Do you know of any RN's who worked in both O.R. and PACU?

[linda2097]

I am wondering how common it is for an RN to have both OR and PACU experience.

[usnwbama]

I actually just got hired to work for a plastic surgeon. I'm training to circulate in the OR and do recovery. Loving it so far.

[shodobe]

There are a few that go both ways. I work at one facility that one of the PACU nurses actually scrubs or circs when needed, usually one day a week.

[nursinadream]

This type of cross training is common and very useful for smaller ambulatory centers or sattelite campuses. I've done both roles in several facilites. These surgery centers were outpatient so you don't have seriously ill patients that an inpatient PACU would have.

Deb

[fracturenurse]

I worked in the PACU before I went to the OR. It has come in handy, I was on call once and the PACU nurse got a flat tire in the middle of the night. She was late coming in, and I started the recovery. Also, when I worked in the surgery center, I would float back and forth. I do like PACU, but OR is my favorite.

[RetiredTooSoon]

In the hospital I worked at, we had to both OR and RR. We also had to run pre-op clinic.

[ghorjus_hunk]

I do.

i scrub, circulate and do PACU.

sometimes after circulating i do the post-op of the patient if i dont have anything else to do ...

[knapper45]

Not uncommon I believe. We have two nurses in our PACU that were OR nurses that just preferred to take care of awake patients; they like the predominant thinking verses physical labor! :chuckle

[nickola]

Yes, however; I think the hospital has to have the educational resources & proper classes for cross training, as well as adequate & consistent staff to precept/mentor this person b/f they're allowed to fly solo. It should also be something the person WANTS to do, rather than mandated. I think it can be a good thing if done properly.