The Preop/PACU Registered Nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for providing compassionate and individualized nursing care for patients and their families in collaboration with providers, staff and other members of the team to achieve optimal patient. This one is per diem, so you pick up the shifts you want. Vail Health Hospital is a community hospital.
Posted Sep 23
Unit and setting
PreOP and PACU · Hospital Demonstrates competent PreOP/PACU nursing skills with all patient types and age groups with minimal supervisionall patient types and age groups
License
RN license Ability to obtain and maintain a State of Colorado Registered Nurses license or from a valid compact state required.Colorado RN license or license from a valid compact state
Do you qualify?
License
Colorado RN license or license from a valid compact stateAbility to obtain and maintain a State of Colorado Registered Nurses license or from a valid compact state required.Check your license
Certification
BLSBasic Life Support (BLS) required.
Certification
ACLSAdvanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), required.
Certification
PALSPediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), required.
Education
completion of an accredited nursing programCompletion of an accredited nursing program.
Education
Associate's nursing degree minimum for positions hired after 7/1/2018Minimum of Associates Nursing degree for positions hired after 7/1/2018.
Experience
1 year of RN experience1 year of RN experience.
Also asks
working-level English reading, writing and speakingMust have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing and speaking English.
Preferred
Experience
acute care experienceAcute care experience preferred.
Benefitsup to five weeks paid time off in first year, growing each yearUp to five weeks in your first year of employment and continues to grow each year.
Benefits403(b) retirement plan with immediate matching403(b) Retirement plan with immediate matching
Benefitslife insuranceLife insurance
Benefitsshort and long-term disabilityShort and long-term disability
Benefitsup to $1,000 annual wellbeing reimbursementUp to $1,000 annual wellbeing reimbursement
Benefitsrecreation discountsRecreation discounts
Benefitspet insurancePet insurance
Dental insurance
Paid housing
403(b)
Disability insurance
Tuition reimbursement
Loan repayment program
Vision insurance
Parental leave
Health insurance
403(b) matching
Paid Time Off (up to five weeks in first year)
The role and schedule
Day to day
oversees daily patient flowOversees the daily patient flow to optimize patient care, safety and satisfaction
Day to day
patient education and home discharge instructionsProvides patient education to facilitate plan of care, promote optimal wellness, and provide discharge instructions for home care
Day to day
delegates and provides care per regulatory requirementsDemonstrates ability to delegate and or provide care appropriately and according to all regulatory requirements
Day to day
competent PreOP/PACU nursing skills with minimal supervisionDemonstrates competent PreOP/PACU nursing skills with all patient types and age groups with minimal supervision
Day to day
administers medications, performs treatments, assists in proceduresAdministers medications, performs treatments, and assists in procedures as needed; consistently adhering to patient safety guidelines
Day to day
completes patient documentation and paperworkCompletes patient documentation and paperwork with accuracy
Day to day
assumes new assignments as directed under ASPAN standardsAbility to assume new assignments as directed with competence and necessary skillset aligned with ASPAN standards
Day to day
identifies abnormalities and intervenes in post-operative emergenciesAbility to identify abnormalities and perform necessary interventions during post-operative emergencies
Cross-training
works in both PreOP and PACUAbility to work in both PreOP and PACU and take call independently
Care model
Relationship-Based CareDelivers excellent service by utilizing Relationship-Based Care to advocate for safety, patient preferences, and optimal communication through partnering with patients and families
On call
takes call independently
Details
56-bed hospitalVail Health consists of an updated 520,000-square-foot, 56-bed hospital.
The workplace
Vail Health Hospital
Community Hospital
You are looking at a 56-bed nonprofit hospital at the base of Vail Mountain, 180 S Frontage Rd W, where patient rooms face the slopes and the building has grown to about 520,000 square feet. If you are new, the…
Vail Health has become the world's most advanced mountain healthcare system. Vail Health consists of an updated 520,000-square-foot, 56-bed hospital. This state-of-the-art facility provides exceptional care to all of our patients, with the most beautiful views in the area, located centrally in Vail. Learn more about Vail Health here.
About the opportunity
The Preop/PACU Registered Nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for providing compassionate and individualized nursing care for patients and their families in collaboration with providers, staff and other members of the team to achieve optimal patient.
What you will do
Oversees the daily patient flow to optimize patient care, safety and satisfaction
Provides patient education to facilitate plan of care, promote optimal wellness, and provide discharge instructions for home care
Demonstrates ability to delegate and or provide care appropriately and according to all regulatory requirements
Demonstrates competent PreOP/PACU nursing skills with all patient types and age groups with minimal supervision
Administers medications, performs treatments, and assists in procedures as needed; consistently adhering to patient safety guidelines
Completes patient documentation and paperwork with accuracy
Ability to work in both PreOP and PACU and take call independently
Ability to assume new assignments as directed with competence and necessary skillset aligned with ASPAN standards
Ability to identify abnormalities and perform necessary interventions during post-operative emergencies
Delivers excellent service by utilizing Relationship-Based Care to advocate for safety, patient preferences, and optimal communication through partnering with patients and families
Role models the principles of a Just Culture and Organizational Values.
Perform other duties as assigned. Must be HIPAA compliant
This description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.
