PACU Nurse Jobs in Illinois
PACU Nurse jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand concentrated in hospital systems, ambulatory surgery centers, and academic medical centers at every level from new graduate to senior clinician. The heaviest hiring is in Chicago, Peoria, and Springfield, where large employers like Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health Care, and OSF HealthCare anchor most of the openings. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois are cardiac recovery, pediatric PACU, and same-day surgery support. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 25+ PACU Nurse jobs
Registered Nurse, PACU – Murphysboro, Illinois. This travel assignment starts on 09/14/2026 and runs for 13 weeks in a critical access hospital setting. Expect a weekly pay range of $2,249–$2,450 with guaranteed hours of 40 per week on day shifts. The PACU unit operates with 15 bays and follows ASPAN Standards to guide postoperative recovery care.
Key Highlights
- Weekly pay: $2,249–$2,450 per week
- Guaranteed hours: 40 hours per week
- Contract duration: 13 weeks
- Shift: Days
- Start date: 09/14/2026
- Setting: Critical Access Hospital PACU
Responsibilities
- Provide direct postoperative care in the PACU, including airway management, monitoring of breathing and circulation, and identification of early complications.
- Assess patient status frequently, manage pain and nausea per orders and protocols, and implement appropriate interventions.
- Administer medications as prescribed, document responses, and communicate changes to the surgical and anesthesia teams.
- Perform ongoing patient assessments, respond to emergencies, and determine readiness for transfer or discharge from PACU per established criteria.
- Maintain accurate charting and timely handoffs to the next level of care, ensuring continuity of care and patient safety.
- Collaborate with anesthesia, surgeons, and nursing staff to coordinate care and uphold ASPAN standards for recovery and documentation.
Requirements
- Active Registered Nurse license (general standard for practice)
- Ability to work in a PACU environment within an acute care setting
- Willingness to participate in a primary/backup call rotation, including weekends
- Strong communication and teamwork skills to support perioperative care
- Commitment to patient safety, infection control, and safety protocols
Benefits and Support
- Guaranteed hours: 40 per week
- Competitive weekly pay range: $2,249–$2,450
- Travel assignment in a hospital setting
- 13-week contract with clear start date and schedule
Find more opportunities
If you’re open to other openings, apply for additional nursing roles available at Healthforce Healthcare LLC: https://healthforce.applytojob.com/apply
Please note: Pay rates and guaranteed hours are estimates and may vary. Final compensation packages and confirmed hours will be discussed during the hiring process.
About Healthforce
Healthforce is a nationwide travel healthcare staffing agency connecting travel nurses and allied health professionals with high-quality contract assignments across the United States.
We specialize in placing clinicians in travel nursing jobs, allied health travel assignments, and local contract opportunities in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient settings. Whether you are an experienced traveler or taking your first assignment, Healthforce provides the support and opportunities you need to succeed.
Travel Nursing and Allied Health Opportunities Nationwide
Healthforce partners with healthcare facilities across the country to offer a wide range of opportunities for nurses and allied professionals.
- Travel RN jobs in Med Surg, ICU, ER, LTC, and more
- Allied health travel jobs including CT Tech, Rad Tech, PT, OT, Respiratory, and more
- Local contract and per diem opportunities
- Short-term and 13-week travel assignments
Our goal is simple: match you with the right assignment, in the right location, at the right pay.
What Makes Healthforce Different
We know that travel healthcare professionals have options. That is why we focus on delivering a better experience at every step of the process.
- Competitive weekly pay packages with transparent breakdowns
- Fast credentialing support to help you get submitted quickly
- Dedicated recruiters who stay with you from submission to start
- 24/7 support while you are on assignment
- Nationwide job access across multiple specialties and care settings
We do not just place you in a job. We help you build a sustainable travel healthcare career.
Built for Travel Nurses and Allied Professionals
Healthforce is designed around the needs of today’s travel healthcare workforce. We make it easier for clinicians to move quickly, stay informed, and access strong opportunities across the country.
- Quick submissions to open jobs
- Access to multiple job options at once
- Flexible assignment locations
- Ongoing support throughout your contract
Whether you are searching for your next assignment or planning your first travel job, our team is here to help you move forward with confidence.
Start Your Next Travel Assignment
Healthforce is actively hiring travel nurses and allied healthcare professionals for assignments nationwide.
Apply today to connect with a recruiter and explore current travel nursing and allied health job opportunities.
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Registered Nurse, PACU – Murphysboro, Illinois. This travel assignment starts on 09/14/2026 and runs for 13 weeks in a critical access hospital setting. Expect a weekly pay range of $2,249–$2,450 with guaranteed hours of 40 per week on day shifts. The PACU unit operates with 15 bays and follows ASPAN Standards to guide postoperative recovery care.
Key Highlights
- Weekly pay: $2,249–$2,450 per week
- Guaranteed hours: 40 hours per week
- Contract duration: 13 weeks
- Shift: Days
- Start date: 09/14/2026
- Setting: Critical Access Hospital PACU
Responsibilities
- Provide direct postoperative care in the PACU, including airway management, monitoring of breathing and circulation, and identification of early complications.
- Assess patient status frequently, manage pain and nausea per orders and protocols, and implement appropriate interventions.
- Administer medications as prescribed, document responses, and communicate changes to the surgical and anesthesia teams.
