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Discussion

From OR to PACU?

I was curious to know if it is more common to move from the ICU to PACU than it is to transfer from the OR to PACU? I am a student nurse and will be doing an externship this summer in the OR/PACU in a large hospital. I wonder what the chances of working PACU are later down the road if I start with the OR. Do many people leave the OR after beginning there, or after having an established career there? I keep hearing from OR nurses that once they are in the OR, they never want to go to a floor or unit! Is this your experience? I appreciate any information that you can share. It's difficult to chose a specialty area for an internship!!! Thanks everyone!

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I think an OR nurse would be a great candidate for on the job training in PACU since they really(really)know about the surgical aspects. The thing they need though is the ability to learn the critical care stuff which they won't have if they were never away from the OR.

most OR managers also have a level of control (or at the very least involvement) with the PACU, and are grateful when people ask to cross train into PACU. I have cross trained and worked PACU as needed at 3 different places and the leadership really appreciates the flexibility. PACU is a nice change of pace from the OR. As far as the critical care knowledge you need, it depends on your facility but you should be able to pick it up fairly quickly. Again I am only drawing from my experience, but most "really sick" patients go straight to ICU and don't stay in PACU.

I didn't really answer your question! I would say the skillsets are more shared between ICU and PACU. OR nursing is a different beast. No reason you can't do it though. You probably will meet more PACU nurses with ICU or Med/Surg experience than with OR. I happen to think all student externships should be in M/S, just to nail the basic skills down. What you will do in the OR will not be the same as the nursing skills you are learning in school, just be prepared for that.

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