mochajchips

Hi all, I'm sorry for the huge wall of text. I have recently started traveling and I have been redirected from applying to many PCU positions and instead encouraged to do med/surg tele. Now I have no issues working in whatever floor they place me because I'm in this for the experience. I would like some help understanding what other people do in different parts of the country. Just a quick background; I have 3 years working in a post surgical cardio-thoracic step down floor. Many of the patient's we took care of were POD# 1-4 CABG/valves/TAVR and straight from PACU thoracotomy and esophagectomy. We could manage drips, patients on cpap/bipap, do moderate sedation etc. It was a moderately acute floor with ratios being between 1:3 and 1:4. I have been told that to work on most PCUs you need to be able to work with vents. Where I used to work most patients that we're not critical enough for ICU went to a specialized intermediate critical care floor. Do I not have enough experience to work on PCU? My question is how often do you see vented patients on your floors? How acute is your patient population and what are your typical responsibilities.

I'm in the same boat with aamy. The hospital I am with is moving to EPIC from paper charting. They wanted to pull their staff nurses who are super users off the floors to act as resources and needed extra staff to help out. They are sending all the travelers to the same classes as their staff. I have never worked with EPIC before. Maybe you will luck out and find a place that is doing the same thing. Best wishes.

I travel with a border collie. Just make sure your housing coordinator knows that you are traveling with a pet so they can place you in the appropriate housing. I'm currently set up in an apartment where the pets can go pretty much anywhere in the complex. I know of some other travelers that were placed in apartments with on site mini pet parks.