Need help choosing the right unit to work!!!

LR59 · Jun 18, 2011

All nursing can be stressful If you are looking for something to start with no Pacu or OR both are high stress need extra training LTC MD Office Insurance work My advice start with Med/Surg( I know typical advice) but believe me get some experience then you will know what to do GOOD LUCK!

Sun0408, ASN, RN · Jun 18, 2011

I don't think there is such a place as slow-paced in the hospital LOL not as a bedside nurse anyways.. I worked med/surg for a year then switched to ICU.. While it is a high stress area; I love it. It is very different from floor nursing, which comes with its own set of stress. Nursing is stressful, I don't think you will find an area in the hospital that is not..

Good Luck..So many areas to "try out" until you find you match :)

Genista, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2011

I would prefer a less stressful area too. However, all acute care is (in my experience) fast paced and stressful...the "floors" anyway. In my state of California, certain units carry lower nurse patient ratios...look into those if they interest you (specialty units like tele). On the flip side, these units have less ratios because patients are on drips, unstable, etc. My best advice for you is to get your foot in the door anywhere and not worry about a perfect fit. I started in med/surg. It isn't my dream job, but I have been able to float to other units and get a taste of other areas. You get your skills down, get experience and then you can move on if it's not a good fit. Good luck in your search! :up:

FLArn · Jun 18, 2011

Hospice is generally slower pace although it can get hectic if you have several patients with uncontrolled symptoms at the same time. However, you most likely will not get the experience of "high tech" interventions. We do insert foleys, do IV therapy (generally for pain management), occasionally some tube feedings, wound care. You will also become VERY adept at assessing patients without benefit of "high tech" machines, just a thermometer, stethoscope, "old fashioned BP cuff" and very rarely a pulse oximeter.

It can be very rewarding practice but is not a good fit for everyone. Good luck in whatever path you choose.

ICUnurse1985 · Jun 18, 2011

Congratulations on graduating and on your new career in nursing! Now about a low stress, slow-paced environment in a hospital? WOW! I just don't know of one. First of all most new jobs in any new profession are stressful, and there is alot at stake in healthcare. A better approach might be, what are you passionate about? When you were in nursing school, what were your best areas? You will be able to get through the stressful transition of a new position much better if you are working in an area that is rewarding to you. Second, find a a unit that has a good orientation process. Third, a good manager is essential. We all had to "pay our dues" when we started. If you love your profession, it is worth all the challenges and struggles. It is normal to be uneasy. I was TERRIFIED. I will never forget my first day on a Med-Surg unit. It took all of my willpower not to go running out the door. Every day got better. Eventually, I became the preceptor, the resource person, and sometimes the charge nurse. I ended up in ICU which I never even dared to dream of, in my most wildest dreams. You never know where nursing will take you, it really is an adventure. I hope you can find a rewarding position.

4_Sq · Jun 18, 2011

:twocents:I agree that you are unlikely to find a low stress area in nursing, however, you can easily reduce your stress by advance preparation & study.

You need a good support system, network inside of work & out, and outlets for stress reduction exercise, rest.....

The OR is a great place for team work, & learning support. It is a place where you feel a sense of accomplishment as your work is involving a number of fairly predictable steps from start to finish.

The resources you need are readily available & the one to one nursing is very satisfying.

If you enjoy the technical side of things, and a fun area to work, the OR may be the place for you..

Good luck

formovies4 · Jun 18, 2011

dear lr59, sun0408, kona2, flarn, icunurse1985, and boxrluvr,

thanks a lot for all of your replies. i really appreciate it. i will definitely consider these things when i am out there in the real world. btw, anybody has any information about pacu?

Perpetual Student · Jun 18, 2011

PACU is an awesome place to work. It can be quite stressful and challenging at times, just like most nursing jobs. It is fast paced, with you typically having 1-2 patients at a time. The pace can cause a bit of stress, particularly when there aren't rooms available for your patients to go and the surgeries yet to come out are very quick. That said, the fact that you actually get to totally turnover your patient load many times per day is very nice. You're not the nurse stuck with "that patient" for your entire shift (and maybe the next one too). Well, sometimes if you're really unlucky you may have an unpleasant patient that's holding for an available room for hours. :lol2:

It is really cool to work in a setting where there are very immediate results to your interventions. You can get a patient that looks horrible in terms of vitals and comfort and then through sound nursing care send a happy, stable patient to the floor. That is fun. Or you can have a patient that came out and seemed to be doing fine who suddenly has a MI or CVA, for which they may be at higher risk due to stopping their regular prophylaxis to have their surgery.

In my PACU we do both inpatients and outpatients, so you can have one patient that had a very minor surgery done like a mass excision, and someone else who had a major one like a bowel resection. In some others it's all inpatient or outpatient. One thing to remember about PACU is that you are treating the patient, not the surgery. A patient who had the most minor surgery can still develop severe complications that require your intervention.

A PACU nurse ensures that the patient is stable and ready for transfer (to the floor, to the outpatient surgery unit, or possibly to home after hours). You need really sound assessment skills to do this job well, which could potentially be developed during a proper orientation. You will need to learn to titrate opiods safely and effectively, which your preceptor will guide you through. You'll become familiar with pressors and antihypertensives.

As far as the stress goes you need to look at what kinds of stressors you can deal with, and what types you can't. Personally, I have a much easier time dealing with a lower number of less stable patients than dealing with a higher number of more stable patients. The juggling of all of the minor issues (esp. the customer service junk) and dealing with lots of people is more stressful for me than the 1-2 patients I can really focus on to fix what's wrong or at least stabilize for transport to the ICU.

You'll need to determine which area of nursing is right for YOU. The reality is that the work-load is pretty comparable in most settings due to cost considerations--management has titrated staffing over the years for there to be just enough people to prevent things from falling apart. Each area has different mixes of stressors. Even LTC can be so overwhelming that you can make a mistake that probably won't kill a patient, but could affect your licensure.

What I most love about PACU nursing is that you get to provide crucial care to patients who will then later walk out the door and get back to their normal lives. I love the problem-solving, the intensity, and the dependence of the patient on getting excellent care. I'd wager that the PACU (and OR for that matter) sees the healthiest patient population overall. I like that because working with almost all chronically ill, severely disabled people was extremely depressing for me.

Turd Ferguson · Jun 18, 2011

As far as a slower paced, non-acute environment- I would definitely suggest looking at outpatient doctor's offices. I worked at an outpatient pediatrician's office for about two years as an aide, the RN's would have 3 patients at most, and the majority of your time was spent obtaining vitals, drawing blood (all fingerstick, no venipunctures), and administering immunizations. Pay was not as competitive as hospitals, but you had set hours and only worked 4 days per week. So bottom line- lower stress, lower pay, same benefits, set hours, and great opportunities to slow down and talk with patients/families.

formovies4 · Jun 18, 2011

Thanks a lot for your detailed advise Perpetual Student, and Turd Ferguson!

EmergencyRNBSN · Sep 11, 2011

All I comprehended was you want low stress and then said you were thinking about PACU or triage (which is ER). What exactly do you consider to be stressful if those are low stress? Haha

I think you are right in asking the question of where you would fit in the best, that is the most important aspect of whether or not you stay in this profession.

The most stressful job in the world though can be fixed with the right charge, the right docs and the right co workers.

Good luck!