Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Clinical Nurse
Salem, OR, US
Nursing
Full Time
Job ID: #13601
Location Site: Salem Hospital, 890 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Department: Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
Position Type: Full Time, 36 hours/week, Non-Exempt
Schedule: 7:00 pm – 7:00 am, three 12-hour shifts, variable
Your role with us
As a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) clinical nurse at Salem Health, you’ll be a key player in one of the most critical transitions in a patient’s surgical journey—the moments immediately following anesthesia. You’ll care for a diverse patient population ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics, recovering from a wide range of procedures—from routine appendectomies to craniotomies and complex vascular surgeries.
In this fast-paced, high-acuity environment, your ability to recognize trends, think quickly, and act with precision is essential. Whether you’re managing after surgery vitals, treating emergent complications, or supporting a smooth recovery experience, your decisions will have an immediate and lasting impact on patient outcomes.
Your scope includes much more than clinical expertise. You’ll assess and anticipate patients' physical, emotional, and educational needs, plan individualized care, document progress meticulously, and collaborate closely with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and interdepartmental teams. You’ll also have the opportunity to step into leadership roles, contribute to quality initiatives, and play an active part in maintaining a safe and efficient unit.
This role is ideal for a nurse with strong critical care or intermediate care unit (IMCU) experience who thrives under pressure, values teamwork, and brings a proactive mindset to patient advocacy. Our PACU team is known for its independence, skill, and shared commitment to excellence. If you're ready to bring your clinical expertise and compassionate care to a team that values both, this is where you belong.
What you'll do
- Assessing and monitoring patients: Perform rapid, ongoing physical and clinical assessments to evaluate post-operative status and ensure safe recovery from anesthesia.
- Intervening with precision: Recognize and respond quickly to changes in patient condition, initiating appropriate interventions in emergent or complex situations.
- Developing care plans: Collaborate with the patient, family, and healthcare team to create individualized care plans that reflect each patient’s unique needs and goals.
- Educating and communicating: Educate patients and families about post-op care and recovery expectations, using clear, age-appropriate language and repetition when needed.
- Documenting thoroughly: Accurately record assessments, interventions, patient responses, and teaching in the electronic health record.
- Leading and collaborating: Support team operations by participating in shared decision-making, mentoring peers, and occasionally acting as charge nurse or team lead.
- Ensuring safety: Maintain a safe environment by following infection control practices, using proper lifting techniques, and ensuring equipment and supplies are ready and functional.
- Managing resources: Flex between tasks and units as needed to support productivity and patient flow, demonstrating initiative and flexibility.
Required qualifications
- Requires a Bachelor of Science (BSN) or Bachelor of Arts degree in nursing, or non-nursing bachelor's degree with a Master of Science in nursing (MSN). Candidates with an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) and graduates of a diploma RN program are also encouraged to apply; ADN applicants with less than five years of acute care experience will be required to sign an agreement committing to complete their BSN or MSN degree within three years of hire.
- Basic Life Support (BLS).
- Current unencumbered licensure to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse in the State of Oregon.
- One year of critical care experience.
Total rewards package
Salem Health's comprehensive benefits package prioritizes your mental and physical health, financial stability, family obligations and professional growth. Click here for details.
Why Salem Health?
Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.
We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job, you’ll find purpose, connection and room to thrive.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact my.recruiter@salemhealth.org
Location Site: Salem Hospital, 890 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Department: Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
Position Type: Full Time, 36 hours/week, Non-Exempt
Schedule: 7:00 pm – 7:00 am, three 12-hour shifts, variable
Your role with us
As a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) clinical nurse at Salem Health, you’ll be a key player in one of the most critical transitions in a patient’s surgical journey—the moments immediately following anesthesia. You’ll care for a diverse patient population ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics, recovering from a wide range of procedures—from routine appendectomies to craniotomies and complex vascular surgeries.
In this fast-paced, high-acuity environment, your ability to recognize trends, think quickly, and act with precision is essential. Whether you’re managing after surgery vitals, treating emergent complications, or supporting a smooth recovery experience, your decisions will have an immediate and lasting impact on patient outcomes.
Your scope includes much more than clinical expertise. You’ll assess and anticipate patients' physical, emotional, and educational needs, plan individualized care, document progress meticulously, and collaborate closely with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and interdepartmental teams. You’ll also have the opportunity to step into leadership roles, contribute to quality initiatives, and play an active part in maintaining a safe and efficient unit.
