Med/Surg vs PreOp/PACU

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

Hi all, this is another annoying "choose between 2 jobs" thread. I have been a nurse for 4 years. I worked in community health for the first 3 and in Med/Surg for a year. My Med/Surg job gave me 10 weeks of training and my coworkers are fantastic (no bullying/eating of young!). Teamwork is great on the unit and patient ratios are good as I live in CA. The cons are that the commute is 45 mins and I work evenings so I do not get to see my fiance much, as well as the usual Med/Surg stressors we have already heard a lot about. I was recently offered a job in PreOp/PACU 10 mins from my home with much better hours. My questions: If I make the transition into PreOp/PACU will it be hard to return to Med/Surg in the future? 2) Is it disrespectful to quit after a year after 10 weeks orienting? (I have worked a full year since ending orientation but still feel bad). Should I offer to pay back some of the cost of my orientation? I feel guilty as I received great training and continue to receive help from more experienced coworkers.

Any advice is appreciated! (For real, I won't be upset by blunt responses, I want everyone's true opinion!)

[HappytobeARNP, MSN, APRN]

I think that you will need to dig a little deeper into what you really want. Why do you want to work in PACU? Do you really see yourself going back to Med-Surg? It sounds like your current job is going well so is being closer to home and spending more time with your fiance more important than a good work environment? If they could change your hours would you stay? Have you asked? Keep in mind that you may or may not have the same positive work environment or support in PACU. Do you know anyone that works there? Are nurses happy there? If the two jobs had the same pros/cons I would pick the one closer to me and that allows me to spend more time with my loved ones because that's important to me BUT you also have to consider that your patients and treatment will be different.

As long as you didn't sign a contract you're not obligated to stay for any period of time. They provided the training because they wanted you to provide the best care possible which I am assuming you did and therefore fulfilled your commitment. I wouldn't offer to pay anything back because you did your job as expected. In the healthcare field the show must go on and they will find another nurse if you decide to leave. I don't think that they will have a problem filling the position and you won't have an issue finding another Med-Surg position if that's what you really want down the line.

Really consider the pros/cons. This may mean talking to your potential employer or nurses that work there for feedback before making a decision. You will spend more time at work than with your family so make sure it's a choice that you can live with.

Best of luck!

[brownbook]

I love pre-op PACU so much...... I don't know why any nurse lucky enough to get a job there would ever dream of going back. Unless you're an adrenaline junky. I did do 17 years of acute care so I do have a frame of reference.

You didn't mention if it is in an acute care hospital or a free standing ambulatory surgical clinic. PACU in an acute care hospital can be similar to working ICU. If it is an acute care hospital you may need to be on call.

Ambulatory surgical centers are way easier than med/surg, and you do lose your acute care med/surg skills. Maybe you could work PRN at your current job?

You sound like a very good considerate employee. But there are probably hundreds of new grads, or even experienced nurses, who would love to replace you at your current position and hopefully are equally competent. :)

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

Thank you both for your thoughtful responses! I didn't think of working prn at the med/surg job and I think I will do that! Hoping for nice coworkers in the new job as well í ½í¸ŠThanks!!