PACU Nursing?

Charity, RN, APRN · Jun 29, 2005

ICU is an excellent starting point for PACU. I am happy to see that your PACU does not accept new grads. Ours has in the past, and they have had more difficult transitions. Of course, I am one of those nurses who thinks that the med-surg floor is the best starting point for ICU nursing unless the new grad has had some sort of summer extern program. (or there is a VERY good internship).

Anyway..learn your meds, learn your airway. PACU is all about airway and pain control. But don't forget the "basics" like patient interaction, positioning and such.

PACU is a very fast paced area. Most nurses who transfer in are surprised at how fast we do everything because of patient turnover. I have patients in and out in 30 minutes sometimes. So I can't be a slow charter. I have to do rapid assessments. Concise reports. And sometimes receive another patient in the meantime! (rarely) We also give lots of pain meds. Over a short period of time. Don't be scared off. They can handle it. As long as you have properly assessed your patient!

More advice: Float to SICU if you can to see surgical interventions. Know your airway. Be comfortable placing oral airways, performing jaw thrusts and giving a little positive pressure ventilation every now and then. Oh, and get used to emesis... :barf01:

I love PACU nursing. Hope you love your MICU job, and will give PACU a shot as well.

C

joey442000 · Jul 5, 2005

Also a new grad interested in PACU myself. I have been hired on to the ICU of the hospital that i work for because they dont hire new grads in the PACU. The internship seemd to be a good one i am to spend about 2-3 months in the Cardiac stepdown before they even let me on the ICU floor. I think however i am more interested in becoming a PACU nurse than staying in the ICU. How long should i wait to make the transition? Also why do most CRNA programs not include PACU as experience in critical care? Thanks for the other info.

Charity, RN, APRN · Jul 6, 2005

most CRNA programs don't include PACU as ICU experience because we don't give the meds that one in an MICU would. In an ICU, a nurse gives drugs and fluids that manipulate fluid status, BP, electrolytes, oxygenation, etc. All this on a regular basis. We do it, but on a sporadic basis. We do more emergency interventions for post op complications, airway management, pain control, hypothermia treatment and such. Someone needs long term pressors or a day on the vent, off to ICU they go!

C

CEN35 · Jul 17, 2005

The programs in our area at one time only accepted ICU, as a pre-req for CRNA school. However, a shortage in CRNA's has changed their pre-req to 1 yr of PACU, ICU or ER experience.

We don't have new grads in our PACU either. However, I came out of school and went to the ER as a new grad, stayed 7 years then came to PACU.

nowplayingEDRN · Jul 18, 2005

I strongly recommend a year of ICU. Even better would be a yr of med-surg and then a yr of ICU/SICU, that way you get a good base under your belt. Joey, it sounds like you have found yourself an excellent intership program and as long as you perservere and do not get discouraged, I think you will find the transition into PACU rewarding. Good luck.

Christie