- Perform ongoing patient assessments, respond to emergencies, and determine readiness for transfer or discharge from PACU per established criteria.
- Maintain accurate charting and timely handoffs to the next level of care, ensuring continuity of care and patient safety.
- Collaborate with anesthesia, surgeons, and nursing staff to coordinate care and uphold ASPAN standards for recovery and documentation.
Requirements
- Active Registered Nurse license (general standard for practice)
- Ability to work in a PACU environment within an acute care setting
- Willingness to participate in a primary/backup call rotation, including weekends
- Strong communication and teamwork skills to support perioperative care
- Commitment to patient safety, infection control, and safety protocols
Benefits and Support
- Guaranteed hours: 40 per week
- Competitive weekly pay range: $2,249–$2,450
- Travel assignment in a hospital setting
- 13-week contract with clear start date and schedule
Find more opportunities
If you’re open to other openings, apply for additional nursing roles available at Healthforce Healthcare LLC: https://healthforce.applytojob.com/apply
Please note: Pay rates and guaranteed hours are estimates and may vary. Final compensation packages and confirmed hours will be discussed during the hiring process.
About Healthforce
Healthforce is a nationwide travel healthcare staffing agency connecting travel nurses and allied health professionals with high-quality contract assignments across the United States.
We specialize in placing clinicians in travel nursing jobs, allied health travel assignments, and local contract opportunities in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient settings. Whether you are an experienced traveler or taking your first assignment, Healthforce provides the support and opportunities you need to succeed.
Travel Nursing and Allied Health Opportunities Nationwide
Healthforce partners with healthcare facilities across the country to offer a wide range of opportunities for nurses and allied professionals.
- Travel RN jobs in Med Surg, ICU, ER, LTC, and more
- Allied health travel jobs including CT Tech, Rad Tech, PT, OT, Respiratory, and more
- Local contract and per diem opportunities
- Short-term and 13-week travel assignments
Our goal is simple: match you with the right assignment, in the right location, at the right pay.
What Makes Healthforce Different
We know that travel healthcare professionals have options. That is why we focus on delivering a better experience at every step of the process.
- Competitive weekly pay packages with transparent breakdowns
- Fast credentialing support to help you get submitted quickly
- Dedicated recruiters who stay with you from submission to start
- 24/7 support while you are on assignment
- Nationwide job access across multiple specialties and care settings
We do not just place you in a job. We help you build a sustainable travel healthcare career.
Built for Travel Nurses and Allied Professionals
Healthforce is designed around the needs of today’s travel healthcare workforce. We make it easier for clinicians to move quickly, stay informed, and access strong opportunities across the country.
- Quick submissions to open jobs
- Access to multiple job options at once
- Flexible assignment locations
- Ongoing support throughout your contract
Whether you are searching for your next assignment or planning your first travel job, our team is here to help you move forward with confidence.
Start Your Next Travel Assignment
Healthforce is actively hiring travel nurses and allied healthcare professionals for assignments nationwide.
Apply today to connect with a recruiter and explore current travel nursing and allied health job opportunities.
r9n1xiltLk
See All 25 PACU Nurse Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find PACU Nurse JobsPACU Nurse Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
PACU Nurse Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in PACU nurse jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois Registered Nurse license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Current BLS and ACLS certification required by most Illinois hospital employers
- Minimum one to two years of perioperative or critical care nursing experience
- CPAN or CAPA certification preferred or required for senior pacu nurse roles
- Demonstrated ability to manage post-anesthesia patients across Phase I and Phase II recovery
- Familiarity with Epic or Cerner electronic health record systems used by Illinois systems
PACU Nurse Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a pacu nurse in Illinois?
You become a pacu nurse in Illinois by first earning an Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, then passing the NCLEX-RN to obtain an active Registered Nurse license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Most Illinois employers require at least one year of hands-on experience in a critical care, emergency, or perioperative setting before transitioning into a PACU role. Earning CPAN certification strengthens your application significantly.
How much do PACU nurses make in Illinois?
PACU nurses in Illinois earn a median of about $95,990 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,170 for the lowest 10% to over $118,190 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire pacu nurses in Illinois?
Employers hiring pacu nurses in Illinois right now include SCA Health, Endeavor Health, and Advocate Aurora Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's large integrated health systems and academic medical centers tend to post the most consistent volume of pacu nurse openings across the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most pacu nurse jobs?
The Illinois cities with the most pacu nurse openings are Chicago, Naperville, and Park Ridge. Chicago dominates the distribution because of its dense concentration of Level I trauma centers, academic medical centers, and ambulatory surgery centers, while Peoria and Springfield reflect the strong regional hospital systems, including OSF HealthCare and HSHS Medical Group, that serve large downstate populations.
How can I get hired as a pacu nurse in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to a perioperative residency or new-graduate nurse residency program at a large Illinois health system such as Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health Care, or University of Chicago Medicine, which run structured programs that rotate nurses through surgical and recovery settings. Starting in a medical-surgical, step-down, or critical care unit builds the patient assessment skills Illinois PACU managers look for. Holding an active Illinois RN license and current ACLS certification gives entry-level candidates a clear edge when applying.
Where can I find and apply to pacu nurse jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to pacu nurse jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from employers hiring right now. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your experience and preferred location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 25 PACU Nurse Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find PACU Nurse Jobs