[ava'smomRN]

hello, i was just offered an interview for a nurse externship on the PACU. i was wondering what kind of duties would i do as a extern in the PACU. my experince as an extern has always been on the floors, where theres plently to do as far as ADL's, now in the PACU i know there would be a lot of monitoring and med pushing, these are things that are new to me. has anyne worked as an extern in the PACU, i am just trying to get an idea of what i may be doing

[ava'smomRN]

nobody?????

[sharann]

Sorry Miss JKm, I wanted to answer earlier but had been sick as hell for a week and was frankly too pooped to write anything meanigful.
This is a fantanstic oppurtunity for you, very exciting and one I would have killed to get for my externship.
Since you will be a non- licensed person, student status I will give you the best advice I can personally.
While you may find a lack of certain skillsets in PACU(our patients tend to have running IV's and Foleys etc in place already, you will learn ALOT of assessment skills which is invaluable. We do a head to toe pretty much from the moment we set eyes on the patient. Those A,B, C's are the correct order. You will probably be assigned to one nurse to follow for your time but working with more than one is always great(there are slight differences in all of us). If you are seen to be hiding in the corner with your homework or do not appear interested you will suffer in a PACU. PACU nurses tend to be(TEND TO BE) a very tight bunch, extremely qualified, sharp(if I do say so myself). A healthy and successful PACU environment has teamwork and pt safety as priorities.
You just ask what can I do for you, get warm covers for patients, help hook them up to the monitors, put the oxygen on them if allowed. Basically, if you show a true excitement and desire to learn, well, youll find out.
Lucky you if you get it! It's incredibly fast paced and frightening at times, but NEVER EVER boring!

[ava'smomRN]

thanks so much for replying. i hope you didnt feel pressured to answer. i do feel lucky and i am totally excited. i hope yo are feeling better
thanks

[sharann]

It was my pleasure. I didn't feel pressured as much as bad that you were waiting for an answer. When we ask we want to know NOW! I am the same way. I think that the General Discussion board is just more active and gets more readers and postings. Glad to help.

[nellie_nurse812]

I agree, if you have the opportunity to be in a program do it. I love it, its for me, Janel

[ava'smomRN]

guess what???? I got the job!!!! I was offered the position today

[sharann]

Originally Posted by Miss JKm

guess what???? I got the job!!!! I was offered the position today

That's terrific! You must be good. Enjoy it MissJKm

[ava'smomRN]

update!!!

Its been a whole year since I started my externship in the PACU. I was offered a RN position upon graduation and was kept on staff as a CNA while finishing school. I graduate in december and am very excited/nervous about going into the PACU as a new grad. My nurse manager and some of the nurses who precepted me feel as though I would be able to handle the job. I think i would do well also but I just cant imagine working there, our patients can be very sick. We sometimes have to take intubated patients, and patients that need unit beds. Plus, our regular populatation can go bad at anytime.
A few nurses have suggessted that I start out in an ICU setting first. I dont want to give up this excellent oppurtunity that I have, but I dont want to make the wrong decision and risk losing my license.

any advice????

[debthern]

alot of pacu nurses have no icu experience and i know our hospital has a 12 week orientation through the icu's as well as the pacu. I say if you want the job take it.