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Recovery Room Nurse Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Recovery Room Nurse information

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$44

How much do recovery room nurse jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for recovery room nurse in the United States is $24.33, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.62 and $31.49 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a recovery room nurse?

A Recovery Room Nurse, also known as a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurse, is a registered nurse who specializes in caring for patients who are recovering from anesthesia after surgery or medical procedures. Their primary responsibilities include monitoring vital signs, managing pain, assessing patients for complications, and ensuring a safe and smooth transition from anesthesia to full consciousness. Recovery Room Nurses play a critical role in patient safety during the immediate post-operative period, providing support and education to both patients and their families.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a recovery room nurse?

To thrive as a Recovery Room Nurse, you need expertise in post-anesthesia care, patient assessment, and emergency response, supported by a nursing degree and RN licensure. Familiarity with patient monitoring systems, pain management protocols, and advanced life support certifications (such as ACLS) is typically required. Strong attention to detail, effective communication, and the ability to stay calm under pressure are essential soft skills. These qualities ensure patient safety, rapid response to complications, and smooth transitions from surgery to full recovery.

What are some common challenges recovery room nurses face during patient handoff and how can they be managed?

Recovery Room Nurses often encounter challenges during patient handoff, such as incomplete information from surgical teams or rapidly changing patient conditions. To manage these, it's important to use standardized communication tools like SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) and maintain clear, concise documentation. Building strong collaboration with anesthesia providers and surgical staff also helps ensure a smooth transition and optimal patient care. Being proactive about clarifying any uncertainties during handoff minimizes errors and enhances patient safety.

What is the difference between Recovery Room Nurse vs Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nurse?

Recovery Room NursePost-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nurse
Provides care to patients recovering from anesthesia after surgery or proceduresProvides care to patients emerging from anesthesia, monitoring vital signs, and managing pain
Requires RN license, certification in ACLS or PALS often preferredRequires RN license, ACLS certification typically required
Works primarily in hospital recovery rooms or surgical centersWorks mainly in hospital PACU or surgical recovery units
Focuses on immediate post-anesthesia recovery and patient safetyFocuses on monitoring, pain management, and preparing patients for transfer

Both Recovery Room Nurses and PACU Nurses are registered nurses specializing in post-anesthesia care. They often perform similar duties in hospital recovery settings, with slight variations in terminology depending on the facility. Both roles require RN licensure and certifications like ACLS, emphasizing patient safety during recovery from anesthesia.

How much do recovery room nurses make?

Recovery room nurses, also known as post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses, typically earn a median annual salary of around $70,000 to $80,000. Salaries can vary based on experience, location, certifications, and healthcare facility type, with some earning over $90,000 annually in high-demand areas.
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Infographic showing various Recovery Room Nurse job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 56% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 27% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,616 per year, or $24.3 per hour.

Recovery Room Nurse - Aurora

Aurora, IL โ€ข On-site

Planned Parenthood of Illinois
1 - 10 employees

Other

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

Recovery Room Nurse

The Recovery Room Nurse is part of the staff team that provides reproductive health services in accordance with Planned Parenthood of Illinois' policies, protocols, and procedures.

Essential Functions

Provide nursing care to patients in PPIL's health centers' recovery room in accordance with all Planned Parenthood of Illinois policies and protocols, OSHA/CLIA regulations.

Assist providers with emergencies during clinic, screen patients with medical problems, and train staff in medical emergencies.

Participate in the follow up of abortion complications, where applicable, achieving an abortion medical occurrence rate of 1% or less.

Monitor medications/crash carts, inventory and logs and ensure proper functioning of equipment.

Accept individual and joint responsibility for, and participate in health center efforts to achieve:

  • Annual plan (i.e. AB clients to goal)
  • Abortion visits of 3 hours or less.
  • Abortion medical occurrence rate of 1% or less as defined by the PPFA list of abortion occurrences.
  • Attainment of annual health center fiscal goals in revenue, expenses, and contribution margin.

Understand, commit to, and practice a market and customer-oriented approach to health care delivery.

Accept individual and joint responsibility for, and participate in, health center efforts to comply with all organizational quality assurance guidelines and all pertinent government regulations including OSHA and CLIA.

Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to remain informed about PPIL protocols, policies, and procedures.

Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to PPIL core values of access, activism, care, confidentiality, diversity, excellence, integrity, respect, self-determination, and stewardship; practice these values in relations with internal and external customers.

Other Responsibilities

Assist and monitor patients in the recovery room. This includes taking vital signs, dispensing medications, fluids, and nutrients, giving verbal and written aftercare instructions and birth control information, and reporting signs or symptoms of post abortion complications to the provider.

Assist abortion providers in the procedure room during medical emergencies.

As assigned, handle "emergency" patient calls to be shared with the licensed clinical staff or other delegated staff. This includes documentation and follow-up of all calls received.

Screen clients with medical problems prior to making abortion appointments in conjunction with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) or Associate Medical Directors.

Monitor controlled substances and crash cart medications and keep logs daily, according to controlled substance policies and procedures.

Participate in inventory of medications, and recovery room supplies, including those used for anesthesia on-site.

Ensure appropriate follow up is initiated and updated by PPIL protocols.

In conjunction with the health center manager, update documentation in adverse events tracker.

Take personal responsibility to remain informed about family planning methods, abortion issues and technology, services offered by PPIL, and PPIL protocols, policies and procedures, to give regular feedback to the Health Center Manager regarding training and continuing education needs.

Collaborate with Health Center Manager, Regional Directors, and Procedural Abortion and Sedation services Clinical Director, regarding day-to-day Recovery Room operations.

Other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands

The physical demand characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, talk, read, see and hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to type, handle, or feel and reach. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Must be able to travel throughout Upstate Illinois as scheduled.

Supervisor

Procedural Abortion and Sedation Services Clinical Director

Status

Full-time. Non-exempt from the overtime provisions of the wage and salary regulations.

Qualifications

Education: A Registered Nurse licensed in the state of Illinois. Must have active BLS and ACLS certification at all times throughout employment.

Experience: Previous experience in an OB/GYN related field preferred but not required. Spanish speaking preferred but not required.

Professional and Personal Qualities: Commitment to the efficient and customer-oriented provision of services, as well as commitment to the operating goals of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. Willingness to participate in a team approach to health care delivery. Willingness to pursue additional training as a supervised sedation professional once proficiency is achieved as a recovery room nurse, based upon future needs of the organization. Must be able to travel to specified health centers throughout the State of Illinois to work as a recovery room nurse based upon needs of the organization and staffing schedules.

$43 - $45 an hour

Planned Parenthood works affirmatively to include diversity among its workforce and does not discriminate in the selection of its staff based on factors including but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income, marital status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law. We know that BIPOC and women identifying candidates are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every requirement. Please do not be deterred if your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting. We encourage you to apply anyway! You may be exactly who we are looking for!