Registered Nurse; RN Post-Anesthesia Care Unit; PACU HOPD

Location: Great Falls, Montana |
Schedule: Full-Time, On-Site

A prominent regional healthcare system is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) to join its surgical services division as a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurse in a Hospital-Based Outpatient Department (HOPD) / Perioperative & Observation setting. Located in a scenic Montana community known for its quality of life and outdoor recreation, this role offers a supportive clinical environment with strong nurse-to-patient ratios, administrative backing, and a collaborative team culture.

Operational hours are 6:00 AM – 7:30 PM with varied shifts, and call requirements include a shared rotation of approximately 4 weeknights per month plus 1 weekend every other month.

• Safely assess, prepare, and optimize patients arriving for elective or outpatient surgical procedures
• Monitor and manage post-operative patients during the acute recovery phase, ensuring physiological stability prior to discharge or internal facility transfer
• Recover higher-acuity post-operative patients requiring advanced monitoring tools, including chest tubes, central lines, arterial lines, multiple titration IVs, and short-term ventilator support (comprehensive training provided if required)
• Provide direct clinical care to medical and surgical observation patients admitted to observation beds directly from the Emergency Department, direct admissions, or post-surgical status
• Coordinate care plans dynamically with Providers, Anesthesia teams, Nurse Managers, and Charge Nurses
• Act as a clinical resource on the floor, offering professional directional support to LPNs and CNA staff

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program;
  Associate Degree in Nursing required
• Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the State of Montana (or immediate compact/endorsement eligibility)
• Certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) required upon hire
• Minimum of 2 to 4 years of recent professional hospital experience within an acute Medical/Surgical or Critical Care nursing environment
• Advanced understanding of basic nursing principles/procedures
• Proficient intravenous (IV) insertion/management skills
• Basic computer/office technical literacy

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred
• Dedicated background or professional familiarity with Critical Care (ICU) workflows is highly preferred

• Up to $25,000.00 retention bonus to support transition and long-term commitment (available for external candidates only)
• Excellent nurse-to-patient ratios designed to foster highly personalized care and balanced clinical workloads
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance packages
• Robust retirement savings plan with a generous employer matching contribution
• Fully covered medical malpractice insurance
• Generous paid time off (PTO) allocation to support a healthy work-life balance
• Final hourly compensation determined based on documented years of nursing experience
• All job offers contingent upon successful completion of standard pre-employment screenings, including criminal background check, drug screening, and health/immunization verification
• Comprehensive benefits package and compensation structure apply to full-time positions; benefits may vary or be prorated for part-time arrangements

This position offers a supportive clinical environment with strong nurse-to-patient ratios and administrative backing, combined with the professional development opportunities of an acute care hospital setting and the lifestyle benefits of a scenic Montana community.