ILBCNU

I have worked med/surg nights for 15 years and am wanting a change. I have a friend who works outpatient PACU at a large area hospital. I told her I was getting tired of working med/surg floor and also tired of nights, but too scared to work med/surg days. She talked to her boss and her boss said she would consider hiring me and I put in my application which she is reviewing. I would love to hear some feedback from PACU nurses who have come from different areas of nursing and if they like working PACU. Is it stressful? Is it harder than working med/surg? Are the anesthesiologists difficult to work with? There is so many changes in computer charting to keep up with and patients continue to be sicker on the floor and I'm hoping for a less stressful area to work in. I also want to work in an area that I can feel I do a better job at and not feel like I'm being pulled in so many different directions at one time, which is what happens on the floor alot.

I am an RN with 15 yrs med/surg experience and recently got my ACLS due to the fact our floor is adding telemetry. I have a friend from nursing school who works outpatient PACU at a large area hospital and has talked to her boss and she is considering hiring me PRN and train me. I always thought ICU or OR or GI experience was required, which is probably what her boss would prefer. I have been at this other hospital for years and have always worked nights, which is getting old. I am afraid that I may not cut it as far as having such little experience in this area. I want a change, but would feel terrible if I get hired and they decide that they should have hired someone with more experience. At least you have worked OR. I would think that would be the best experience to have. Good luck!

I feel your pain! I VERY recently transferred to HH after 14 years of med/surg. I feel so overwhelmed and am just beginning orientation. I have been sitting through a week of Oasis explanation and computer charting instruction, and grasp the information at the time, but the next day when reviewing it seems it has all been erased from my brain! I have been out in the field with my preceptor for about 5 total days observing, and she is basically a walking-talking medical/nursing encyclopedia, and it makes me doubt I will ever be as efficient or knowledgeable at this job as she is. I often wonder if I made the right decision and I'm not even out on my own yet! My husband, who always complained about the fact I worked nights and was gone all night, now says I am putting too much time into this new job by spending home time trying to go over information and learn what I will need to know.

I have applied for HH position, but was told by a former co-worker that she used to work with a nurse that years later, after getting a job with HH, had gotten killed by a patient's family member while doing a home visit. I have often wondered about the safety issues of going into other people's homes and now this has me very scared. Has anyone had any bad experiences with home health visits in which they were afraid for their safety after they had already entered a home?

I interviewed for a HH position within the hospital I have worked at for 10 years on med/surg units. This is in the Kansas City area and they stated I have the choice of hourly or per visit and most start out hourly until they get experienced and then usually switch to per visit. I will keep my same $28.83/hr wage and they offer $.50 per mile and have a small cell phone compensation. I am expected to see 25 pts per week fulltime. I will receive 2-3 mos orientation. They also have a car program that runs between $250-$300/mo., depending on the make of car if the nurse does not want to take the mileage reimbursement. Does this sound okay? Will I make more money later if I do decide to switch to pay per visit? I was not told what the visits pay individually, but was told an admission is considered a 2 pt visit. On average, is hourly or per visit more money? Do you make a fair compensation on gas mileage to go that route, or is the car program with not outside costs to the nurse except the monthly fee charge the best route to go. I have 2 old cars paid for that I could use, but a new car sounds nice!

I have worked in med/surg for 11 years of my entire nursing career. I'm ready for a less stressful area of nursing. My friend did suggest PACU. I also thought of case management. I would really love to work under a plastic surgeon and learn aesthetic types of procedures such as botox and fillers, but no hiring in this area at this time.

I am right there with you! Only I have been doing it for 11 years now and am really tired of it. I want out of floor nursing. AND I do agency work on the side...and it may be better at some places on some nights, but nursing is nursing and I'm in need of a career change!