Registered Nurse II - Pre-op/PACU

Under direction, the incumbent is responsible for providing professional direct or indirect nursing care to patients in both the preoperative and post-anesthesia phases. Preoperative nurses play a critical role in preparing patients for surgery by conducting comprehensive assessments, reviewing medications, coordinating diagnostic testing, and ensuring all necessary consent and documentation are complete. They educate patients about the surgical process and provide emotional support to reduce anxiety, while also confirming physical readiness through proper attire and the removal of personal items to maintain safety and compliance with protocols. 

Following surgery, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses care for patients as they recover from anesthesia, monitoring vital signs, levels of consciousness, and overall responsiveness. Because patients may experience confusion, pain, nausea, or difficulty breathing, and may not be able to clearly communicate their needs, PACU nurses must proactively observe and respond to subtle cues. This role demands quick decision-making in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment to ensure patients safely regain consciousness and stabilize after surgery.

PAYROLL TITLE: Registered Nurse II

WHAT WE OFFER:

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, subject to eligibility requirements, that includes:

• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill. Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Certification Pay - $0.813 per hour based on scheduled work week hours for each qualified certification up to a maximum of five (5) certifications. One of the five certifications may be paid at $2.00 per hour for a National Certification.
• Evening Shift Differential -7.5%
• Night Shift Differential – 15%
• Weekend Shift Differential - $2.00 per hour
• Continuous County Service Incentive Pay -1% for 7 years, 1.25% for 12 years and 1.5% for 17 years
• Preceptor Pay – $2.50 per hour
• House Supervisor Pay - $4.00 per hour
• Charge Nurse Premium Pay - $2.50 per hour
• Float Nurse Premium Pay - $2.50 per hour
• In House Registry Pay -
• Non-overtime is 1.75 straight time base hourly rate

Overtime is 2 times base pay straight time base hourly rateStandby Premium Pay – ¼ of regular hourly wage or Federal minimum wage (whichever is greater)Health Plans - Biweekly contribution towards medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from authorized plans.Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.Pension Plan: Participation in the County's defined benefit plan.Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Wellness Program.To learn more about the benefits, please follow the link: https://vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/HR/MOA/docs/CNA_MOA_2023-2028.pdf

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center and/or Santa Paula Hospital

Registered Nurse II is represented by the California Nurses' Association (CNA) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies within the Pre-Op/PACU unit. There are currently seven (7) Regular, Full-time vacancies, and one (1) intermittent vacancy within Ventura County Medical Center and/or Santa Paula Hospital.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OPENING DATE: September 23, 2025

CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time.Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Uses the full scope of the Nurse Practice Act to assess, plan, organize, and provide nursing care to assigned patients;
• Conducts preoperative and postoperative assessments of the patients’ medical history, physical exam, vital signs, airway status, consciousness ABCs, pain, fluid/electrolyte balance, and psychological well-being;
• Reorients patients’ post-anesthesia and assesses the patient’s airways, bleeding, pain, signs and symptoms of distress; implements safety measures to prevent falls or injuries; evaluates readiness for discharge or transfer using Aldrete Scoring systems;
• Provides emotional support and education to patients and families regarding surgical procedures, pre-op preparation, post-op recovery, and discharge care;
• Ensures surgical readiness by reviewing medications, arranging diagnostics, obtaining signed consents, and confirming compliance with pre-op protocols;
• Follows prescribed doctors' orders concerning treatments and medications;
• Documents patient treatment and dispensing; makes patient observations; records and reports on all pertinent information, including changes in patient condition and general progress;
• Provides follow-through on judgment within the scope of accepted nursing practice;
• Assists doctors in examination and treatment;
• Provides unit organization and is responsible for completion of all delegated and indicated nursing duties by the end of the assigned shift;
• Assists in training, supervision and evaluation of new and ancillary personnel;
• Maintains current knowledge of nursing care developments and therapeutic measures; attends department in-services and staff development programs;
• May participate in quality assurance/utilization review or other non-direct patient care nursing assignments; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE

Requires six (6) months of recent full-time acute care registered nursing experience in an acute hospital or equivalent setting, or completion of the Ventura County Medical Center competency requirements* as evaluated and approved by the Chief Nursing Executive.

 *These competency requirements are in conformance with the California Board of Registered Nurses nursing requirements.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess and maintain a current, valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California, or Registered Nurse licensure in another state with California licensure pending.
• Must possess a current, valid Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification.
• Must possess and maintain a current, valid Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Must possess and maintain a current, valid Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.
• Must be willing and able to obtain either a Trauma Care after Resuscitation (TCAR) certification within three (3) months, or Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification within six (6) months of hire date.
• Willing and able to take calls after hours and on weekends.
• Successful completion of the Health Care Agency Pharmacology examination within three (3) months of employment is mandatory for assignments within the Health Care Agency.

DESIRED

• Possess a current Trauma Care after Resuscitation (TCAR) certification.
• Possess a current Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of: the theory, techniques, and practices of professional nursing; preoperative and postoperative assessments; evaluation systems like Aldrete Score; medical terminology and hospital routine and equipment; and medicines and narcotics.

Working ability to: plan and organize nursing care; train and supervise non-professional staff; establish and maintain the confidence of patients and staff; maintain confidentiality of patient/client information; work effectively in different healthcare and/or hospital departments or shifts as required; establish and maintain effective interpersonal relations with other staff members, patients, and their families; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by the County of Ventura Human Resources, Health Care Agency in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply on-line, please refer to our website at www.ventura.org/hr. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 677-5184 for application materials. Our address is: County of Ventura, Human Resources – Health Care Agency, 646 County Square Drive, Ventura, CA 93003. 

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

LATERAL TRANSFER OPTION: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - Pass/Fail:  An application evaluation will be conducted to determine whether or not each applicant possesses the required licensure and certification for this recruitment. Those candidates who do will be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post-offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Erika Ayala by e-mail at Erika.Ayala@venturacounty.gov or by telephone at (805) 677-5164.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.