PCU vs. Medsurg

[Lhorn808]

Hello Everyone, I am trying to join the Navy, and I am a new nurse with no current experience. They informed me I need at least 144 hours in certain specialties. These include: Medsurg, Critical care, NICU, ICU, ED, Peri operative. I just got an interview for a progressive care unit. So my question is can the PCU be considered critical care or medsurg since its kind of in the middle? Working in the PCU would I get the same experience as medsurg? thanks for the help

[gpsrn, MSN, RN]

Most progressive care units are considered med/surg areas. I think it would depend on the hospital. However, overall it would be considered med/surg.

[deewil2786]

PCU is not med-surg it is a step down unit, mostly considering of cardiac patients , but there are other patients with critical illnesses coming from ICU or surgery who require close monitoring or some sort of drip that is admitted to PCU.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

In my experience, PCU is easier than med-surg due to the lower patient ratio. More time to critically think about your patient's needs

[Passion8RN]

I personally have several years PCU experience. Our PCU is considered a critical care area requiring ACLS and (in my hospital) to be a part of the code team when you are Charge RN. PCU will definitely cover you for the Med/Surg requirement and might even cover you for the critical care requirement.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Everywhere I have worked the PCU is part of the critical care team. The patients in PCU would, just a few years ago, be in the ICU. Acuity is much higher than med-surg. Assignments are typically lower in number but require more frequent monitoring, more intense monitoring and more interventions. In PCU/ICU Stepdown, I took patients with insulin drips, cardiac drips, heparin drips, on seizure precautions, cardiac precautions, 24-hours postop CABG, thoracotomies, traumatic brain injury patients, total spines and more. PCU/ICU Stepdown is a difficult, challenging, rewarding specialty....and it is definitely not med-surg. ?