Peds, PACU, Emerg, OR?

[Sierra_]

I need some advice from my fellow nurses

I am in my last year of my Registered nurse program and I have to submit my request for my preceptorship placement next by the end of March, 2016. Usually the preceptorships turn into jobs here in AB, CA, so I want to pick wisely:bookworm:. First of all I do not like adult medicine at all so I'm not interested in adult med/surg, specialties are more appealing.

1. I love peds and I've had a clinical rotation on a peds medicine unit, so I'm considering requesting that but I am curious if it's hard to different nursing areas in the future after being a peds nurse?

2. I am also interested in PACU as I've heard the staff are usually amazing and the hours are good but I don't know a lot about the skills I could gain on that unit.

3. I'm also considering peds/adult ER but I am a not an A type personality, an I like to be busy but I also like having my own patients, so I don't know if I would fit in or struggle?

4. I would also consider OR, mostly because they are in demand, but is it exciting?, would I lose skills?

I would like to go into an area where I can gain skills, get a job, and something that's transferable as I'm interested in travel nursing in my future!!! I wish I had experience in all these units but unfortunantley I don't, so thank you in advance for whatever information you can offer. I can't wait to hear your advice and experiences!! :)

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

PACU is not the place to gain skills. Most PACU nurses are amazing because we have spent years learning skills in ICU and bring that knowledge already in place.

A lot of what I do is prevent disasters. That takes a keen clinical eye and the chops to intervene without anyone holding your hand. A busy inpatient unit is no place for a new grad.

[T3_RN]

It depends on the skills you are interested in learning. If you want practice on "hard skills", I'd recommend the ER. A lot of IVs, caths and such are given in the ER. I had my preceptorship in the PACU, and I learned a lot about assessments but I didnt put IVs in or anything else. Personally I didn't enjoy OR because I didn't feel it was very hands on.

Good Luck!

[Sierra_]

Okay Mavrick that was not really helpful advice. I gather though that you would have suggested I go into ICU however to gain more skills and experience before going into PACU

Thanks so much T3_RN !! I do want to practice some harder skills, as I had my 3rd year acute clinical in peds meds, so most of the skills I did were PICs, NGs, NJs, and lots of feeds. I have yet to do an IV and Cath insertion:o. I do like hands on and being involved with the patient myself! I will look more into ER and PACU

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

A lot of hospitals won't hire new grads into the PACU, preceptorship or not.

[amb218, BSN, RN]

I think you'd learn the most in the PICU or ED. As someone else stated, new nurses aren't usually hired in the PACU or OR - only VERY experienced nurses. The ED is a unique setting and very different from floor nursing; my preceptorship is in a peds ED and although I really like it, I don't think I would want to start as a new grad there. I think I'd rather start on a floor where I can really spend time going over disease processes and see more of the "big picture" if that makes sense.

[RescueNinjaKy]

Okay Mavrick that was not really helpful advice. I gather though that you would have suggested I go into ICU however to gain more skills and experience before going into PACU

Thanks so much T3_RN !! I do want to practice some harder skills, as I had my 3rd year acute clinical in peds meds, so most of the skills I did were PICs, NGs, NJs, and lots of feeds. I have yet to do an IV and Cath insertion:o. I do like hands on and being involved with the patient myself! I will look more into ER and PACU

That's not very polite. Maverick does not recommend the pacu if you're looking to gain skills knowledge and listed the potential barriers for new grads, such as yourself. So now you know where you shouldn't go and by process of elimination you will get your answer. So really, it was helpful, and I'll help him say you're welcome.