PACU LPN?

[Varghy]

Hey! I have an opportunity to accept a LPN position on a PACU floor. Wondering if any LPNs have some insight on what type of work I would be doing, pros and cons. Thanks!!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

PACU is post anesthesia care unit. Generally this is a unit for experienced critical care RNs. The few LPN that work PACU

are essentially tech's as they can't manage critical drips or do IVPush

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

PACU is an RN only position in my area. What does the job description say?

[brownbook]

Where I work, out patient ambulatory surgery, we have several LVN's working PACU.

I could guess what a LVN might do in an acute care PACU setting? Or I could let you know what the LVN's do where I'm employed. What type of setting, PACU, hospital, will you be working in?

[Varghy]

Job description said "follows plan of caress delegated based on policy and scope of practice" that seems so vague. The medical surgical floor that I came from utilized LPNs a ton! The only thing left I didn't do were assessments and IV push meds. So I'm concerned if I won't be utilized as much in a PACU setting

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Job description said "follows plan of caress delegated based on policy and scope of practice" that seems so vague. The medical surgical floor that I came from utilized LPNs a ton! The only thing left I didn't do were assessments and IV push meds. So I'm concerned if I won't be utilized as much in a PACU setting

Likely not as you can't assess post op, can't manage the critical drips usually , can't push IV narcotics, can't initiate discharge teaching. I'm guessing tech role?

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Sounds like lots of vitals taking to me...

Job description said "follows plan of caress delegated based on policy and scope of practice" that seems so vague. The medical surgical floor that I came from utilized LPNs a ton! The only thing left I didn't do were assessments and IV push meds. So I'm concerned if I won't be utilized as much in a PACU setting

[brownbook]

There was a post several months ago from a CNA tech working in an acute care hospital PACU. He had been an EMT, could start IV's, draw blood, etc.

Where I work the RN listens in as anesthesia gives the post surgery report, the RN signs off, and for a stable patient the LVN's then takes over the patient's care. These are s/p cataracts, GI, or other minor procedures who most likely won't need IV push meds.

The LVN's d/c IV's and can do discharge teaching.

PACU is a fun place to work.

[HazelLPN, LPN]

PACU is post anesthesia care unit. Generally this is a unit for experienced critical care RNs. The few LPN that work PACU

are essentially tech's as they can't manage critical drips or do IVPush

It's very important to realize that LPN scope of practice varies from state to state and facility to facility. There are states where the scope of practice is very similar to that of an RN and those where the scope is much more restricted. Although LPNs may not be able to do these function in your state and facility most certainly does not mean that it is true for all states.

I worked in critical care for many years (retired in 2009) and I titrated my own drips, did my own pushes, drew my own gasses, etc. LPNs were limited in that we didn't take new admissions (admission assessment outside of scope), didn't function as charge nurse or patients primary nurse or carry the code beeper, couldn't train to run the ECMO pump, and had to check blood and certain IVP meds with the charge nurse. There are still LPNs who work in the hospital were I retired from and the NICU was hiring an LPN position recently. However, most of the LPNs in that hospital are veteran nurses and when an LPN retires or leaves, the position is filled with an RN.

Even if an LPN can not push their own meds or titrate the drips, they could still function in the PACU well beyond what an unlicensed tech could do as not all PACU patients require critical care. In my experience most of the really sick patients who would require critical care drugs came directly to us from the OR, by passing the PACU. As I worked in a pediatric hospital, we did a LOT of T&As...and aside from the occasional bleeder....they are pretty routine.

My advise to the OP, call the nurse manager of the PACU and ask her directly how LPNs are used. With your med/surg experience, I think this could be a good fit for someone with your background if they are going to use your skill set appropriately as a nurse vs as an unlicensed tech.

Best to you,

Mrs H.

[Bumex, DNP, NP]

I would also venture a guess that as an LPN in the PACU, you would be utilized as a tech. The PACU is meant for assessment, critical care, and many medications are IV push. I feel like I would be really disappointed if my skills were not being utilized properly, which is what I feel may happen to you eventually.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Thread has been moved to the PACU forum for more responses.

[nursel56]

Job description said "follows plan of caress delegated based on policy and scope of practice" that seems so vague. The medical surgical floor that I came from utilized LPNs a ton! The only thing left I didn't do were assessments and IV push meds. So I'm concerned if I won't be utilized as much in a PACU setting

That job description is pretty standard for many jobs so it will be difficult to decipher the specifics based on that alone. Since you said you had the "opportunity to accept" the job, I gather they've offered you that job. I think it would be unusual for them to expect you to make a decision without any dialogue about how your role fits in the overall team and how your day will be structured, etc.

Since the job description mentions scope-of-practice specifically, I would want to be thoroughly familiar with that while considering your options.

Best wishes!