Registered Nurse – Pre-Admission Testing (PAT)
Schaumburg Surgery Center | Schaumburg, IL
Full-Time | Monday–Friday | No Weekends | No Holidays | No Call
Join Our Team
Are you an experienced RN who enjoys clinical assessment, patient education, organization, and coordinating the details that help ensure a safe and successful surgical experience?
Schaumburg Surgery Center (SSC) is seeking an experienced Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) Registered Nurse to join our growing orthopedic Ambulatory Surgery Center.
This is an excellent opportunity for a nurse who enjoys critical thinking, care coordination, and working independently within a supportive clinical team—while enjoying a predictable Monday–Friday schedule with no weekends, holidays, or call.
About Schaumburg Surgery Center
SSC is an orthopedic-focused Ambulatory Surgery Center specializing in:
- Total joint replacement
- Sports medicine
- Spine surgery
- Hand and upper extremity procedures
- Foot and ankle surgery
- Additional orthopedic procedures
Because our center is dedicated to orthopedics, our PAT team works with a consistent surgical patient population and many of the same types of procedures each week. This allows the PAT RN to develop familiarity with our surgeons, procedures, preoperative requirements, and patient needs.
Our established PAT protocol provides a clear framework for determining which patients meet the center's criteria, which require additional anesthesia review, and when additional medical or specialty evaluation is necessary. Once familiar with our protocols and workflow, the PAT RN is able to establish an organized and consistent daily routine.
Position Summary
Reporting directly to the Director of Nursing, the PAT RN serves as the primary clinical coordinator for patients preparing for surgery.
Our preoperative process is designed to be streamlined from the time a patient is added to the surgical schedule. The PAT RN works closely with physician-office and surgery-center schedulers, anesthesia providers, surgeons, and the clinical team to ensure required documentation, testing, and clearances are obtained before surgery.
In many cases, necessary clearance appointments and forms have already been initiated through the scheduling process. The PAT RN then completes the preoperative assessment, follows outstanding requirements through completion, and coordinates additional review with anesthesia or the surgeon when necessary.
The goal is simple: identify potential concerns early, keep the preoperative process moving, and ensure patients arrive for surgery informed, prepared, and medically appropriate for the ambulatory setting.
What You'll Do
- Conduct comprehensive pre-anesthesia telephone assessments using SSC's established PAT protocols.
- Review medical history, medications, allergies, previous surgeries, and anesthesia history.
- Apply established PAT criteria to identify patients who may require additional medical evaluation or anesthesia review.
- Coordinate and follow up on required medical, cardiac, and specialty clearances.
- Obtain and review laboratory results, EKGs, diagnostic testing, and specialist documentation.
- Prepare completed charts for anesthesia review and accurately document recommendations in the electronic health record.
- Educate patients regarding medication instructions, NPO requirements, arrival expectations, discharge planning, and preparation for surgery.
- Confirm procedure information, surgical site, transportation arrangements, and patient understanding of preoperative instructions.
- Communicate proactively with physician offices, anesthesia providers, schedulers, nursing staff, and leadership regarding patient readiness.
- Monitor schedule changes and new additions to ensure patients are appropriately screened and prepared.
- Identify potential barriers early and follow outstanding items through resolution to help prevent delays and avoidable day-of-surgery cancellations.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential patient documentation.
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives, staff meetings, and ongoing professional development.
A Primary Role With a Supportive Team
While this position serves as the primary PAT RN, you will not be working in isolation.
SSC has additional nurses trained in the PAT process who are available to provide support and coverage when needed. These team members will also participate in orientation and training as you become familiar with our protocols, workflows, surgeons, and orthopedic patient population.
The PAT RN works closely with nursing leadership, anesthesia, surgeons' offices, and scheduling teams, providing the independence to manage the daily PAT workflow while having a multidisciplinary team available for collaboration and clinical support.
What Will Make You Successful
Our ideal PAT RN enjoys taking ownership of their work and appreciates having an established process to follow. You are proactive, organized, and comfortable managing multiple patients at different stages of preoperative readiness.
You also know when something requires escalation and communicate early rather than waiting until the day of surgery.
Required Qualifications
- Current Illinois Registered Nurse license
- Current BLS certification
- Strong nursing assessment and critical-thinking skills
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Patient-focused approach and excellent customer service
- Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities
- Comfortable working with electronic health records and computer-based systems
Preferred Qualifications
- Two or more years of experience in Pre-Admission Testing, PreOp, PACU, Operating Room, or Ambulatory Surgery
- Previous orthopedic experience
- Total joint experience
- Experience coordinating medical, cardiac, and specialty clearances
- Familiarity with EHR systems
- Bilingual skills are a plus
Why You'll Love Working at SSC
Predictable schedule and work-life balance
Monday–Friday with no weekends, no holidays, and no call or on-call responsibilities.
A consistent patient population
As an orthopedic-focused ASC, you'll become familiar with our procedures, surgeons, and common preoperative requirements.
Clear clinical protocols
Our established PAT criteria provide structure and guidance for determining patient eligibility, clearance requirements, and anesthesia review.
A streamlined workflow
PAT works collaboratively with our scheduling teams, physician offices, anesthesia providers, and surgeons to keep patients moving efficiently through the preoperative process.
Independence without isolation
You'll have ownership of the PAT role while still having trained nurses available for support, coverage, and collaboration.
Opportunity to grow with us
SSC continues to expand its orthopedic services, including the growth of our spine program, providing opportunities to learn and develop alongside the center.
What We Offer
- Full-time, Monday–Friday schedule
- No weekends
- No holidays
- No call or on-call responsibilities
- Competitive compensation
- Benefits package
- Supportive clinical leadership
- Trained PAT backup support
- Collaborative, team-oriented environment
- Professional growth and development opportunities
- Specialized orthopedic ASC experience
Reporting & Collaboration
The PAT RN reports directly to the Director of Nursing and works collaboratively with surgeons, anesthesia providers, physician-office and surgery-center schedulers, nursing staff, and administrative leadership.
Professional organization membership and continued professional development are encouraged.
Physical & Work Environment
This position is primarily seated and involves frequent telephone and computer work, with occasional walking throughout the surgery center. The RN must be able to lift and move supplies or equipment as needed.
As with other clinical healthcare positions, employees may have occasional exposure to communicable diseases, blood and body fluids, and other healthcare-related hazards. Appropriate PPE, training, and safety protocols are provided.
Ready for a Change?
If you're an experienced RN looking for a position where you can use your clinical judgment, organizational skills, and patient education experience while enjoying the schedule and work-life balance of an ambulatory surgery center, we'd love to hear from you.
Join Schaumburg Surgery Center and play an important role in making every patient's surgical experience safer and smoother—before they ever arrive for surgery.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $38.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Pre-Admission Testing: 1 year (Required)
License/Certification:
Work Location: In person
