The Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System (GLA), West Los Angeles, is seeking a Registered Nurse for the Pre/Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PRE/PACU). The RN provides specialized nursing care before and after surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures. Duties include patient assessments, monitoring anesthesia recovery, managing pain and airway needs, coordinating care, providing patient education, and supporting nursing leadership and quality improvement initiatives.
Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides specialized nursing care to patients throughout the perianesthesia continuum, including pre-anesthesia, post-anesthesia Phase I, Phase II, and extended recovery following sedation or anesthesia. Performs comprehensive preoperative nursing assessments, including reviewing medical histories, validating informed consent, and verifying History and Physical (H&P) documentation.
Prepares patients for surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures, including initiating intravenous access, administering ordered medications, and assisting with peripheral nerve blocks. Verifies completion of required laboratory testing, diagnostic studies, surgical site preparation, and site marking before procedures.
Assesses patients for potential anesthesia-related risks, contraindications, and complications, communicating concerns to the anesthesia and surgical teams. Monitors patients recovering from anesthesia or sedation, assessing levels of consciousness, vital signs, respiratory status, and potential adverse reactions.
Performs ongoing cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and hemodynamic assessments to identify changes in patient conditions and initiate appropriate interventions. Provides airway management, pain management, and other nursing interventions to maintain patient safety and promote recovery following anesthesia. Utilizes appropriate post-anesthesia recovery scoring systems to evaluate patient readiness for transfer, discharge, or continued monitoring.
Provides preoperative education and postoperative discharge instructions to patients and families, ensuring understanding of recovery expectations, medications, and follow-up care. Collaborates with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams to coordinate safe and effective patient care throughout the perioperative process.
Maintains accurate, complete, and timely documentation of assessments, interventions, medications, and patient outcomes in the electronic health record (EHR). Ensures nursing practices comply with American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) standards, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) directives, and established standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Demonstrates nursing leadership by mentoring staff, providing constructive feedback, sharing clinical knowledge, and supporting professional development within the PRE/PACU. Participates in the development and evaluation of nursing policies, evidence-based practices, and quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and organizational outcomes. May be required to perform on-call duties.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 5:00am - 3:330pm, Compressed Tour Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
christopher.hubbs@va.gov · 702-833-0527
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $116566 – $210371/yr.
Applications close on 2026-10-30.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-24 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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