What you will need
Experience
Completion of an accredited nursing program.
Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing and speaking English.
1 year of RN experience.
Acute care experience preferred.
License(s) and Certification(s)
Ability to obtain and maintain a State of Colorado Registered Nurses license or from a valid compact state required.
Basic Life Support (BLS) required.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), required.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), required.
Education
Minimum of Associates Nursing degree for positions hired after 7/1/2018.
Benefits at Vail Health Include
Competitive Wages & Family
Benefits
Competitive wages
Parental leave (4 weeks paid)
Housing programs
Childcare reimbursement
Comprehensive Health
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Educational Programs:
Tuition Assistance
Existing Student Loan Repayment
Specialty Certification Reimbursement
Annual Supplemental Educational Funds
Paid Time Off:
Up to five weeks in your first year of employment and continues to grow each year.
Neighborhoods+Vail Village and Lionshead represent the core resort districts, characterized by luxury slope-side condominiums, pedestrian plazas, and immediate ski access. Full-time residents and medical professionals frequently look to East Vail and West Vail for quieter residential pockets with townhomes, duplexes, and single-family houses along Gore Creek. Down-valley communities along Interstate 70—such as Eagle-Vail, Avon, and Eagle—as well as Summit County hubs like Silverthorne, Dillon, and Frisco, serve as primary living options for healthcare workers seeking neighborhood stability and a larger base of year-round locals.
Vail Village and Lionshead represent the core resort districts, characterized by luxury slope-side condominiums, pedestrian plazas, and immediate ski access. Full-time residents and medical professionals frequently look to East Vail and West Vail for quieter residential pockets with townhomes, duplexes, and single-family houses along Gore Creek.
Down-valley communities along Interstate 70—such as Eagle-Vail, Avon, and Eagle—as well as Summit County hubs like Silverthorne, Dillon, and Frisco, serve as primary living options for healthcare workers seeking neighborhood stability and a larger base of year-round locals.
Getting around+The average commute for residents living within Vail is roughly fourteen to fifteen minutes, with around three-quarters of workers driving private vehicles. The town features a well-developed local bus network with frequent stops such as Lower Ford Park Eastbound, making it possible to reach base areas without a car. For staff commuting from neighboring down-valley communities like Eagle-Vail, drive times into Vail are typically about ten minutes, while regional commutes from Summit County take roughly thirty minutes along Interstate 70 and over Vail Pass, where winter storms and chain laws can significantly alter travel conditions.
The average commute for residents living within Vail is roughly fourteen to fifteen minutes, with around three-quarters of workers driving private vehicles. The town features a well-developed local bus network with frequent stops such as Lower Ford Park Eastbound, making it possible to reach base areas without a car.
For staff commuting from neighboring down-valley communities like Eagle-Vail, drive times into Vail are typically about ten minutes, while regional commutes from Summit County take roughly thirty minutes along Interstate 70 and over Vail Pass, where winter storms and chain laws can significantly alter travel conditions.
Outdoors+Outdoor recreation defines daily life in Vail, centered on Vail Mountain's more than five thousand skiable acres featuring famous runs like Riva Ridge, wide-open intermediate trails, the Back Bowls, and Blue Sky Basin. In winter, backcountry snowmobile adventures stretch across nearby Vail Pass on the Continental Divide. During the summer, the Gore Range offers extensive alpine hiking trails, mountain biking, zip-lining, and river sports. Closer to town, Ford Park Playground and scenic recreational paths along Gore Creek provide approachable green spaces for walking, running, and enjoying the mountain scenery.
Outdoor recreation defines daily life in Vail, centered on Vail Mountain's more than five thousand skiable acres featuring famous runs like Riva Ridge, wide-open intermediate trails, the Back Bowls, and Blue Sky Basin. In winter, backcountry snowmobile adventures stretch across nearby Vail Pass on the Continental Divide.
During the summer, the Gore Range offers extensive alpine hiking trails, mountain biking, zip-lining, and river sports. Closer to town, Ford Park Playground and scenic recreational paths along Gore Creek provide approachable green spaces for walking, running, and enjoying the mountain scenery.
Check the commute at your shift’s start and end, upfront housing costs, and whether moving assistance must be repaid if you leave.
Living in Vail
Vail offers relocating nurses an unmatched mountain setting where world-class healthcare opportunities intersect with five thousand acres of legendary alpine terrain. Life here revolves around the outdoors, from carving the Back Bowls and hiking the Gore Range to relaxing along Gore Creek and attending performances at the Children's Amphitheater in Ford Park. The pedestrian villages provide European charm and an exceptional culinary scene anchored by staples like Sweet Basil, Mountain Standard, Pepi's Bar & Restaurant, and Root & Flower. However, moving to the valley involves distinct practical tradeoffs. The core resort market in Vail Village and Lionshead is dominated by luxury vacation real estate and tight rental availability, prompting many nurses and hospital personnel to live in down-valley communities such as Eagle-Vail, Avon, or Eagle. Local commutes are typically swift at roughly fifteen minutes, but winter conditions along Interstate 70 demand mountain-ready vehicles and preparation for snowy passes. For healthcare professionals who prioritize pristine mountain air, world-class skiing, and a highly active peer group, Vail provides an exhilarating and rewarding Colorado home.
