tdncRN

@ jaqs96- I have been looking into jobs with Aetna. What exactly do you do in case management there? Do you know anything about the other areas such as health coaching or UM? How was the orientation for your position? I have 5.5 years of in hospital experience in various settings. I would love to get out of inpatient care one of these days and do something with prevention and health maintenance instead. I see that Aetna pays well. I have wondered what it is like to work there, just don't know anyone personally who works there to ask! Thanks for any info you could give me:)

My hospital has a position available for a "Cath Lab Recovery RN." I am trying to figure out exactly what this nurse might do... It says they work in holding, with pre- and post- cath patients. I have ICU, OR and PACU experience, so I think I am qualified. I just wonder exactly what they do... If I recall correctly from nursing school, cath patients are usually just sedated right? How long do they typically stay in "cath lab recovery" before they move on to a post-cath unit?

Has anyone ever done cardiac cath lab recovery? I love working in PACU, but my hours are not the greatest. Now there is position posted for Cath Lab Recovery RN that is 8hr days, no call... Just wondering how different this may be from normal post-surgical recovery.

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of experience did all of you have before becoming a school nurse? Did everyone had peds experience under their belt? I have always thought I'd really like to be a school nurse and now for there is actually a position posted through my county website! I have been checking periodically for 5 years... I work in recovery with children, and I am PALS certified, soon to be a PALS instructor I hope! But I have no outpatient or inpatient peds background. I started in ICU, followed by OR. Any words of advice?

I work with a few ED nurses in my PACU. They are great. Its a lot of in and out- getting one in, getting them assessed, pain under control, etc and then shipping them out. I think it probably resembles what you do in the ED to a certain extent. I did hear from one RN I work with that she feels like it is a lot slower in the PACU than ED. You should be fine. I moved from ICU several months back and I'm loving it! I hope you find something you enjoy:)

My guess would be no. CPAN is Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse, and I believe your 1800 clinical hours would need to be from a PACU or perianesthesia setting. I hope you find a spot in a PACU. I just moved from ICU and I love it!

I think having ICU experience would give you a level of confidence you may not have coming from the floor when dealing with post op lines/drips/airways. And it has already been said that most graduate programs require ICU experience for anesthesia school. So I think ICU would be your best route, considering it can lead to both CRNA school and PACU nursing, whereas if you start in PACU you will have to go to ICU for a while before school. I personally think a busy PACU with critical patients is pretty good prep for anesthesia, but I don't run the schools!! Good luck with whatever path you choose! :)

Thanks for all the responses!! I just finished week 2 of orientation and I am loving it so far:) I am learning to be more liberal with the narcotics, I am just so used to having a secure airway while giving large amounts! I have a feeling I'm going to really like it here once I get some good experience and learn my standards very well. I feel as though I have the most hesitation with the easiest patients because they are out of my comfort zone. I think I will get used to the schedule, but would love something earlier or even outpatient one day down the road... Plowboy, why did you leave PACU for ICU?

My background includes ICU and OR nursing. I purchased the Clinical Coach for Perioperative Nursing Care because it wasn't too expensive. I was looking into PeriAnesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach by Drain, but its a little expensive to buy without recommendation...

Hello all!! I have accepted a spot in the Main PACU at my hospital and I start in April:) Does anyone have any reference book recommendations? (Preferably not a Core Curriculum book...)

I was a circulator for 2 years and never once recovered my own patient. Always straight to PACU.

@RN1980- I don't blame you! That job sounds terrific. Wish that I could find one that pays regardless of hours actually worked. We have to use our vacation/sick time if we leave early and want a full paycheck. @ batmik- Thanks for the comments on the schedule. Those were pretty much the pros/cons I was talking about. Glad to know someone actually likes 11a-11p. Those that work it in my ICU aren't really fond of it and that worries me. You all have been very helpful. I'm feeling better about the spot, and I have an interview scheduled next week! Hopefully I can soon call myself a PACU nurse:)

Thanks for the input! It's 3 12h shifts per week, so not every night. And security is decent at my hospital. It is a trauma center, so it should be steady work, but there are others on the same shift and night shift that come in at 7pm. I think PACU would be a great place and I think this might be a good opportunity to get my foot in the door. I just don't want to end up hating the schedule! I guess you never really know until you try it.

I currently work in a busy Surgical ICU and am considering a change to our inpatient PACU. I have read up a lot on peoples opinions working in recovery on this forum and I think I would love it. My question is about various scheduling tracks that PACU nurses work. The job I am looking into is 12hr day/evenings from 11a-11p. Does anyone else work that shift? Love it? Hate it? I can see pros and cons, just wondering what anyone actually working it thinks? Thanks!