Entry Level Pre-Op/PACU Registered Nurse Jobs
New grad pre-op/pacu registered nurse jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where clinical rotation performance and perioperative internship work can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Healthcare & Medical Services and Insurance, with employers like Optum, SCA Health, and Banner Health hiring at this level now.
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Overview:
About Central Indiana Orthopedics (CIO)
Founded in 1950, Central Indiana Orthopedics (CIO), a proud partner of OrthoAlliance, is an independent orthopedic practice in central Indiana providing compassionate, expert care for bone, joint and muscle conditions. CIO offers comprehensive orthopedic services, including joint replacement and revision, podiatry, spine and interventional pain management, sports medicine and work-related injury care. Patients also have access to imaging, physical therapy, outpatient surgery and Walk-In Clinics for same-day orthopedic care. With locations in Anderson, Fishers, Marion, Muncie and Zionsville, CIO provides convenient access to care across the region. As part of OrthoAlliance – an organization within SCA Health – CIO is connected to a broader network dedicated to advancing patient care and expanding access to quality-driven orthopedic services.
At SCA Health, we believe health care is about people – the patients we serve, the physicians we support and the teammates who push us forward. Behind every successful facility, procedure or innovation is a team of 15,000+ professionals working together, learning from each other and living out the mission, vision and values that define our organization.
As part of Optum, SCA Health is redefining specialty care by developing more accessible, patient-centered practice solutions for a network of more than 370 ambulatory surgical centers, over 400 specialty physician practice clinics and numerous labs and surgical hospitals. Our work spans a broad spectrum of services, all designed to support physicians, health systems and employers in delivering efficient, value-based care to patients without compromising quality or autonomy.
What sets SCA Health apart isn’t just what we do, it’s how we do it. Each decision we make is rooted in seven core values:
* Clinical quality
* Integrity
* Service excellence
* Teamwork
* Accountability
* Continuous improvement
* Inclusion
Our values aren’t empty words – they inform our attitudes, actions and culture. At SCA Health, your work directly impacts patients, physicians and communities. Here, you’ll find opportunities to build your career alongside a team that values your expertise, invests in your success, and shares a common mission to care for patients, serve physicians and improve health care in America.
At SCA Health, we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support your health, well-being, and financial future. Our offerings include medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k plan with company match, paid time off, life and disability insurance, and more. Please visit, https://careers.sca.health/why-sca, to learn more about our benefits.
Your ideas should inspire change. If you join our team, they will.
Accountabilities / Responsibilities:
We are actively hiring for an Registered Nurse (RN) PreOp PACU. Promote the mission, vision, and values of SCA.
* Assess patient’s preoperative and postoperative status at intervals according to facility or health care organization policies and procedures to include the patient’s
+ cardiovascular system,
+ respiratory system and airway management needs,
+ neurological system,
+ hemodynamic stability,
+ pain and comfort needs, and
+ mental status.
* Interpret information accurately from various noninvasive and invasive monitors.
* Describe the underlying pathophysiology of commonly encountered disease processes.
* Describe the physiology associated with various anesthesia techniques and surgical or procedural interventions.
* Apply the relevant scoring system/discharge criteria for patient transfer (e.g., Aldrete Score, Modified Aldrete Score [i.e., PARSAP], Post Anesthesia Discharge Scoring System [PADSS], White) score accurately as defined by organizational policy.
* Develop an individualized perianesthesia plan of care.
* Implement the plan of care including the following interventions:
+ Preparing for and managing patient recovery from anesthesia – general.
+ Preparing for and managing patient recovery from anesthesia – monitored anesthesia care.
+ Preparing for and managing patient recovery from anesthesia – regional.
+ Preparing for and managing patient recovery from anesthesia – local.
+ Preparing for and protecting patient from injury caused by positioning, thermal sources, and extraneous objects.
+ Communicating the patient’s current status throughout the perianesthesia continuum of care.
