Need orientation survival tips

mynika · Jun 26, 2007

I left the ED for PACU 3 years ago and love it. Go to the perianesthesia nursing site http://www.aspan.org/. There is some good info there. Also study the anesthesia drugs. They make the differnece in the care you give your patients now compared to what you did in ICU. The internet is a great resource. Good luck!

BigDog · Jul 26, 2007

The newness doesnt last long,hope you enjoy the change best thing I ever did

kimmersRN · Sep 22, 2007

so, it looks like this post was posted a while back. So tell me, how is it going now?? How did orientation go? Did you survive?? I'd love to know because I'll be starting in the PACU after my maternity leave. Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated!! ~Kimmie

VAC · Sep 22, 2007

I'm almost done :balloons:

It took so long because they had me orient through the whole department... pre-op holding, Adult recovery, special procedures= line insertions, and peds, which was completely new to me.. The first couple days of peds, I wanted to hide behind the desk, but I got the hang of it, and I took PALS also, which helped.

So just today I asked "can I please be off orientation now???" I really do feel comfortable, and I think the rest of what I need to learn will come patient by patient, and by asking questions when I need to.... not from working with a preceptor.

So, next week, I am to have one slot all to myself, as opposed to the usual 2, hopefully, after that I'll be completely on my own. She's giving the extra time because she said a couple of others just off orientation were struggling. I think I can handle it... but if they want to give me an easy week, I'll take it.

I like the department, I'm not sorry I left ICU. I just hope this is the job I'll love until I retire, because being new stresses me out too much.

Good luck to you also, drop a post to let me know how it goes for you.

kimmersRN · Sep 22, 2007

Sounds awesome. I think it's funny how you said you want to stay there until you retire. ...that's exactly what I'm looking for. Good people, good hours, good pay, a place I don't mind coming to in the morning and don't feel like I'm lugging home with me at the end of the day. Thanks for sharing your experience. I'll have to let you know how it goes for me :) ~Kimmie

soapaddictOH · Sep 29, 2007

I left the ED for PACU and I don't like it. It's boring to me.

It isn't much of a challenge for me, maybe not fast paced anough?

I am leaving PACU after 2 years of trying to like it, and going back to the BICU.

simbaRN · Jan 14, 2008

I just left ICU for the PACU after 9 years. At the beginning of the ICU career, I had an orientation from hell that I do not want to repeat, so I'm trying to keep my mouth shut, opinions to myself, and my ears and eyes open.
I'm not sorry I left the ICU. I'm just not really enjoying orientation yet.
I hate being new.
I need encouraging survival tips.
Did I mention I hate being new??

Im kinda in a similiar postion I started PACU about eight weeks ago and I HATE BEING NEW also.. Actually I sit here with stomach pain due to how Im being treated the last couple days, but I figure I stick it out, because I never worked were I could actually say I love my job. I guess just have to get over the bumps.. I wanted to throw ya hug and say stick with it..

VAC · Jan 14, 2008

Im kinda in a similiar postion I started PACU about eight weeks ago and I HATE BEING NEW also.. Actually I sit here with stomach pain due to how Im being treated the last couple days, but I figure I stick it out, because I never worked were I could actually say I love my job. I guess just have to get over the bumps.. I wanted to throw ya hug and say stick with it..

I'm really glad I made the switch. I loved critical care, but don't miss the 24 hour open visitation ICU climate.

There are some days you get slammed in PACU, but it usually doesn't stay crazy for the entire shift. My ICU background makes me feel very confident, but I still ask lots of questions cause I haven't seen it all yet. Friday, they told me I was responsible for hooking up an 'on Q pain ball'. I just said "Uh, this was NOT covered in my orientation!" they laughed and showed me how to do it....easy. I'm still not to comfortable with the ortho drains that you re-infuse into the patients

I was kind of lucky, because the OR holding area was full of ICU burnouts I used to work with. Several RN's I worked with in ICU are now CRNA's or in school, so I felt at home.

There are one or two people who grate on my nerves, but that's going to happen on any job.

Good luck. Hope you;re as happy with the switch as I am

sharann, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2008

VAC, what bothers you about the ortho re-infusion drains? Can I help? Hang in there, PACU is fun once you get past the hazing rituals ha ha(no really, they do that don't they?)

Simba, who is treating you poorly...let me at 'em! Really, is it staff or admin or docs?

Soapaddict, after BICU I don't know how you managed to stay in PACU for so long without losing it!

ThinknBoutTomorrow · Aug 21, 2008

Glad to hear, others with the same issues. I started in PACU three weeks ago, I have been a OR Director, and OR supervisor, and got totally burned out, I'm trying to find a niche where I love my job again. It has been very stressful, even though I have been in the OR environment for years. I am not getting any formal orientation, having to teach myself alot and it is very scarey at times. Some of the senior nurses in this area feel like since I have been a Director I know everything, or should and are not very helpful, my Director now is very passive, and there are no set guidelines for orientation. I'm afraid I have become a burr under her saddle with all my questions, but alot of the basic nursing standards aren't being used either. This is a small hospital in a small community and they tend to do things the way they want, with little acceptance for change even for the better? Sorry this is so lengthy, just getting very frustrated.

mimi55 · Aug 23, 2008

When I first started in PACU I had been an OR nurse (for 12 yr.) Coming from a large OR to a very small one. I would help out in the PACU when I finished my cases. Then slowly I became the PACU nurse because the PACU nurses that were hired didn't stay. No wonder! I didn't realize the risk not to mention the standards that were not being followed until in 1/08 I started working in a large metro inner city hospital PACU. The manager hired me knowing I had no critical care experience I told her the PACU experience was mainly phase II for about 1-1/2 yrs. I do have ACLS we had to have that to work in the OR. MAN I had no idea what I was getting myself into working in a Phase I PACU. Thank goodness I work with a great group of nurses that truely know the meaning of teamwork. They have been so helpful I have been hitting the books studing like I was back in school. (which was many moons ago) It has been both terrifing and stimulating. I was getting pretty burned out. I can't say I love it, yet, give me another 6 mo. One of the nurses told me you don't ever want to get too comfortable thats when mistakes happen you need to keep that edge. Sorry this is so long but I empathize with anyone starting out in PACU without critical care experience first. It has been very stressful for me but I am learning so much. Oh I had maybe two wks. of orientation and have yet to hang out with a Resp. Therapist for a day which is what my manager wanted me to do since I have no vent experience. We are to short staffed I hope I don't get the see one do one orientation with that.