RN PACU
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
As a PACU Registered Nurse, you will play a critical role in the immediate post-operative care of surgical patients.
Posted Sep 25 · New grads welcomed
- Unit and setting
- PACU · Hospital the immediate post-operative care of surgical patientssurgical patients
- License
- RN license (RN) Registered Nurse
- Term
- Permanent
Do you qualify?
- New grads
- Welcomed No experience Required Years of Experience
- License
- Registered Nurse (RN) (RN) Registered Nurse
- Certification
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) within 90 days of startAfter hire · within 90 days of employment Advanced Cardiac Life Spt must be obtained within 90 days of employment start date
- Certification
- Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS) within 30 days of startAfter hire · within 30 days of employment Basic Cardiac Life Support must be obtained within 30 days of employment start date
- Certification
- PALS within 90 days of startAfter hire · within 90 days of employment PALS Pediatric Adv Life Supt must be obtained within 90 days of employment start date
- Education
- Associate Degree
Your six-month RN application plan
Start about six months before graduation. Some programs open earlier; use each employer’s application dates.
6 months before
Shortlist units
Check application windows. Gather clinical experience, references and your expected graduation date.
Find residencies →4–6 months before
Apply as windows open
Apply before graduation when the program allows it. Keep the cohort date and license deadline with each application.
Explore new grad jobs →2–3 months before
Meet the unit manager
Ask about overtime, a shadow shift, preceptor continuity and the schedule after orientation.
Prepare your questions →Around graduation
Confirm your start
Coordinate NCLEX, the required license and your start date. Get relocation and repayment terms in writing.
Plan your license →
Why start this early?
Advocate describes a 6–9 month application runway for several regional RN programs. These milestones are a planning guide, not deadlines for every employer. See program calendars.
What it pays
Benefits
- Benefitsmedical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health and telemedicineComprehensive benefits for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health and telemedicine services
- Benefitsfree counseling and referral servicesWellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services
- Benefitspaid time offTime away from work programs for paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence
- Benefitspaid family leave
- Benefitslong- and short-term disability coverage
- Benefitsleaves of absence
More benefits (28)
- Benefits401(k) with 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service)a 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service)
- BenefitsEmployee Stock Purchase PlanEmployee Stock Purchase Plan
- Benefitsflexible spending accountsflexible spending accounts
- Benefitspreferred banking partnershipspreferred banking partnerships
- Benefitsretirement readiness toolsretirement readiness tools
- Benefitsrollover supportrollover support
- Benefitsfinancial wellbeing counselingfinancial wellbeing counseling
- Benefitstuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarshipsEducation support through tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing
- Benefitspartnership with Galen College of Nursinga partnership with Galen College of Nursing
- Benefitsfertility and family building benefits
- Benefitsadoption assistanceadoption assistance
- Benefitslife insurancelife insurance
- Benefitssupplemental health protection planssupplemental health protection plans
- Benefitsauto and home insuranceauto and home insurance
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Disability insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Tuition reimbursement
- Loan assistance
- Flexible spending account
- Family leave
- Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, vision, behavioral health and telemedicine benefits
- Wellbeing support including free counseling
- Paid time off, paid family leave, short- and long-term disability
- 401(k) plan with 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay based on years of service
- Tuition assistance, student loan assistance and certification support
- Life insurance, supplemental health plans, auto and home insurance
The role and schedule
- Floating
- Floats to other units
- Day to day
- manage airway support managing airway support
- Day to day
- closely monitor neurological and cardiac status closely monitoring neurological and cardiac status
- Day to day
- respond promptly to complications or side effects responding promptly to any complications or side effects
- Day to day
- provide initial wound care to surgical site You will provide initial wound care to the patients’ surgical site
- Day to day
- ensure patient stability during recovery ensure patient stability during recovery
- Day to day
- collaborate with surgical and anesthesia team You will collaborate with the surgical and anesthesia team.
- Day to day
- deliver high-quality, patient-centered care Deliver high-quality, patient-centered care while managing evidence-based practices and continuous improvement initiatives
- Day to day
- assess condition, monitor throughout shift, and document changes Assess patient condition, monitor throughout your shift, and document changes in patient condition along with the care provided thoroughly
- Day to day
- educate patients and families/caregivers Educate patients and families/caregivers about the patient’s medical condition, treatment and follow-up measures
- On call
- on-call during select non-business hours This role includes on-call availability during select non-business hours
- Scheduling
- Self-scheduling offered
- Details
- 267-bed hospital HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is a 267-bed hospital.
