Anyone here work only nights/weekends???

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I just interviewed and was offered a position in the PACU for nights/weekend position at a level 2 trauma center. I am coming from a major trauma center/teaching hospital where I work in the SICU. I am not sure how PACU works other than the few times I got to shadow and when I was a OR nurse in the beginning of my nursing career.Does anyone here work this shift?? What happens if their are no cases, boarders?? The manager said she RARELY ever floats her night staff. Any input is appreciated, good or bad!! The shift is sat/sun/mon nights...THANKS GUYS!! The job seems really great and hopefully a little less stressful than the SICU

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

My last job was 6:00pm to 0630:am every Thursday and Friday night. It was a Level I Trauma center and besides recovering emergency surgery and endoscopy cases I was the PACU station stocker and Pre OP bed prepper. I worked by myself and stayed busy with audits, ordering supplies and some self directed projects. I just loved that shift and if I hadn't moved I would have happily kept it until I retired.

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I work weekends in PACU Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I was completely new to PACU, without any ICU experience mind you, but this is the best job I've had as a nurse. I recover all sorts of cases, including IR (with not a drop of propofol) and endoscopy cases, which other PACU nurses do not do during the week. Sometimes I have up to 9 cases back to back, but most of the time there is enough downtime to stock the bays, make beds, and make post op follow up phone calls. My supervisor also wants me to float around the hospital, and help out other departments when I have down time and absolutely no cases, which happens on occasion. I really like this job, and I want to keep it for as long as I can.

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Thats great!!! I accepted the job, I cant wait to start. Any pointers for a former SICU nurse going into Pacu???

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

You are ideally suited and could have a lot of fun with the intense first 5 minute rush then move on. It was an extra treat to transfer patients to SICU, chat with your buddies, then get back to home base and get the next one.

Knowledge of drips, art lines, vents etc. can make you a good resource if you get those kinds of patients in your PACU. Knowing the surgeons and some of their quirks gives you a heads up.

Brush up on anesthesia drugs and reversal agents since you usually don't work with them much in the SICU.

My resource book is the 6th edition of Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing - A Critical Care Approach ($63)

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Specializes in Post-Anesthesia Care.

Hi Sometimes you have to move them out quickly. If they are a MAC case and meet the discharge criteria you can have them out in 30min. That is a transition for a critical care nurse! Your background will bode well for you and your patients. Airway is the first priority in the PACU. Brush up on Phase I and Phase II recovery and criterion for discharge. Review anesthetic agents, emergence delirium, hypothermia, neuromuscular blockade agents, etc. Good luck. I also recommend Drain's book A Critical Care Approach to Perianesthesia Nursing. It is through and comprehensive. Get to know your anesthesia providers and ask questions. Review ASA classes so you are aware the type of patient you are receiving just by the class. ☺️

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