BarbRN62

I work in a Level 1 trauma center PACU. It has been my experience, that nurses with ICU experience have a smoother transition to PACU than those without critical care backgrounds. The autonomy and independence you have in the ICU is much like the PACU. Each nurse is different though. I did cardiac in prior years. Don't lose those skills/knowledge. Be a resource person for others. (Go back work an occasional shift if you can.) Get a CPAN review book and educate yourself as you move along. The "adrenaline" rush from ICU maybe missed at first. Look at ASPAN's website and check it out. There is a wealth of information. CAPA/CPAN Certification is a feather in your cap. Good Luck!

I need some input. I feel patient safety might be at risk. I work in a mid sized level I trauma center PACU. Our regular weekday night nurse has moved on to another position. Weekends are covered by RN day staff with one RN on call. Weekend nights has two RNs on call. Management has decided to staff weekday nights with one call nurse with variable plans for backup. 1# if any ICU's have an empty bed use it and an ICU nurse can be your back up to recover a general floor patient or step-down patient. (random nurse not staying in room) 2# our emergency STAT nurse if available. (I can't get them to call me back when paged during a weekday...they are so busy) 3# OR supervisor or staff nurse (if available) We try to just run one room at night if possible. But poor judgment and alcohol happen. Sometimes two rooms run at night. If they go to the general floor or step-down, on call staff may have two patients.....phase one at the same time! Patients going to or returning to an ICU are to go direct to ICU vented and non vented. This is a new thing and wonderful as long as an ICU bed/nurse is available. If not, it is a PACU patient (on call nurse coming in ) until a bed or nurse is available. For years prior to recent staff changes, PACU had a nurse staffing at night. On call nurses were utilized still to be the second nurse. What has changed that makes it safe for just one PACU nurse at night ? Have any other institutions gone this route with night time PACU staffing? Thanks for your input.

Midwest speaking. New w/o experience $22.00/hr. Those with years of experience and have stayed in the PACU $36.00 or more.