Endoscopy position taken but asked to interview for PACU....thoughts?

Published Jun 25, 2012

10 Posts

As a new grad i went to cardiac imcu/med-surg floor and have been there 2 years. For about the last 9 months ive been feeling burned out and that it just isnt for me. I returned to school in Oct 2011 and since then my level of stress and burn out has only increased. Some of the factors that make me think floor nursing isn't for me are: scheduling (hired for day/night rotation but until recently usually worked 3- 12 hr 7a-7ps/wk NOT A BIG FAN OF NIGHTS), staffing and ratios (5:1 & 6:1 for days and eves; 6:1 and 7:1 for nites...some consider that good but i dont when taking care of cardiac drips cardio/vas surgicals), too many extra duties (i only get 1 payrate but you want me to be a secretary, mind reader, waitress, janitor, brown noser to families, provide scripted customer service, delve into pt personal lives for + hosptial survey responses, OH AND KEEP EVERYONE ALIVE...REALLY).

Anyway I finally decided I would give another area a shot...which is big for me because I dont like change and the unknown. I analyze and then reanalzye before i make decisions. So I decided to go for a endoscopy/specialty health position that was posted assuming the hours would be better (basically weekdays occasional short Saturdays and rare to no holidays...umm thats my dream job!!). So I call to talk to the manager of the dept today and it's already filled but she looked me up in the system and saw that i currently worked cardiac imcu and suggested her PACU opening. The shifts are 7-3, 9-5, 10-7, 2-1030, every 3rd-5th sat , 1 day/wk oncall. The only problem is i like 12s so i can be at work less days and im a 0.8 shes offering a 0.6 with the possibility of extra hours.

Fellow nurses whats your opinion? Is PACU better than the floor and a less stress? How is it working oncall? What about going to a lower fte with only verbal assurance you can pickup extra hours? Im kind of hesitant to continue pursuing a transfer now that i know my dream job is gone...but i tell myself maybe that wasnt the one for me. I had considered PACU before but thought the scheduling inconsistency and stress level might be just as big a problem for me as the floor is so i never pursued it. I would definitely shadow 1st if I was leaning toward pursuing the transfer but would you first officially interview and shadow before deciding not to pursue the transfer?

Thanks all...your replies are appreciated!