+ Providing acute pain and comfort management as needed.
+ Administering medications safely and correctly by using the 8-rights of safe medication administration.
+ Performing interventions to maintain the integrity of the patient’s wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels.
+ Performing interventions to maintain the status of the patient’s genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems, and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels.
+ Performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period.
+ Performing interventions to protect patient from infection.
+ Managing patient’s other co-morbid conditions as applicable.
+ Managing patient’s fluid as prescribed.
+ Assessing knowledge level of patient or designated support person and providing education regarding the expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medication management, pain and comfort management, wound management, and expected responses to the operative or invasive procedure;
+ Involving patient or designated support person actively in decisions affecting his or her perioperative plan of care and the rehabilitation process.
+ Protecting patient’s rights, dignity, and privacy.
+ Providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; and
+ Providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting.
* Evaluate the patient’s progress toward attaining outcomes.
* Transfer care as needed.
* Provide hand-off report to other teammates that are accurate, concise and pertinent to the patient’s condition and response to care.
* Delegate tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act (if applicable), state board of nursing or professional registration requirements, state laws, and job descriptions.
* Document nursing care completely, accurately, and legibly.
* Collaborate effectively with other disciplines as needed.
* Participate in quality review and performance improvement projects.
* Participate in the performance appraisal process.
* Use problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
* Maintain required competencies.
* Pursue professional growth.
* Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.
* Comply with all facility policies and procedures when providing patient care.
* Actively participate in team meetings, trainings, and daily safety huddles.
* Demonstrate fiscal responsibility.
* Perform all other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
* Graduate of an Accredited School of Nursing.
* One year of Pre Operative or PACU experience required.
* Medical / surgical nursing experience.
* Current state licensure to practice within good standings. Successful completion of Basic Life Support (BLS) or Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) within 90 days of employment or documentation of current BLS/BCLS certification.
* Successful completion of Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Course within 90 days of employment or documentation of current ACLS certification.
* Successful completion of Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course is required when pediatric care is included in the facility scope services within 90 days of employment or documentation of current PALS certification.
Min: USD $30.00/Yr. Max: USD $51.63/Yr.
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Entry Level Pre-Op/PACU Registered Nurse Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level pre-op/pacu registered nurse job?
Start by highlighting any perioperative clinical rotations, surgical or PACU observation hours, and any ACLS or BLS certifications on your resume. Employers hiring at the entry level often value demonstrated comfort with patient assessment, vital sign monitoring, and post-anesthesia care basics. Tailoring your application to show familiarity with pre-operative patient education and recovery protocols gives you a clear edge over candidates with generic nursing experience.
Which companies hire entry level pre-op/pacu registered nurses?
Companies hiring entry level pre-op/pacu registered nurses right now include Optum, SCA Health, and Banner Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from hospital systems, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty surgical facilities that run structured new-grad onboarding or perioperative residency programs.
Are there remote entry level pre-op/pacu registered nurse jobs?
Yes, though most pre-op/pacu roles require direct patient care and are on-site by nature. About 0% of entry level pre-op/pacu registered nurse openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions typically involve care coordination, pre-operative phone screening, or patient education rather than hands-on clinical duties.
Are these new grad pre-op/pacu registered nurse jobs?
Yes, many of the listings here are new grad and junior roles that welcome recent graduates and candidates with limited experience. A posting is typically new-grad friendly when it lists zero to two years of experience as acceptable, mentions a perioperative residency or structured orientation program, or explicitly welcomes candidates whose qualifying experience comes from clinical rotations, externships, or internships rather than paid full-time work.
Which industries hire the most entry level pre-op/pacu registered nurses?
Entry Level pre-op/pacu registered nurse roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services and Insurance, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at the entry level because high surgical volumes, expanding outpatient procedure centers, and ongoing staff turnover in perioperative departments create consistent openings for new graduates ready to train in a structured clinical environment.