PACU Nurse (Recovery Room)

Mercy Ships is an international charity that brings hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor through state-of-the-art hospital ships. Since 1978, our volunteer crew—made up of medical professionals and skilled workers from over 60 nations—has delivered free surgeries and medical care to over 2.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming lives one patient and one port at a time. Join our global team of over 3,000 volunteers and help us change lives daily.

About this role

The PACU Nurse provides total patient care for inpatient surgical patients, both adult and pediatric. Specialties include maxillofacial, reconstructive plastics, general, ENT, ophthalmic, obstetric fistula repair and orthopedic surgery.

What you will contribute

• Assess, plan, implement and document safe, monitored, direct nursing care for post-operative patients prior to transfer to the ward

• Maintain hemodynamic, respiratory and neurological stability

• Manage safe post-operative airways in patients

• Assess and manage patient pain

• Ensure patient safety and maintain high standard of nursing care

• Assist in local anesthetic regional blocks pre-operatively

For This Role, You Will Need

• Current, active license as a Registered Nurse (or International Equivalent)

• Minimum 2 years’ experience following licensure, within a Post Anesthesia Care Unit nursing position preferred

• Recent PACU experience of at least two years full time or three years part time in the past 5 years, and at the point of application, can show working in a PACU setting within the past 12 months

• Current Basic Life Support certification (Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support are optional)

• Physical Assessment Skills and familiarity with noninvasive monitoring, ECG

• Fluency in English

• Flexibility and sensitivity to language and cultural diversity

The experience of a lifetime is calling.

More than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations serve with Mercy Ships each year.

At Mercy Ships, we are proud to be recognized around the world for the life-changing surgeries and training we deliver. We could not achieve this without our dedicated community of talented volunteers.

Imagine finishing your shift and stepping onto deck as the sun sets—knowing that today you’ve helped transform the lives of those who need it most. Apply now to start a journey that will reshape the lives of those you serve — and your own.