Nwe Grad in PACU? Ever?

lapappey · Jun 14, 2005

Our PACU (large teaching hospital) has a few new grads who worked as PCT's here beforehand. Other than that, most RN's have med/surg if not SICU experience beforehand. If you're really interested in PACU nursing and still in school I would suggest going the route of getting a PCT job. You'll get to do and see a lot.

perlita17 · Jun 15, 2005

Our PACU (large teaching hospital) has a few new grads who worked as PCT's here beforehand. Other than that, most RN's have med/surg if not SICU experience beforehand. If you're really interested in PACU nursing and still in school I would suggest going the route of getting a PCT job. You'll get to do and see a lot.

HI I'M A NEW CNA THAT WOULD LIKE TO WORK IN HOSPITAL SETTING I KNOW THAT THE HOSPITAL WHERE I LIVE CALL CNA PATIENT CARE TECH I SAW ONE POST THAT THE HOSPITAL WHERE I LIVED IS HIRING A PATIENT CARE TECH FOR THE PACU I KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE EXPERIENCE BUT I APPLIED MY QUESTION IS. WHAT ARE THE DUTIES THAT PATIENT CARE TECH DO IN A HOSPITAL SPECIALITY IN A PACU DEPARTMENT OR PEDIATRIC UNIT?

lapappey · Jun 16, 2005

PACU's will probably like acute care experience, which can be a sort of catch-22, since most acute care nursing assistant jobs like acute care experience ... however, it may not be a requirement.

In my PACU, PCA's are responsible for 12-lead EKG's (fairly easy to learn), drawing blood (takes some time to become proficient), attaching patients to monitors (not rocket science), taking out IV's and arterial lines, and doing a variety of other tests. You may be expected to transport patients on a stretcher up to the nursing units, with an RN if they are sicker. Most of this stuff can be picked up on the job, or the hospital in question may have formal training availible.

Best of luck to you.

If you have any more questions feel free to post or send a private message.

As far as a pediatric unit goes I'm not really sure what PCT duties entail. Probably includes blood drawing and kids can be very tricky to stick.

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Jun 16, 2005

PACU's will probably like acute care experience, which can be a sort of catch-22, since most acute care nursing assistant jobs like acute care experience ... however, it may not be a requirement.
In my PACU, PCA's are responsible for 12-lead EKG's (fairly easy to learn), drawing blood (takes some time to become proficient), attaching patients to monitors (not rocket science), taking out IV's and arterial lines, and doing a variety of other tests. You may be expected to transport patients on a stretcher up to the nursing units, with an RN if they are sicker. Most of this stuff can be picked up on the job, or the hospital in question may have formal training availible.
Best of luck to you.
If you have any more questions feel free to post or send a private message.
As far as a pediatric unit goes I'm not really sure what PCT duties entail. Probably includes blood drawing and kids can be very tricky to stick.

On my peds unit, only the nurses / docs stick. We have one tech who worked on an adult floor before, and every once in a while she'll help us out by going and doing a big kid (late teens). She usually doesn't mind because she likes to keep her skills up.

bellarosa · Jun 16, 2005

A friend of mine got a job in a PACU. We just graduated from a BSN program. The program was accelerated so we never worked in a hospital before. The PACU is at MD Anderson in Houston. They will train her. The manager was very enthusiastic about new grads.