PACU or Acute/Progressive Trauma Floor as a new grad?

[stephpdx]

I'm graduating this May and I have a few job offers. Both jobs are at the same level 1 trauma center and my end goal is to be in the Medicine ICU. I was wondering if I would gain better experience in the PACU or a acute/progressive trauma floor. Both programs include a 3 month internship that pairs us with a preceptor and additional classes. If you work on one of those floors or have any experience with them, what would you recommend?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

If your goal is ICU, the acute/progressive floor is probably the better bet. In most PACU settings, ICU patients will bypass the PACU and instead go directly to the ICU. Additionally, I find it surprising a PACU is willing to take a new grad- most require experience and many require critical care experience.

[stephpdx]

Thanks for your input! The hospital I’ll be working at regularly hires students into all areas (including ICU - I started applying too late for those positions?)

But the PACU here creates a great learning environment and new grads have consistently done well. We had a high acuity course as well (I’m told that a lot of programs don’t), not that it replaces years of experience.

CVICU is the only one that recovers on their own unit so we would have the pts from the other ICUs as well. I think I would see a lot in the PACU but I worry that I would lose some other skills related to being on a floor.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

You will gain more skills on the progressive unit than you will in PACU. Go broad to narrow- lay your foundation, then specialize after that. Best wishes!