RNSOCAL

Can anywone here share any advice.. I've been an OR nurse for 5 + years and I'm about to start a PACU training program. I have no ICU experience... do you think I will be okay? I have my ACLS & PALS. I've been the Code Blue/crash cart resource person in the OR unit and I am very experienced with high aquity, ICU patient population. Any suggestions or ways I can prepare? Thank you.

I was an OR nurse for 5 years, where I scrubbed and circulated. I did many specialties... general, thoracic, cardiac and trauma cases. The patient acuity is much higher and the patients either transfered to the PACU in critical condition vented or transfered straight to ICU. I recently switched over to PACU and I think that you should really get some more experience as an RN before you switch. I think that basic nursing skills, let alone the critical care skills you will need and cardiac/ECG/medication classes you will require are very important. Your experience as a ST will be of no help, its the time you spend giving patient care that will help you. I think you will like the change and the PACU is a great place for an OR nurse... you understand how they've been manipulated, the stages of anesthesia, intubation/extubation and how the lines are placed, and what to do in a code blue. Another reason why I think all OR nurses should be ACLS certified. Best of luck :)

Well speaking from experience, I find it very niave and frustrating that new graduate nurses and/or nursing students are pursuing their advanced degrees with no basic nursing knowledge or experience. I believe that having experience as an RN (ADN or BSN) will better you in having a base line clinical skill level to be able to advance and truly gain the proper education that SHOULD be required for your MSN or NP. I would complete your ADN or BSN program, start working and then go on for your advanced degree ( Which is what I did) . Dont you think that an advance practice nurse should be... advanced, experienced and knowledgeable?

I am a RN with my BSN, PHN and 5 years experience. I make $80k a year doing 3-12 hour shifts a week. It can be done :) by advancing your degree and/or specialty certifications. I keep thinking about going back to school for either my FNP or CRNA.... I feel like when I research the average salary of NP's it is the same as or close to what I already make. I looked into CRNA and they make a very high salary but the lifestyle seems exhausting! Tough choice....I agree though I don't know if I want to take time away from my family and have that stressful lifestyle, yet I want to continue on, challange myself and continue with my education???

I make $43/hr doing 12 hour day shifts. I work in the Operating Room and just accepeted a position in L & D, where my pay rate will remain the same. I have 3.5 years experience as an RN. In addition there is a night shift differential of $7, and weekend diff of $5, and on-call spots. Although Southern California is one of the higher paying states... the cost of living here is very expensive. I've lived here all my life, and thought about moving...but the base salary for an RN is great!! I can't leave it