Is PACU area for new grads?

arnie1234 · Jan 8, 2010

Hi. I was lucky enough to get a job in an inpatient pacu when I was a new grad. I knew I hated floor nursing, but felt I needed a good depth of experience before branching out into any other specialty. The downside to an ambulatory pacu will be the fast pace, and mostly stable patients. You won't get the intense, critical patients so if something bad happens, you might not be prepared in the outpatient setting. I would recommend trying to get on in an inpatient setting where you will get a broad variety of patients to care for. Ultimately, it's your decision- so do what you feel makes you happy. Good luck.

scoochy · Jan 27, 2010

I cannot imagine being a new grad and working in an ambulatory PACU setting. PACU nursing (whether phase I or II) requires a sound knowledge base, excellent assessment/observation skills, and the ability to think and act quickly. If you are offered the position, I would ask many questions re: education, preceptor, and goals for your orientation. Please attempt to find a med/surg position, as this will lay the ground work for ICU/PACU nursing.

Zookeeper3 · Jan 30, 2010

This is a tough one, ambulatory outpatient pacu's generally have more stable patients, but the general population is multisystem and much sicker than when I dabbled in the area. I did an interventional radiology stint which did in and outpatients and that was just busy crazy.

Well both those experiences required ICU of two years with ACLS and prefered CCRN. The facility where I'm at now requires at least one ICU year.

Everyone's ability to learn is different, but you will have so very much to learn in a brief time. Honestly it would be much safer for your patients and your license if you had a good assessment base and already knew what to do with small, medium and huge changes in status.

When you don't have basic skills down and it takes you three times as long, it's hell in an emergency that you've never seen, didn't catch early and have no idea how to treat until anesthesia or the surgeon gets to you.

Sure it can be done, doesn't make it a wise choice. Consider spending about six volunteer hours trailing a nurse and never leave their side and think if this would be a good fit for you. Years ago (well still now too) nurses never thought new grads should go straight into the ICU and we've got some great ones that I"m loving having at my side. So take all the advice with a grain of salt, but choose carefully!!!!! without the proper orientation, this can be a disaster.

shellabelle · Mar 24, 2010

I started in PACU as a new grad, and did fine, but it is not for everyone. You need to be able to work in a high paced, high stress environment and MUST BE TEACHABLE. It is not a place for people who get stressed easily and do not pick up on things quickly. It is a critical care area in a non-ambulatory hospital. Ambulatory PACUs are not as critical, but still have critical elements such as airway difficulties, potential for ekg changes, and postop bleeding issues. If you do decide to work here, make sure you have a proper orientation. Don't just hang back and watch. Jump in and do not be afraid to ask questions. It is imperative that you understand what you are doing because things can go bad in a very short period of time. Like I said, I did fine, but there was another new grad starting with me that did not fair so well. You might look into shadowing a nurse for a few days to make sure this is a right fit for you. Good luck!