Plastic Surgery RN - Preop/PACU

Registered Nurse, Pre-Op/PACU - Plastic Surgery Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery | Port St. Lucie, FL About Us Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery is a premier plastic surgery and medical spa practice located in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Our practice is known for delivering refined aesthetic outcomes, compassionate patient care, and an elevated, personalized experience from consultation through recovery. VIPS has been recognized as a Best of the Treasure Coast winner two years running and has built a highly visible aesthetic brand with a loyal patient following and a rapidly growing digital presence, including 300,000+ followers on TikTok . We are looking for a skilled, compassionate, and highly detail-oriented Registered Nurse with required Pre-Op and PACU experience to join our surgical team. This is a hands-on surgical nursing role within a plastic surgery setting. While some clinic support may be included as needed, the primary focus of this position is patient care before and after surgery, including preoperative preparation, PACU recovery, postoperative support, and surgical center nursing responsibilities. This is an excellent opportunity for an RN who values safety, precision, patient comfort, professionalism, and being part of a high-performing aesthetic surgical team. Position Overview The Registered Nurse, Pre-Op/PACU provides professional nursing care throughout the surgical patient journey, with a strong focus on the preoperative and postoperative recovery phases. This role is responsible for helping ensure patients are medically prepared for surgery, safely monitored during recovery, properly educated before discharge, and supported throughout the postoperative phase. The ideal candidate has strong Pre-Op and PACU experience, excellent clinical judgment, a calm and reassuring bedside manner, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced surgical environment. Plastic surgery experience is a plus, but Pre-Op and PACU experience are required. This is not primarily a general clinic RN position. This is a surgical nursing role that requires confidence with perioperative patient care, recovery monitoring, documentation, discharge criteria, airway awareness, IV management, and patient education. Required Qualifications Graduate of an accredited nursing program. Current Florida RN license in good standing. Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association. Current ACLS certification from the American Heart Association. Minimum of 6 months of hands-on Pre-Op and/or PACU RN experience required. Experience in surgery center, hospital perioperative services, ambulatory surgery, PACU, or procedural nursing required. Strong understanding of perioperative patient safety, recovery monitoring, discharge readiness, and postoperative patient education. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Strong documentation skills and comfort using electronic health records. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail. Ability to remain calm, professional, and reassuring with patients and families. Commitment to outstanding patient care, safety, confidentiality, and professionalism. Preferred Qualifications Plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, or aesthetic medicine experience. Experience in an ambulatory surgery center or office-based surgical setting. OR circulating experience. Experience with electronic prescribing, EHR systems, and practice management software. Experience supporting postoperative patients with drains, dressings, compression garments, and wound care. Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and clinical documentation systems. Key Competencies Patient Care Excellence Provides safe, compassionate, patient-centered nursing care while upholding the highest standards of clinical quality, comfort, and professionalism. Pre-Op/PACU Clinical Judgment Demonstrates confidence in surgical patient preparation, recovery monitoring, airway awareness, vital sign assessment, pain and nausea management, discharge readiness, and escalation of concerns when appropriate. Attention to Detail Maintains accurate documentation, follows protocols carefully, anticipates patient and provider needs, and ensures no critical detail is missed. Communication Communicates clearly and professionally with patients, families, providers, and team members. Adapts communication style to support patient understanding, confidence, and comfort. Team Collaboration Works closely with the surgeon, anesthesia team, surgical staff, clinical team, and administrative team to support a seamless and safe surgical experience. Professionalism Represents VIPS with warmth, polish, discretion, and accountability at every patient touchpoint. Primary Responsibilities Preoperative Nursing Responsibilities Prepare patients for surgery in accordance with practice and surgical center protocols. Review health history, medications, allergies, surgical plan, lab results, clearances, and required documentation prior to surgery. Confirm completion of required preoperative testing, medical clearances, consents, and documentation. Provide preoperative education to patients, including medication instructions, surgical expectations, arrival instructions, recovery expectations, and postoperative care requirements. Communicate any clinical concerns, abnormal results, missing documentation, or changes in patient condition to the physician or appropriate provider. Start, monitor, and manage IV access as appropriate within scope and facility protocol. Maintain accurate and timely preoperative documentation PACU and Post-Anesthesia Recovery Responsibilities Receive patients into PACU and perform thorough postoperative assessments. Monitor vital signs, airway status, oxygenation, pain level, nausea, dressings, drains, bleeding, fluid status, and overall recovery progress. Demonstrate proper airway awareness and recovery monitoring techniques. Manage IV lines, dressings, drains, compression garments, and postoperative comfort measures as appropriate. Recognize and communicate changes in patient condition promptly. Follow facility protocols for recovery, documentation, discharge criteria, and escalation of care. Provide a calm, supportive, and reassuring environment for patients and families during recovery. Educate patients and caregivers on discharge instructions, medications, activity restrictions, drain care, garment use, warning signs, and follow-up expectations. Ensure patients meet appropriate discharge criteria before release. Accurately document PACU assessments, interventions, patient response, and discharge readiness. OR and Surgical Center Support Support surgical center flow before, during, and after procedures. Prepare