Post Anesthesia Care Nurse Salary Guide
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PACU nurses work with patients in the post-anesthesia care unit. They provide care for patients following surgery, sometimes called post-op recovery care. PACU nurses monitor patient vital signs, administer medications as necessary and work with other care team members to help ensure a positive post-op outcome. They’re usually critical care nurses with specialized training.
How do you become a post-anesthesia care RN?
PACU nurses are credentialed RNs who often hold specialist certificates. To become a PACU nurse, you must first earn your nursing degree by completing academic classes and clinical requirements to earn an associate or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Next, you must sit for the National Council Licensure Examination and complete the application process to receive your state RN license.
Once you earn your degree, you must gain work experience. PACU nursing job postings usually require 2 or more years of experience in critical care or med-surg environments. You might increase your chances of getting post-anesthesia care RN positions by earning your Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) or Certified Post-Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) certificate.
What credentials/licensing does a PACU nurse require?
You need a registered nurse license in the state of practice to be a PACU nurse. Other specialty and skills certifications may be required or preferred by hiring organizations. These certifications demonstrate your knowledge and skills. The CAPA and CPAN are two primary professional certifications to consider. Other certifications needed include:
Average Post Anesthesia Care Nurse Salary
$47.81/hour
The average salary for a Post Anesthesia Care Nurse is $47.81 per hour. This is 7% higher than the nursing US average of $44.58.
Last updated on December 22, 2024. Based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Salaries for Post Anesthesia Care Nurse compared to Registered Nurse National Averages
$47.81/hour
7% higher than the nursing US average.
$44.58/hour
United States
Where do Post Anesthesia Care Nurses get paid the most?
State | Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary |
---|---|---|
Oregon | $67 | $90 |
Pennsylvania | $50 | $56 |
Texas | $45 | $53 |
Arizona | $44 | $58 |
Georgia | $43 | $48 |
Illinois | $43 | $48 |
Oklahoma | $42 | $55 |
Florida | $40 | $45 |
Virginia | $37 | $43 |
North Carolina | $32 | $43 |
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Post Anesthesia Care Nurse jobs?
Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary | |
---|---|---|
Legacy Health | $69 | $69 |
Kaiser Permanente | $58 | $67 |
Community Medical Centers | $54 | $54 |
Stability Direct | $53 | $53 |
Tenet Massachusetts | $51 | $51 |
ChristianaCare | $51 | $51 |
Inova Health System | $50 | $50 |
PennState Health | $46 | $47 |
St. Luke's Health System | $45 | $45 |
Atrium Health Charlotte | $45 | $45 |
Last updated on December 22, 2024. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com and pay data from BLS and around the web.
Post Anesthesia Care Nurse Career Guide
Use our exclusive Career Guides to research the education, qualifications, skills and responsibilities for a variety of healthcare disciplines and specialties employers are hiring now.
Go to the guideTop Post Anesthesia Care Nurse Jobs
Registered Nurse (RN) - PACU - Post Anesthesia Care
- Aurora BayCare Medical Center
- Green Bay, WI
- Evenings
Registered Nurse (RN) - PACU - Post Anesthesia Care
- Advocate Trinity Hospital
- Chicago, IL
- Flexible
- Sign-On Bonus
Registered Nurse (RN) - PACU - Post Anesthesia Care
- Advocate Condell Medical Center
- Libertyville, IL
- Flexible
Registered Nurse (RN) - PACU - Post Anesthesia Care
- Aurora Medical Center Grafton
- Grafton, WI
- Days
Registered Nurse (RN) - PACU - Post Anesthesia Care
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
- Chicago, IL
- Days
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How can you increase your pay as a PACU nurse?
To earn more as a PACU nurse, you might:
Seek more specialty certificates to increase your value as a clinical staff member
Add more experience to your resume
Find a location you enjoy and work toward increasing your tenure
How much does a post-anesthesia care RN make?
According to data based on active job listings on Vivian Health on May 4, 2023, staff post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses averaged around $40 an hour, with nurses in the 75th earning percentile making an average of $47 per hour and the top 10% of earners bringing in $50 per hour on average.
Is post-anesthesia care nursing a growing career?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates job growth for registered nurses in all specialties to be around 6% between 2021 and 2031. In comparison, the BLS expects nurse anesthetist job growth to be 40% in the same period. Based on the work environment, you could reasonably expect PACU nursing job growth to fall somewhere between those numbers. However, nurse anesthetists have an advanced practice role that requires higher education, so it’s unlikely to reach the same level of growth.
What types of employers/facilities have the most PACU nurses employed?
