Registered Nurse – PAR Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Full-time

This role manages the immediate post-operative care of patients emerging from general, regional, or monitored anesthesia care—from airway assessment and hemodynamic stabilization to pain management and prevention of hypothermia or bleeding. You will work in a dedicated  PAR unit adjacent to operating theatres, receiving patients directly from anaesthesia providers and discharging them to surgical wards or day-care units when Aldrete scores meet criteria. The team operates in a high-acuity, fast-paced environment where your clinical judgment directly reduces post-operative complications and improves recovery times.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive patients from anaesthesia providers in the immediate post-operative period, assessing airway patency, respiratory effort, oxygen saturation, and cardiovascular status.
• Monitor vital signs, level of consciousness, pain scores, and surgical site bleeding at frequent intervals using standardized PAR scoring systems (e.g., Aldrete, Modified Aldrete).
• Administer prescribed analgesics, antiemetics, and reversal agents, then reassess pain and nausea to ensure safe discharge from Phase I recovery.
• Manage post-operative airway complications including obstruction, laryngospasm, hypoventilation, and oxygen desaturation using positioning, suction, oral/nasal airways, and oxygen therapy.
• Monitor for and intervene in common post-anesthesia emergencies such as hypotension, hypertension, arrhythmias, and allergic reactions.
• Provide phase-specific discharge instructions to patients and families, including wound care, activity restrictions, and signs of complications to report.
• Document all assessments, interventions, medication administration, and handover communications in the electronic medical record.
• Collaborate with anaesthesiologists, surgeons, and ward nurses to ensure safe transition of care for patients requiring overnight admission.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or equivalent nursing degree from an accredited institution.
• Valid Department of Health (DOH) Abu Dhabi license or eligibility to obtain one.
• Minimum 2 years of current nursing experience in a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU/PAR) or intensive care setting.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications.
• Demonstrated competency in airway management, hemodynamic monitoring, and pain assessment scales.
• Knowledge of Phase I and Phase II recovery protocols, including discharge criteria for ambulatory surgery patients.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills to work effectively with surgical and anaesthesia teams.

What You’ll Gain

• Exposure to a diverse surgical caseload including general surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology, urology, and day-case procedures in a high-volume PAR unit.
• Opportunity to develop advanced post-anesthesia assessment skills and participate in quality improvement initiatives targeting recovery room metrics.
• Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of anaesthesiologists, surgeons, and nurse educators committed to patient safety and professional development.
• Access to ongoing training in emergency airway management, regional anesthesia recovery, and pediatric post-anesthesia care.