PACU | Registered Nurse

Travel PACU Registered Nurse (RN) – 13-Week Contract in Madison, Wisconsin

Join a high-acuity PACU nursing team in Madison, WI, and provide expert post-anesthesia care for adult surgical patients in a leading academic referral center. This on-site travel nursing assignment offers the opportunity to support complex procedures while collaborating with surgical, anesthesia, critical care, and diagnostic teams. Madison is a vibrant, welcoming city known for its lakes, bike-friendly neighborhoods, cultural attractions, and excellent quality of life.

Travel PACU RN Job Details

• Weekly Estimated Pay: $2,370–$2,500
• Nursing Specialty: Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
• Position Type: Travel Registered Nurse contract
• Location: Madison, Wisconsin
• Start Date: January 18, 2027
• Assignment End Date: April 19, 2027
• Contract Duration: 13 weeks
• Schedule: Four 10-hour day shifts per week, generally Monday through Friday; start times may range from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. based on department needs
• Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week
• Weekend Call: Approximately 1–2 weekend call shifts during the assignment; call may be scheduled during the day or night
• Orientation: Approximately 50 hours
• Patient Population: Adult surgical patients
• Unit Environment: High-volume PACU with approximately 25 rooms and a broad range of complex surgical services
• Additional Scheduling Information: Travelers may float as needed; regularly scheduled weekend shifts are not expected

Travel PACU Registered Nurse Requirements

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license eligible for practice in Wisconsin
• At least 2 years of acute-care RN experience within the past 3 years, including strong PACU and/or ICU experience
• Experience providing preoperative and postoperative nursing care for varied surgical patient populations
• Current American Heart Association BLS and ACLS certifications
• Epic electronic health record experience required
• Strong telemetry and dysrhythmia recognition skills
• Ability to complete and pass a telemetry assessment before clearance to start; testing includes adult and pediatric rhythm interpretation
• Experience with complex postoperative monitoring, airway management, invasive lines, ventilated patients, vasoactive medications, and emergency interventions
• Trauma, tertiary-care, or academic medical center experience preferred
• Must be willing to participate in weekend call and float as needed

PACU Registered Nurse Responsibilities

• Provide independent peri-anesthetic nursing care to patients recovering from a wide range of surgical and procedural interventions
• Assess, stabilize, and monitor patients during Phase I recovery, including airway, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, and pain assessments
• Care for patients following transplant, orthopedic, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, ENT, trauma, neurosurgical, thoracic, cardiac, interventional, general, oncology, urologic, and vascular procedures
• Manage patients requiring advanced monitoring and interventions, including arterial lines, central lines, chest tubes, ventilatory support, IV vasopressors, nerve blocks, PCA therapy, and reversal agents
• Recognize and respond to dysrhythmias, changes in patient condition, airway emergencies, postoperative complications, and malignant hyperthermia concerns
• Administer medications and blood products safely while following established protocols for pain, sedation, glucose management, anticoagulation, and emergency care
• Establish a therapeutic relationship with patients and families by promoting comfort, trust, communication, and safe transitions of care
• Collaborate with anesthesia, surgeons, critical care providers, respiratory services, pharmacy, radiology, rapid response teams, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team
• Complete accurate documentation in Epic and communicate patient status during handoffs and disposition planning
• Participate in call coverage and float assignments according to operational needs

Apply now for this Travel PACU RN opportunity in Madison, Wisconsin, and join an exceptional academic healthcare team for a rewarding 13-week nursing assignment.

Benefits

401K with Matching, Healthcare, Dental and Vision

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity across our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.