Hospitals likely hire the most PACU nurses because they have many operating rooms and offer surgical procedures that would necessitate anesthesia. Other locations that might hire PACU nurses include ambulatory or outpatient surgical centers, specialty dental offices, and imaging or testing centers that might offer procedures requiring full anesthesia.
Which employers/facilities have the highest pay?
The BLS listed outpatient care centers and hospitals as the two highest-paying healthcare facilities for nurses in all specialties combined. In May 2022, outpatient centers paid $97,200, specialty hospitals paid $91,290 and general medical and surgical hospitals paid $90,600. PACU nurses would likely earn more in these facilities as they’re the most common places of employment for this specialty.
Featured Blog Posts
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Post Anesthesia Care Nurse FAQs
What is a Post Anesthesia Care Unit RN?
Post anesthetic care unit nurses, also called PACU nurses, are one of the lesser known yet incredibly important specialists in the nursing field. They help patients recovering from the side effects of anesthesia following an operation, so they’re usually employed at hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. The ever-increasing number of surgical procedures being performed and PACU nurses’ direct link with these procedures keep these specialists in demand and well paid, but several factors can impact their salary.
PACU nurses are registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients who have undergone anesthesia during surgical procedures. They monitor post-surgical patients’ vital signs and level of consciousness while remaining vigilant for side effects from the anesthesia. PACU nurses work with an array of patients and frequently work with one patient or two patients simultaneously. They also coordinate with patients and their families on appropriate post-op care, including medication information.
Prospective PACU RNs must meet the same educational requirements as RNs in other fields, which includes earning an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) nursing program. After graduating, they must take the NCLEX-RN exam to receive RN licensure. Transitioning to the PACU also requires additional skills and training specifically related to post-surgical patient care and anesthesia.
How a Post Anesthesia Care Unit RN salary is based
Years of experience nearly always increases a PACU nurse's base salary. An entry-level PACU nurse can’t expect to earn as much as one who already has several years of experience in the field. While you can’t do anything to accelerate this boost to your base salary, other factors can help sooner.
One way is through education, which also takes time but not as much. Although a PACU nurse can enter the nursing field with either an ADN or a BSN, facilities are more frequently preferring BSNs. A PACU nurse’s base salary could reflect this preference. However, since you can pursue certification with an unencumbered nursing license no matter your degree level, education may not have as much bearing on base salary as other factors.
Relevant certifications can play a role in base salary. However, since many are required, this also might not have as great an impact as anticipated. PACUs must have Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certifications, and depending on the work setting, you may also need Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification. Professional PACU certification isn’t a mandatory requirement by all hospitals, but this certification can greatly improve your base salary.
Workplace and geographic location can also increase base salary. Nurses typically earn more in a hospital setting, which is a primary employer of PACU RNs. Geographically, some states pay more than others and even certain cities in these states can have higher base salaries. However, always compare salaries to the area’s cost of living to ensure it represents a livable wage.
How to increase your Post Anesthesia Care Unit RN salary
Time on the job is a long-term solution for increasing your PACU RN salary. You can help expedite the process in various ways, such as furthering your education and acquiring professional certifications.
As a PACU nurse, earning an advanced degree, such as a Master of Science in Nursing, can help you become an advanced practice registered nurse. An APRN can pursue a PACU nurse manager position, which requires you to oversee, train, and mentor all the PACU nurses in the unit. It can also boost your salary. APRNs can also pursue a Nurse Practitioner role, but it’s uncommon for an NP to work exclusively in a PACU.
Another way to increase your earning potential is by validating your professional experience through certification. Professional certification helps ensure you’re paid appropriately for your specialized skills and it demonstrates your knowledge and commitment to patient safety.
The American Board of Parianesthesia Nursing Certification administers the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) and Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA). You can earn dual certification by acquiring at least 1,200 hours of direct clinical experience in Post-Anesthesia Phase I and at least 1,200 hours of direct clinical experience in the Pre-Anesthesia Phase, Day of Surgery/Procedure, Post-Anesthesia Phase II, and/or Extended Care.
What professional certifications can potentially increase my salary as a Post Anesthesia Care Unit RN?
Earning your Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia nurse (CAPA) often increases your salary potential as a post anesthesia care unit nurse or makes you eligible for another position with greater responsibilities, which also might include a bump in wages.
Can having a Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia nurse (CAPA) boost my salary as a Post Anesthesia Care Unit RN?
Yes, having a Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia nurse (CAPA) or any relevant professional certification has the potential to boost your salary as a post anesthesia care unit nurse.
Where can I learn more about working as a PACU Nurse?
Take a look at Vivian's PACU Nurse Career Guide for more information, including required education, responsibilities, pros and cons and more.