RN :)

I too work in Pacu from floor nursing and love it! I do agree that you need nursing experience first though and critical care is a plus but not required. I feel that my organizational skills are helpful and I am easily able to juggle a couple patients especially if I am working in our discharge area without beoming stressed due to my floor nursing experience in which I had 6-10 pts while sometimes even being in charge. While I do wish i had more critical care experience, those nurses that do are great resourses and I am learning more and more each day! I think I will be in the PACU for a long time. It is a much nicer envirnment than where I used to work. Get some experience and go for it!

yes, actually I am boarding a pt right now as our ICU's are all full. Even during the day, pt's wait hours for a bed that was requested. I also find that we get called in for many non-emergent cases on holidays, weekends, nights etc... I still love PACU nursing compared to floor nursing though!

Thanks for the encouraging words... I am ready to learn! :)

In response: I am sure critical care is necessary but with a good orientation and training you learn. How do you think ICU nurses get critical care experience?? By learning with a supportive staff. So yes I agree the PACU requires critical care just like an ICU but an RN is able to learn it there just as one would in a MICU or CICU etc.. I think it depends on the RN too and your skills, interest etc. Anyway, my two friends are doing great and loving it and they are at The Cleveland Clinic. I would assume if they survived The Cleveland Clinic's high level of acuity, it is possible.:)

Hi, Just wanted to mention that I have two friends that went into a busy PACU at a large city hospital with 2 yrs med-surg experience and i am hoping to do so soon too. So ICU experience is probably a plus but not necessary.. :)

Hi! I have an interview for a PACU position at my hospital. I have been a Med-Surg RN since out of RN school rotating days/nights. What are good interview questions to ask the manager about their PACU? Also, do you think I will love the PACU? Most people think so.. Also, what qualities or skills do you think the manager is looking for most? Thank you so much for any tips for me.. Wish me luck!!

Hello, I am a Med-Surg RN for the past couple of years, just recently became certified. I am interested in transfering to another area within my hospital. In fact, I have an interview next week in a completely different specialty. Per HR, we are supposed to tell our management before we interview. Per HR, if we do not tell the manager, he could hold us and not let us transfer. On the other hand, if we tell him that we are interviewing prior to the interview, they can only keep us 30 days per policy if we get hired. The problem is, is that I am fearful that my manager could call the manager I am having the interview with and somehow screw this up for me.. I am in excellent standing and want to follow per policy but am terrified that I will get screwed somehow. What if I don't get hired ? Then I'd really be looking for a job, not to mention be in a super awkward situation. Anyway, HR told me that I don't have to tell my manager who the interview is with. How do I do that??? What would you do? Do I tell him who the interview is with? If not, what do I say? I have heard bad stories of old RN's who had worked on my floor who tried to transfer unsuccessfully. Please respond.. I only have a few days.......

Thank you for the reply. Not sure what our policy is but it does make sense to have one as I will certainly go to another facility if she blocked the transfer which would be a shame because I love working for my hospital. So when did you notify your manager that you applied for a transfer just of of curiousity?? Thanks again!!

Hello! I could really use some advice. I am new to this site and did not know who else to ask.. I have been an RN on a busy Med-Surg floor for almost 2 and a 1/2 years and and ready to move on. I became certified in med-surg in October 2007. I just applied for another position online within my hospital that I am very interested in.. Our career site says that we are to notify our boss that we are requesting a transfer to another position prior to interviewing for that position.. What if i tell my head RN and do not get hired, or will she block me from getting the job?? Do I look bad if i don't tell her and the potential hiring manager could call her anyways?? What should I do?? I really need some advice ASAP as I just applied.... I am currently well liked and a representative for my current floor.. Thanks so much!!