Clinical Nurse II - PACU - Sharp Tri-City - 12 Hour Variable Shift - Full Time
- Union position
- Rotating
- BLS
- ACLS
- BSN
How this pay compares
This posting states $61–$70.74 an hour. Open PACU nurse jobs in California post a median of $66.49 an hour, the middle half $59.72–$72.42, across 55 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post. PACU nurses employed in California earn a median of $67.44 an hour (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025) (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
PACU nurses in California: pay by town and employer
The Registered Nurses & LPNs job market: pay, applicant demand and hiring, researched nightly
What California law requires of the employer
- Minimum nurse-to-patient ratios: General acute care hospitals must keep licensed nurse-to-patient ratios by unit, for example 1:2 in critical care and 1:5 in medical-surgical units. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 70217(a) (source: Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 70217(a))
Registered nurse and LPN jobs in our research
- How long these jobs stay listed: Still listed at 7 days 81.0%
- Applicant demand per open job on this site (1.00x is the average job): Index 0.45x · Clicks 134
- How often these jobs state their pay: Jobs stating any pay 54.7% · Stating an hourly rate 33.9%
From every open job we read and every apply click on this site, as of 9 Nov 2026. Every figure for Registered nurse and LPN jobs
About the job
Hours :
Shift Start Time
Variable
Shift End Time
Variable
AWS Hours Requirement
12/36 - 12 Hour Shift
Additional Shift Information
Weekend Requirements
As Needed
On-Call Required
Yes
Hourly Pay Range (Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum)
$61.000 - $70.740 - $80.490
This position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with CNA.
What You Will Do
The Post Anesthesia Care Unit Registered Nurse (PACU RN) at the Clinical Nurse II (CN II) level is a vital part of the PACU team, responsible for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care during the pre & postoperative period. This role requires advanced competencies, specialized certifications, and a strong ability to function autonomously while collaborating with interdisciplinary team members to ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
- Associate's Degree in Nursing with five (5) years of experience as a Registered Nurse in a high-acuity PACU or an ICU, ED or similar critical care setting in lieu of BSN.
- Experienced PACU RN: Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Nurse in a Pre-op/PACU Unit.Or
- Transitional RN Program: Five (5) years of experience as a Registered Nurse in an ICU, ED, or similar critical care setting.
- California Registered Nurse (RN) - CA Board of Registered Nursing -REQUIRED
- AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professional (AHA BLS Healthcare) - American Heart Association -REQUIRED
- ACLS Certification (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - American Heart Association -REQUIRED
- NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) - Various-Employee provides certificate -REQUIRED
Other Qualification Requirements
- Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) or Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN), or equivalent certification. - PREFERRED
Essential Functions
- The position characteristics reflect the most important duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job in a fully competent manner. They should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. The characteristics of the position and standards of performance may be changed by TCMC with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.
Maintains a safe, clean working environment, including unit based safety and infection control requirements.
Patient Care:
Coordinate the interprofessional health care team to deliver safe, efficient, patient-centered, timely and equitable care to surgical patients.
Conduct comprehensive preoperative and postoperative assessments to identify patient-specific needs.
Develop and implement individualized perioperative care plans.
Monitor and evaluate patient responses postoperatively, ensuring swift intervention as needed.
Act as patient advocate and protect patient dignity and confidentiality.
Evaluates effectiveness of care provided by all health care team members, including oneself, and contribution of systems and environment in progressing patients toward desired outcomes.
Provide education to patients and families about medical conditions, medications, and post-operative care.
Advocate for evidence-based practices in PACU care.
Safety and Compliance:
Maintain a safe, clean working environment, adhering to infection control and hospital policies.
Maintain strict adherence to aseptic techniques and infection control protocols.
Comply with hospital and regulatory standards, including The Joint Commission, OSHA, and AORN guidelines.
Adhere to facility policies to ensure safe care.
Identify and report safety concerns; demonstrate willingness to address pervasive systemic issues.
Documentation:
Accurately document perioperative care, patient progress, and any pre or postoperative incidents in the electronic medical record (EMR).
Professional Development and Leadership:
Provide preceptorship and mentorship to New Graduate Nurses, New Hires, and students, fostering their professional development.
Participate in professional development activities, including continuing education, certifications, workshops and quality improvement initiatives.
Serve as a resource and advocate for best practices within the surgical services department.
Function in the charge nurse role as needed.
Emergency Preparedness:
Act decisively in critical situations, such as cardiac arrest, demonstrating advanced clinical skills and composure under pressure.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Competent in all core PACU skills (e.g., airway management pain control hemodynamic monitoring, post-op assessment).
- Strong understanding of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology.
- Demonstrates critical thinking and clinical decision-making in moderately complex patient situations.
- Applies knowledge of anesthesia types, post-operative complications, and emergency protocols.
- Effective verbal and written communication with the surgical team, patients and families.
- Strong interpersonal skills to support a collaborative team environment.
Sharp HealthCare is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability or any other protected class
From Sharp HealthCare's job posting, checked 9 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
All agencies and apps →
Cell StaffHealthcare staffing agency
Places nurses, CNAs, medical assistants, phlebotomists, allied professionals and advanced practice providers on travel and local assignments.
Places: Nurses, CNAs & PCTs, Medical assistants, Lab

Alegiant Healthcare StaffingTravel nursing agency
Travel staffing agency placing nurses, pharmacists, imaging, lab, surgical and therapy professionals on contracts nationwide.
Places: Nurses, Therapy & rehab, Pharmacy, Imaging
These agencies and apps pay CareJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Hospital and clinic jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay CareJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New registered nurse and LPN jobs in California, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About Sharp HealthCare
Not-for-profit health system in San Diego with five acute-care hospitals, five specialty hospitals, three affiliated medical groups and a health plan.
Based in San Diego, CAHires in CaliforniaPay on its listings: 99.3% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
More open jobs at Sharp HealthCare
- Clinical RN - Sharp Chula Vista - Emergency Department - FT - Variable - May be eligible for 5k in relocation assistance$64.210–$72.970/hr
- Admissions Counselor - Admin - Copley Drive - Day - Full Time$25.810–$28.530/hr
- Clinical Nurse-BU - Labor and Delivery - Sharp Mary Birch - Night Shift - Full-time 0.9 FTE
- Clinical Nurse-BU: RN - Labor and Delivery - Sharp Mary Birch - Night Shift - Full-time 0.9 FTE$64.210–$72.970/hr
- Clinical Nurse II - Interventional Radiology - Sharp Tri-City Medical Center - Days - FT$63.000–$73.060/hr
- Clinical Nurse II - Medical Surgical 4P - Sharp Tri-City Medical Center - Night Shift - Part-time (.6)$57.000–$66.110/hr
More registered nurse and LPN jobs
A licensed RN or LPN?
One profile for every employer here. Hospitals, clinics and care companies ask us for people with a specific license, specialty, language or schedule: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
Sharp HealthCare openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from Sharp HealthCare's own careers site, along with similar openings at other hospitals and care employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.