Top Assignments for PACU Travel Nurse Jobs
By Anita Wong, contributor
When patients are recovering from general, regional or local anesthesia, they're cared for by nurses in a postanesthesia care unit (PACU). There's a high demand for this skillset, with PACU travel nurse jobs available across the country in hospitals, medical centers and outpatient facilities.
PACU nurses provide critical care for patients from the end of their surgery or procedure until they're awake and stable enough to return to their hospital room, or in the case of outpatients, be discharged. This involves monitoring blood pressure, oxygen levels and heart and pulse rates, as well as administering medication for pain and nausea. They also watch for possible complications.
PACU travel nurses fill in staffing gaps in many different medical settings. The perfect travel assignment depends on what you're looking for, but nurses in this field have many appealing choices.
Here are some of the best PACU travel nursing assignments to consider.
1. Work in a top-paying state
PACU travel nurses are needed in states with some of the highest salaries for registered nurses.
According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the states with the highest hourly mean wage for registered nurses are California ($51.42), Hawaii ($47.16), the District of Columbia ($44.40), Massachusetts ($44.30) and Oregon ($43.79).
While the BLS doesn't track data specific to the PACU specialty, travel assignments for PACU nurses typically pay more than a permanent, full time position. Salary depends on qualifications, experience and credentials, as well as geographic location and facility, but PACU travel nurse jobs can pay up to $3,034 per week with additional stipends for meals, housing and other expenses.
2. Gain experience in a new environment
Get your foot in the door of a prestigious hospital or industry leader for healthcare. Learn how a small community hospital works or spend time in a medical center specializing in cancer research and treatment. Each unique travel nursing position offers you the opportunity to meet new colleagues, care for different patient populations and immerse yourself in diverse environments.
Choose the type of facility that appeals most to you or try a different one with each assignment to expand your skillset and build your resume over time.
3. Work in the most desirable places in the country
Travel nurses can find assignments in locations considered as the best places to live in the United States, based on quality of life, desirability and other factors. According to U.S. News and World Report, Washington tops the 2019 list of best states to live in, followed by New Hampshire, Minnesota, Utah and Vermont. Hawaii was selected as the best state in the health care category and Massachusetts was ranked first in education.
A study of the best metropolitan areas named Austin, Texas, as the best American city to live in. Denver and Colorado Springs rounded out the top three. Portland, Seattle and San Francisco also made the top 10 list.
Ultimately, however, the best place to work is the one that suits your lifestyle. Do you prefer warm weather year-round, a bustling city or easy access to outdoor recreation? Maybe you want to be close to friends you haven't seen for awhile. The best part of being a travel nurse is choosing where you want to live and work. You can find PACU travel nurse jobs all across the country.
4. Care for patients in a pediatric PACU
According to a study of data in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry, there were 2.5 million pediatric anesthetics between 2010 and 2015. These young patients have unique needs — from pediatric-specific approaches to managing temperature, airways and electrolyte balances to different dosages of medication.
Some children may be frightened, while others experience emergence excitement or delirium, a condition that's highest in young patients, as noted by the British Journal of Anaesthesia. Nurses require additional competencies to provide high quality care to patients in a pediatric PACU, but it's extremely rewarding to work with this vulnerable population.
PACU nurses have many options for travel assignments, from the type of healthcare setting to the city or state you work in. Discuss your preferences with a travel nursing recruiter to find an assignment that best fits your needs. If you're interested in PACU travel nurse jobs, take a look at our current opportunities.