Step into an impactful role as a Registered Nurse in PACU in Columbia, Missouri, where your expertise helps patients recover with safety, dignity, and compassion. In this specialty, you’ll bridge anesthesia and recovery, closely monitoring vital signs, supporting airway and breathing, managing pain and nausea, and guiding patients and families toward confident discharge. This contract begins December 29, 2025, with guaranteed 40 hours per week and competitive weekly pay ranging from $2,035 to $2,077, offering an opportunity to build critical perioperative experience in a leading health system. Beyond the hospital walls, you’ll discover Missouri’s beauty and charm, from the rolling bluffs along the Missouri River to the scenic trails of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the vibrant arts and dining scene in Columbia. If you love patient-centered care and a role that blends clinical excellence with teamwork, this PACU RN opportunity is designed for you.

Columbia offers a welcoming community, a robust healthcare network, and a high quality of life that makes it an ideal base for a travel nursing assignment. You’ll work with experienced perioperative teams, support staff, and surgeons in facilities known for safety, efficiency, and compassionate care. The role also opens the door to working in various locations across the United States, allowing you to broaden your clinical repertoire while maintaining the consistency of a dedicated PACU approach. Expect exposure to diverse surgical services—from general and orthopedic to obstetric and specialty procedures—each delivering opportunities to refine assessment skills, refine pain management strategies, and enhance patient education. Missouri’s cultural offerings, outdoor recreation, and university-town energy create a backdrop where professional growth goes hand in hand with enriching experiences off duty.

Key responsibilities in this role include providing vigilant post-anesthesia care, continuous monitoring of cardiac rhythm, respiration, oxygenation, and hemodynamics, and supporting airway management and ventilator weaning as needed. You will assess and optimize pain control and nausea management, prevent complications through early detection of airway obstruction, hypovolemia, bleeding, or respiratory compromise, and collaborate closely with anesthesia teams, surgeons, nurses, and care coordinators to ensure smooth transitions from PACU to step-down units or discharge. Documentation of assessments and interventions must be accurate and timely, and you will play a key role in patient and family education on post-operative care plans, activity restrictions, wound care, and red flags that require medical attention. This role is designed to deepen expertise across procedures, broaden exposure to recovery pathways, and cultivate leadership skills as you mentor junior staff or travel cohorts. The compensation package is competitive, with weekly pay between $2,035 and $2,077, and a guaranteed 40 hours per week. Benefits include a sign-on bonus, housing assistance to simplify relocation, and meaningful extension opportunities that allow you to stay with a trusted team if you choose to continue. Our program provides comprehensive support, including 24/7 assistance while traveling with the company, credentialing guidance, and streamlined onboarding so you can deliver exceptional care from day one. You’ll have access to clinical resources, ongoing education stipends, and opportunities to pursue specialty certifications in perioperative nursing, pain management, or critical care within the PACU framework.

Our organization is built on empowering staff to advance their careers while fostering a supportive, collaborative environment. We value open communication, mentorship, and the belief that skilled nurses deserve opportunities to grow without sacrificing work-life balance. By pairing healthcare professionals with robust administrative and clinical support, we aim to deliver exceptional patient outcomes while expanding your professional horizon—whether you stay in Missouri, explore new states, or take on longer contracts with enhanced scope. You’ll find a culture that celebrates curiosity, resilience, and teamwork, where your experience is respected, your development is prioritized, and your contributions help shape the future of perioperative care.

If you’re ready to impact recovery, expand your clinical skills, and join a team that places your development at the center of patient care, apply today. This PACU RN position in Columbia, Missouri, invites you to bring your compassion, precision, and enthusiasm to a role designed to elevate your practice and your lifestyle. Embrace the chance to work in a state with natural beauty, a thriving academic community, and a healthcare network that values readiness, resilience, and growth. Start your journey with us on 12/29/2025 and prepare for an engaging, multi-week assignment with extension possibilities that recognize your dedication.

Note: The hours and pay rates listed are estimates and may vary. Final compensation packages and guaranteed hours will be confirmed during the hiring process.

Privacy & Consent
By applying, you agree to TLC Nursing’s Privacy Policy and consent to receive job-related text messages; message/data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out.

About TLC Nursing
TLC Nursing is a nationwide travel healthcare staffing agency pairing RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and Allied Health professionals with high-quality travel and local contracts across the U.S.

ShiftShield™ – Traveler Protection
ShiftShield™ protects travelers from preventable facility-driven cancellations and ensures fair compensation for schedule disruptions.

Why Travelers Choose TLC

• Competitive weekly pay
• Fast credentialing
• 24/7 recruiter & clinical support
• Nationwide assignments

Referral Bonus
Earn up to $1,000 per referral — no employment required.

EEO Statement
TLC Nursing is an Equal Opportunity Employer.