Cross Country Nurses is seeking a travel nurse RN PACU - Post Anesthesia Care for a travel nursing job in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Job Description & Requirements
- Specialty: PACU - Post Anesthesia Care
- Discipline: RN
- Start Date: 09/14/2026
- Duration: 13 weeks
- 40 hours per week
- Shift: 10 hours, days
- Employment Type: Travel
Job Summary
The Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) specialty position is located in a Level I Trauma Center in Saint Louis, Missouri. This role involves providing critical post-operative recovery care for adult, adolescent, and geriatric patient populations following various surgical procedures. The position offers an opportunity to work in a high-acuity environment with a focus on trauma, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and transplant recovery, among others.
Job Details
- Shift Schedule: Days, from 07:30 AM to 06:00 PM, with a minimum of 40 hours per week.
- Certifications Required: Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
- Additional Qualifications: Must have 2 years of experience in high-acuity inpatient PACU or ICU settings. Experience with Epic charting system, critical care, invasive monitoring including intracranial pressure (ICP), artificial airways, transfusions, and vasoactive drugs is required.
- Clinical Skills: Proficiency in blood product administration, care of ventilated patients, dysrhythmia recognition and management, IV placement, management of vasoactive medications, and monitoring of invasive devices.
- Patient Population: Adults, adolescents, and geriatric patients in a Level I Trauma Center.
- Unit Details: The unit operates 24/7 with 38 patient bays; essential for recovery of patients after complex surgical procedures, excluding open-heart surgeries and liver transplants.
- Experience Requirements: Minimum 2 years of critical care or high-acuity PACU experience focused on trauma and surgical recovery.
- Additional Information: The unit includes a dedicated transport team, and nurses will be expected to mobilize the preoperative patient population in the early morning hours. The role requires high acuity inpatient PACU and ICU experience, with the ability to handle invasive monitoring, blood transfusions, and vasoactive drugs.
- License Requirements: Candidates must hold or obtain a license in Missouri or a recognized compact state prior to start.
- Travel and Local Rules: No local candidates within 75 miles are accepted. The position involves floating within the service line, specifically within PACU or Pre-Op units, as needed.
- Contract Details: The assignment begins on 09/14/2026, with a guaranteed minimum of three shifts per 13 weeks. Candidates must fulfill the scheduled shifts to maintain eligibility.
- Special Requirements: Night shift staff must learn to work up preoperative patients when no PACU patients are present. Previous experience with drains, vasoactive drips, mechanical ventilation, and high-acuity PACU work is mandatory.
Benefits
The benefits of taking a travel assignment with Cross Country include:
- Private housing or generous housing allowance
- Comprehensive health insurance with prescription coverage
- Dependent health insurance with prescription coverage
- Competitive salaries
- Referral bonuses
- Travel reimbursement
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Direct deposit/free checking
- Unlimited free CE credits
Cross Country Job ID #1299093. Pay package is based on 10 hour shifts and 40 hours per week (subject to confirmation) with tax-free stipend amount to be determined. Posted job title: Registered Nurse / Post Anesthesia Care Unit
About Cross Country Nurses
You care for others — we’re here to care for you. At Cross Country, we know travel nursing is about more than just the job. It’s about building a career that supports your lifestyle, your values, and your impact. We offer competitive pay, full benefits, and 24/7 support from a team that truly understands what it means to be on the front lines. Wherever your journey takes you, we’re with you every step of the way. Let’s build your best life — one assignment at a time.
Benefits
- 401k retirement plan
- Referral bonus