patient care areas and ensure necessary equipment, supplies, garments, implants, and documentation are available. Assist with OR readiness, room turnover, supply preparation, and patient safety processes as needed. Support intraoperative documentation and OR processes within scope and experience. Maintain logs and records as required, including medication, refrigerator, autoclave, supply, and safety logs as applicable. Handle lab specimens, biohazard waste, and clinical materials according to protocol. Follow all OSHA, HIPAA, infection control, and surgical safety standards. Postoperative and Follow-Up Care Assist with postoperative visits, including dressing changes, drain care, suture removal, and patient education within scope and provider direction. Triage postoperative phone calls and patient concerns, documenting communication appropriately. Notify the physician or appropriate provider of concerning symptoms, changes in condition, or patient questions requiring clinical direction. Call patients after surgery as directed to check on comfort, recovery, and immediate postoperative concerns. Reinforce postoperative instructions and ensure patients feel informed, supported, and cared for throughout recovery. Coordinate with the surgical scheduler, clinical team, and providers to ensure continuity of care. Clinic Support, As Needed While this is primarily a surgical RN role, occasional clinic support may be required based on practice needs. Escorting postoperative patients to exam rooms and helping ensure they feel comfortable, supported, and prepared for their visit. Obtaining vitals and assessing the patient's general recovery status, including pain level, nausea, swelling, bruising, drainage, mobility, and overall concerns. Reviewing and documenting relevant postoperative updates, including medications, allergies, symptoms, patient questions, drain output, wound concerns, and recovery progress. Preparing patients for postoperative exams with Dr. Vinyard, including appropriate positioning, garment adjustment, dressing preparation, and ensuring necessary supplies are available. Assisting Dr. Vinyard during postoperative evaluations, dressing changes, drain assessments, suture or drain removals, wound checks, and other recovery-related care within RN scope and provider direction. Assessing incisions, dressings, drains, compression garments, and postoperative healing concerns, and communicating any abnormal findings or patient concerns to Dr. Vinyard. Reinforcing postoperative instructions, including wound care, drain care, garment use, activity restrictions, showering guidance, medication instructions, warning signs, and follow-up expectations. Supporting postoperative photo documentation and clinical documentation as needed. Triage postoperative questions or concerns that arise during clinic visits and assist with appropriate follow-up under provider direction. Coordinating with the surgical team, scheduler, and clinical staff to ensure continuity of care throughout the patient's recovery period. Preparing, cleaning, and maintaining exam rooms for postoperative visits, including restocking clinical supplies, dressings, garments, and equipment as needed. Compliance and Safety Adhere to HIPAA, OSHA, infection control, and patient safety standards at all times. Maintain patient confidentiality and data security. Ensure compliance with documentation standards and practice policies. Participate in required training, including HIPAA, OSHA, infection control, emergency preparedness, and other relevant clinical or regulatory education. Support a safe, clean, organized, and professional clinical environment. Participate in professional development activities to maintain current clinical knowledge and skills. Essential Physical and Working Conditions Ability to stand and walk for extended periods. Ability to assist with patient positioning, transfers, and mobility as needed. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds as required. Exposure to bodily fluids, communicable diseases, medications, cleaning agents, and clinical/surgical materials. Ability to work in a fast-paced surgical and clinical environment. Ability to remain calm, focused, and professional during urgent or high-pressure situations. Why Join VIPS Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery is not just another plastic surgery practice or medical spa. VIPS is a highly recognized, fast-growing aesthetic brand with a loyal patient following, a strong community reputation, and a rapidly expanding digital presence. Our practice has been voted Best of the Treasure Coast two years running , and our brand continues to reach patients far beyond the local market through a highly engaged social media presence, including 300,000+ followers on TikTok . Patients travel to VIPS because they connect with our results, our values, our patient experience, and our comprehensive approach to transformation. This is an opportunity to be part of a practice with real momentum. At VIPS, our surgical team plays a critical role in delivering the safe, supportive, high-touch experience our patients expect. As a Registered Nurse on our team, you will be part of the patient's journey during some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their experience — helping them feel prepared, protected, comfortable, and cared for. Our team is polished, passionate, high-performing, and deeply committed to clinical excellence and patient safety. The right person for this role will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a practice that is growing, evolving, and known for doing things differently. Our Practice Values Excellence in patient experience Patient safety and clinical quality Beautiful, comprehensive outcomes Warmth, polish, and professionalism Accountability and high performance Collaboration across surgical and non-surgical services Growth without sacrificing the human touch Schedule Full-time position In-person role Monday through Friday schedule Surgical schedule may vary based on case volume and practice needs Occasional flexibility may be needed based on surgery days and patient care needs Application Process We are looking for an RN who is genuinely excited about this role and aligned with the VIPS standard of patient care. To be considered, applicants must submit a resume and cover letter explaining why they are interested in joining VIPS and how their clinical experience, skills, and strengths would contribute to our surgical team and the patients we serve. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Experience:

PACU:

1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

Registered Nurse License (FL) (Required)

BLS & ACLS

certification (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986 (Required)

Work Location:

In person