JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) PACU

Advocate Health · Park Ridge, IL

Posted Sep 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you caught early signs of a patient deteriorating right after surgery. What did you notice and what did you do?

pattern recognition and speed of escalation in a high-acuity, fast-turnover unit

Tell me about your recent experience in critical care, the ED, or PACU. What kind of patients did you manage and how sick were they?

verifying the required recent acute-care background, since new grads aren't being considered

Describe a time you had to manage more than one recovering patient at once with competing needs. How did you prioritize?

multitasking ability in a unit where turnover and volume are constant

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a surgeon or anesthesiologist about whether a patient was ready to move on. What happened?

advocacy skills and ability to communicate clinical concerns across the care team

Tell me about a shift where things did not go as planned, maybe a delay, a code, or an unexpected transfer. How did you and your team adapt?

resilience and teamwork in the unpredictable flow of a surgical recovery unit

Technical

Walk me through how you assess a patient in the first few minutes after they arrive in PACU from the OR.

whether the candidate has a systematic, safety-first approach to initial post-anesthesia assessment

How do you decide when a patient meets criteria to move to the next phase of care, whether that's an inpatient unit or discharge home?

understanding of PACU discharge criteria and readiness scoring

What's your approach to pain and nausea management right after surgery, and how do you balance that with keeping a patient alert enough to assess?

clinical knowledge of post-anesthesia pharmacology and side-effect tradeoffs

A patient starts showing signs of malignant hyperthermia in recovery. Talk me through what you'd do.

depth of knowledge on rare but high-stakes post-anesthesia emergencies

Situational

A patient comes out of anesthesia with an oxygen saturation that keeps dropping despite supplemental oxygen. What's your next move?

clinical judgment and ACLS-level reasoning under time pressure

You have a pediatric patient waking up from anesthesia who is combative and pulling at lines. How do you handle that?

comfort with pediatric emergence delirium and use of PALS-level skills

You're on call and get pulled in for an unplanned case outside your normal hours. How do you handle that kind of schedule demand?

willingness and reliability around the shared call responsibility built into this role

How do you keep a patient's family informed and calm while you're focused on close monitoring right after surgery?

communication skill under pressure and patient experience orientation

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37710 Advocate Lutheran General Hospital - PACU Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Full time PACU position, 11am start time with the ability to flex start time based on department needs. 4-10hr shifts per week. Shared call responsibility. Must have recent critical care, ED, or PACU experience. ACLS and PALS. Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Where You Will Work: Post-Anesthesia Care Unit cares for surgical patients post anesthesia that require close monitoring immediately following their surgical procedures. Teamwork, high emphasis on patients being ready the next phase of care, for example admission to inpatient unit or discharge home   We’re Looking For: • Completion of an accredited or approved program in nursing • Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the teammate practices • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association • ACLS required at time of hire and PALS required within 6 months after hire • PACU, Critical Care, or ED experience strongly preferred. • New grads are not currently being considered. • Communication, hardworking, multi-tasking, engagement and collaboration What You’ll Do: • As a skilled and compassionate RN, you will play a pivotal role in providing and coordinating comprehensive patient care through the nursing process to deliver safe, therapeutic care in accordance with established standards, policies, and procedures. • Using evidence-based practice, clinical decision making, compassion, and skills communication while leading efforts to create the safest patient environment and the best patient experience across the continuum. About This Location: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital is a 645-bed non-profit teaching hospital located in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, Illinois. Founded in 1897, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital is the sixth largest hospital in the Chicago area, and it operates a Level I trauma center This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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