Need help from experience PACU nurses!

I graduate in DEC '08 . I currently work as a surgical technologist in the OR and have done this job for the last 6 years. My boss of 5 years has recommended me for a job in PACU. The PACU nurse manager says that there would be an intense training for about 6 months,not even then would the throw me to the wolves; but do you think that's enough time for the basics to build my PACU nursing career as a new grad. I have alot of people that I work with that really believe that I can do, I believe I can do it, just don't know if 6 months will be enough time, and I don't want to seem like a failure with my first nursing job. I am up for the challenge though. What do you think?

There are a lot of nurses that say you need ICU experience prior to starting PACU however, I think an intelligent nurse with a strong drive to learn can do it. I did ICU a little over a year and when I came to PACU, there was a big learning curve. Not every patient is critical like they are in ICU so you need to learn which ones are and which ones aren't. Although I have had outpatient surgery patients semi-code so you need to always be on your feet. You will do great. You have access to doctors within a few minutes if you need them and your co-workers are in the same room so they can't run and hide from helping like in ICU and M/S. Be prepared for some high stress for awhile but you will be great! Good luck!

Not every patient is critical like they are in ICU so you need to learn which ones are and which ones aren't.