typical day of a PACU nurse?

It can really vary from PACU same day surgery......a lot of quick minor cases, healthy patients, get them recovered and discharged home quick.

To PACU in a busy trauma hospital, critically ill patients come to you intubated, on many drips, one to one (or two to one) very unstable, transfer to an ICU.

Are you thinking more acute care hospital OR typical day?

One minute you might have a fresh lap chole who rolls into the door talking....and an hour later you have an immediate post-op liver resection who is bleeding and requiring large volumes of fluid, albumin, blood, pressors, and is intubated.

It really depends on the particular PACU.

Very much hospital/facility dependent. Some surgery centers expect their nurses to work PreOp and PACU. I've never worked in a hospital that had that expectation. OR RNs and Pre/PACU RNs are almost always two separate staff.

I work Per Diem in a Level I Trauma Hospital's PACU so we are staffed 24/7 . I work an off-shift and by the time I get there in the afternoon, most of the cases are coming out. I'd say the beginning of the shift is pretty hectic! I'm managing my pt, and at time calling the doc for orders or waiting for anesthesia to sign my patient out (basically saying they're ok to go home/tx. to the floor), charting, charting and more charting or I'm transferring them. By around 9/10PM things do start to die down but that's the time you never know what you're going to get! Obviously after this time, the cases are unscheduled emergencies, usually a stabbing or shooting... I've also had nights where it's 9/10PM and I'm sitting around doing nothing for the rest of the night (rare).

I like it!