- Details
- No travel required No Travel Required
- Details
- self/preferential scheduling, posted four weeks in advance Self/Preferential Scheduling posted four weeks in advance
- Details
- staffing support from CNAs, patient care techs, charge nurses and an RN float pool Staffing Support from Certified Nurse Assistance, Patient Care Techs, Charge Nurses, and an RN float pool internal to HCA Healthcare
The workplaceFrom Medicare Care Compare, Sep 2026.
- Hospital
- HCA Florida FORT Walton-Destin Hospital
- Address
- 1000 MAR-WALT DR, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL, 32547
- CMS rating
- 3 of 5 stars
- Beds
- 217
Worth asking
- Can you walk me through base pay range and differentials?
- What should I expect for shifts, weekly hours, weekend, holiday, and rotation?
More questions to askFewer questions
- What orientation, preceptor time, and ongoing unit support are included?
- How is patient load handled day to day?
Your fit
On your path
Operating Room has an opening for new graduates. This employer welcomes new graduates for this role. See the posting’s qualifications and orientation details.
Original listing
Read full text
Strong staffing Support when it matters most. Technology and tools that streamline patient monitoring and communication to help you work more efficiently. Robust supply chains to keep you fully equipped. Ongoing clinical education to improve your skills. As a Registered Nurse at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, you’ll have all the staffing support, technology and resources you need to deliver safe, high-quality care—so you can focus on what you do best.
Job Summary and Qualifications
As a PACU Registered Nurse, you will play a critical role in the immediate post-operative care of surgical patients. Your responsibilities will include managing airway support, closely monitoring neurological and cardiac status, and responding promptly to any complications or side effects. You will provide initial wound care to the patients’ surgical site and ensure patient stability during recovery. You will collaborate with the surgical and anesthesia team. This role includes on-call availability during select non-business hours which will be discussed in the interview.
Position Details
- Self/Preferential Scheduling posted four weeks in advance
- Supportive, visible leadership that promotes a collaborative, respectful team culture where nurses are empowered to ask questions, seek help, and provide valuable input
- Staffing Support from Certified Nurse Assistance, Patient Care Techs, Charge Nurses, and an RN float pool internal to HCA Healthcare that is available as a staffing resource as needed
- Rounding with unit leaders, including charge nurses, to ensure your voice is heard on suggestions for patient care
What you will do in this role
- Deliver high-quality, patient-centered care while managing evidence-based practices and continuous improvement initiatives
- Be an integral member of a dynamic interdisciplinary team – consisting of the provider(s), therapy, and more.
- Consistently apply the nursing process, critical thinking skills, scientific judgment, technical skills and leadership to independently deliver safe nursing care to patients
- Assess patient condition, monitor throughout your shift, and document changes in patient condition along with the care provided thoroughly
- Educate patients and families/caregivers about the patient’s medical condition, treatment and follow-up measures
What qualifications you will need
- Advanced Cardiac Life Spt must be obtained within 90 days of employment start date
- Basic Cardiac Life Support must be obtained within 30 days of employment start date
- PALS Pediatric Adv Life Supt must be obtained within 90 days of employment start date
- (RN) Registered Nurse
- Associate Degree
No Travel Required
No experience Required Years of Experience
Benefits
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:
- Comprehensive benefits for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health and telemedicine services
- Wellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services
- Time away from work programs for paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence
- Savings and retirement resources, including a 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, flexible spending accounts, preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support and financial wellbeing counseling
- Education support through tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing
- Additional benefits for fertility and family building, adoption assistance, life insurance, supplemental health protection plans, auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection and consumer discounts
Learn more about Employee Benefits
Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is a 267-bed hospital. We are a top-performing quality hospital. We have over 300 of the most respected and qualified physicians in the area. We offer an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and a Cancer Care Center. Our services include open-heart surgery and a wide range of specialties. We give advanced care to critically ill patients. We offer emergency services at our main emergency room (ER). We also have a pediatric ER and two freestanding ERs. Together, our team has an unwavering conviction to improve more lives in more ways.
HCA Healthcare has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute more than ten times. In recent years, HCA Healthcare spent an estimated $3.7 billion in cost for the delivery of charitable care, uninsured discounts, and other uncompensated expenses.
"Nurses are essential to the delivery of healthcare and serve as its foundation. At HCA Healthcare, we are committed to equipping nurses with the tools and resources they need to deliver exceptional patient care, championing the profession, and supporting the advancement of nursing’s future."
Erica Rossitto, MBA/HCM, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive
HCA Healthcare
If growth and continued learning is important to you, we encourage you to apply for our RN PACU opening. Our team will promptly review your application. Highly qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews. Unlock the possibilities apply today!
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
What's around it?
Fort Walton Beach, FLFrom Census ACS 2024.
Living costs about 3% below the US average
- Median rent
- $1,307/mo
- Household income
- $68,538/yr, all local households, not nurse pay