This role is ideal for a nurse with strong critical care or intermediate care unit (IMCU) experience who thrives under pressure, values teamwork, and brings a proactive mindset to patient advocacy. Our PACU team is known for its independence, skill, and shared commitment to excellence. If you're ready to bring your clinical expertise and compassionate care to a team that values both, this is where you belong.
What you'll do
- Assessing and monitoring patients: Perform rapid, ongoing physical and clinical assessments to evaluate post-operative status and ensure safe recovery from anesthesia.
- Intervening with precision: Recognize and respond quickly to changes in patient condition, initiating appropriate interventions in emergent or complex situations.
- Developing care plans: Collaborate with the patient, family, and healthcare team to create individualized care plans that reflect each patient’s unique needs and goals.
- Educating and communicating: Educate patients and families about post-op care and recovery expectations, using clear, age-appropriate language and repetition when needed.
- Documenting thoroughly: Accurately record assessments, interventions, patient responses, and teaching in the electronic health record.
- Leading and collaborating: Support team operations by participating in shared decision-making, mentoring peers, and occasionally acting as charge nurse or team lead.
- Ensuring safety: Maintain a safe environment by following infection control practices, using proper lifting techniques, and ensuring equipment and supplies are ready and functional.
- Managing resources: Flex between tasks and units as needed to support productivity and patient flow, demonstrating initiative and flexibility.
Required qualifications
- Requires a Bachelor of Science (BSN) or Bachelor of Arts degree in nursing, or non-nursing bachelor's degree with a Master of Science in nursing (MSN). Candidates with an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) and graduates of a diploma RN program are also encouraged to apply; ADN applicants with less than five years of acute care experience will be required to sign an agreement committing to complete their BSN or MSN degree within three years of hire.
- Basic Life Support (BLS).
- Current unencumbered licensure to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse in the State of Oregon.
- One year of critical care experience.
Total rewards package
Salem Health's comprehensive benefits package prioritizes your mental and physical health, financial stability, family obligations and professional growth. Click here for details.
Why Salem Health?
Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.
We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job, you’ll find purpose, connection and room to thrive.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact my.recruiter@salemhealth.org
Share this job:
Career exploration program
Whatever your background or career aspirations, there’s a place for you at Salem Health. And our Career Exploration Program can help you identify the ideal opportunity to pursue. The Program allows you to work alongside a healthcare professional as you gain insight into a fulfilling hospital career.
Nursing
Since 2010, Salem Hospital has continuously achieved Magnet™-designation – the gold standard for nursing excellence. Only eight percent of all hospitals achieve this prestigious distinction.
We’ve been able to do this by maintaining a nursing culture that is defined by:
- Consistent teamwork and collaboration
- Exemplary resources to support clinical nurses
- Engaged and inspiring leadership
- A focus on well-being, resilience, diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Strong professional development opportunities
- Pride in delivering quality-of-care that exceeds national norms
- An empowering professional governance structure and professional practice model
- New grad residency support, preceptorship, and mentoring
- Open and transparent strategy alignment
- Feedback is encouraged, valued and incorporated from the staff at all levels.
- Partnerships with community organizations that support improved patient outcomes
If you’re looking for a setting where you can achieve your highest potential as a nurse, we invite you to join us. We welcome all nurses, including those from outside of the United States. At Salem Health, you can experience an inclusive culture that values and rewards your unique qualities and background.
RN residency program
Begin your journey from student nurse to confident practitioner with our RN Residency Program. The program features a combination of didactic lessons, simulation, and track-specific class options. It begins with orientation and training and proceeds to preceptorship and mentorship. Through the program, you will gain clinical expertise as well as valuable professional skills such as communication and critical thinking.
Certified nursing assistants
As a certified nursing assistant (CNA), your contributions are absolutely crucial. You will provide compassionate reassurance and vital patient support in order to ensure our patients receive the highest quality care possible. You will receive competitive compensation as you provide patients with physical care and emotional support. We seek empathetic, and non-judgmental individuals with a sincere passion for elevating others’ lives.
Postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program
The Salem Health Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) Residency Program enhances your PharmD education as you develop your clinical expertise in the medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions. The program will be eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residency training. Upon completion of the Salem Health PGY1 residency, we believe you will be a confident and highly capable general practitioner, and well-prepared for the next step in your career.
We will meet you wherever you are on your career journey, and walk with you to your destination
There are over 900 unique positions to choose from at Salem Health. Whatever your background or your professional and personal aspirations, we offer an inclusive learning environment where you can achieve your highest potential in a career that grows with you. And, we’ll help you along the way with perks like tuition reimbursement and certification bonuses.
With so many options, why work anywhere else?
Career tree
