PACU Transfer - Advice

[tarheelrn2000]

I am currently a Med-Surg RN who would like to eventually work in the PACU. No PACU training programs are offered in the area where I live and my current employer requires ICU or previous PACU experience before I could transfer. I want to transfer to an ICU (they will allow me to transfer without exp.) for at least 2 years to gain the necessary exp. but I work for a large teaching facility with several ICUs. Currently MICU, SICU, and CTICU have open positions. If there are any PACU nurses with ICU exp. which ICU do you think would give me the most valuable / relevant exp. for a smooth transition to PACU (or does it matter)? Thanks.

[RN34TX]

I am currently a Med-Surg RN who would like to eventually work in the PACU. No PACU training programs are offered in the area where I live and my current employer requires ICU or previous PACU experience before I could transfer. I want to transfer to an ICU (they will allow me to transfer without exp.) for at least 2 years to gain the necessary exp. but I work for a large teaching facility with several ICUs. Currently MICU, SICU, and CTICU have open positions. If there are any PACU nurses with ICU exp. which ICU do you think would give me the most valuable / relevant exp. for a smooth transition to PACU (or does it matter)? Thanks.

It depends on the PACU you will eventually be working in, but overall, SICU will provide the smoothest transition. If your PACU has more cardio-thoracic patients that don't go straight over to ICU, then CTICU might be the way to go.

If however (sigh) you happen to be working in one of those PACU's that have become an ICU dumping ground (like mine) then MICU would do you well and it really wouldn't matter which ICU you chose to get experience in. But again, SICU would give you the most experience with the type of patients you'd be getting in PACU.

Basically, a med/surg nurse needs to learn the drips, vents, rhythms, swans, etc, of an ICU nurse in addition to the PACU specific things.