me through differentials?
- What should I expect for shifts, weekly hours, weekend, holiday, call, and rotation?
More questions to askFewer questions
- What orientation, preceptor time, and ongoing unit support are included?
- How are patient load, floating, and staffing support handled day to day?
Your fit
On your path
Operating Room is a specialty you move into. Periop programs often train from the ground up.
Original listing
Posted on Veterans Health Administration’s careers page.
Read full text
The Pre-Operative and Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse is a professional registered nurse (RN) responsible for all aspects of the nursing process in delivering and supervising direct patient care. Adhering to established policies and standards of practice, this nurse demonstrates leadership in improving patient care and serves as a role model for clinical excellence. Reporting directly to the Perioperative Nurse Manager, the incumbent manages complex situations in a self-directed manner
Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to; Provides comprehensive nursing care during the pre-operative period as well as Phase I and Phase II post-anesthesia recovery.-Administers prescribed medications, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) drugs and anticoagulants, as ordered by anesthesia or surgical providers, utilizing all necessary safety precautions.-Responds effectively during resuscitation situations, safely participating in code blue or rapid response events. Demonstrates clinical competency regarding the effects of anesthesia and provides appropriate interventions, escalating concerns in a timely and effective manner. Transduces pressure lines, when necessary, in emergent situations and accurately evaluates hemodynamic parameters.
Manages thermoregulation, cardiac, and hemodynamic status of patients throughout the perioperative and recovery periods. Performs tasks independently or seeks assistance when appropriate; skills include but are not limited to: phlebotomy, peripheral IV insertion, performing and interpreting 12-lead ECG, administering blood transfusions, and urinary catheter placement.-Demonstrates working knowledge of a wide range of surgical procedures, including General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Urology, Orthopedics, and Podiatry, to effectively reinforce preoperative and preprocedural patient education. Reviews discharge instructions and educational materials with the patient and their caregivers, ensuring understanding and compliance.-Functions independently in patient care, guided by patient assessment and established discharge criteria, with periodic oversight by the Charge Nurse.
Maintains current certification in Adult Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).-Performs other related duties as assigned. Demonstrates the following core informatics functions to include content management, application support, health information technology system optimization, enterprise data management, business architecture management, partnership management, requirements management, and change management. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid 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 VA Insurance: 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 territory Work Schedule: Tour of duty to be discussed during interview. Telework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Basic
Requirements
English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U. S. C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program.
Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade.
The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13055991. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex.
An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations.
An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience.
Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Preferred
Experience
Preferred
Experience
Minimum of two (2) years of current experience in Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that provides critical care-level services. -Demonstrated competency in managing patients across the perioperative continuum, including Phase I (immediate post-anesthesia), Phase II (recovery), and extended care settings. -Strong clinical skills in airway management, hemodynamic monitoring, pain control, and post-anesthesia recovery. -Experience caring for a wide range of surgical and procedural patient populations. -Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN®) or Certified Ambulatory PeriAnesthesia Nurse (CAPA) credentials preferred. - Demonstrates proficiency in content management, application support, system optimization, data management, business and partnership management, and change management. Physical
Requirements
This clinical position includes a physicality normally associated with direct patient care: the physical requirements of this position include lifting, prolonged standing, sitting, frequent bending, stooping, walking, reaching, repetitive motion, and climbing stairs. The mental/sensory requirements include logical thinking, processing and retaining information, reading, recall, reasoning, complex problem solving, hearing, clear distinct speech, writing, keyboarding, use of a telephone, and use of video connectivity.
U. S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U. S. C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Subject to background/security investigation.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may…
What's around it?
FREDERICKSBURG, VAFrom Census ACS 2024.
Living costs about the same as the US average
- Median rent
- $1,619/mo
- Household income
- $86,071/yr, all local households, not nurse pay