Roll Call

Yo! I'm a RN. PACU is my home. Wake 'em up and ship 'em out! How is everyone?

Hey Andrew! Wlecome to the site! I am just curious what goes on in a PACU? I am a pre-nursing student and so I am not really up on all of the many units... Thanks in advance. :)

Tom,

I also work in an ICU. Where do you work? I see you are a veteran. I work with veterans here.

TNRN4NNOC

PACU is so much fun. It can be fast paced but there are also lulls where I'm sitting around without anything to do.

Mostly it is patients that just had surgery with a general anesthetic that I receive. Airway Airway...Airway...... and more Airway. And pain management. Which goes along with airway and breathing because the narcotics will depress respirations.

We also get Endoscopy patients because they are now getting heavy sedation too.

It's fast paced, like I said. Most patients are in there usually an hour. Sometimes up to 2 hours or more if they are really sick or if there are problems. We work very closely with Anesthesiologists. There's always plenty of people around to help if you have a problem.

It's a big, open unit (like how old Nursing wards used to be in the movies/old pictures... sorta) So everyone can see everything that is going on. If you've got any more questions about it or you're interested in it, PM me.

Thanks for your explanation of what PACU is - I'm a pre-nursing student myself who is just applying for nursing school. I was sort of wondering what it was. I actually do work at a hospital currently in a non clinical support role but have not been to their PACU

I just took my NET exam Friday - got 97 in the math and 94 in the reading - will submit my nursing school app early next week, then the waiting game :-\

Am taking microbiology and an online English 101 this semester - both are co-reqs - all finished now with my pre-reqs. I'm looking forward to the day when I can be actually doing clinicals in the hospital. Not sure where I will end up as a nurse - sort of gravitating toward something relating to surgery/trauma

If you want to learn more about PACU, google "ASPAN"... it's our professonal organization for Peri-operative RNs. They'll have plenty of stuff for you to read.

We have unstable patients at times and things can go wrong, but generally speaking the really sick ones will go straight to ICU after OR.

Just remember, you can always give someone oxygen and you can always breathe for them.

Hey guys awsome to see a forum for males. Was shocked when i first saw it LOL.

If you want to learn more about PACU, google "ASPAN"... it's our professonal organization for Peri-operative RNs. They'll have plenty of stuff for you to read.

We have unstable patients at times and things can go wrong, but generally speaking the really sick ones will go straight to ICU after OR.

Just remember, you can always give someone oxygen and you can always breathe for them.

Been wanting to learn more about peri-operative nursing, and what it involves. Thanks - I will check out ASPAN.

Hi. I work the night shift on a CV-Stepdown unit.

*raises beer in the air* to all the guy nurses out there giving it their 100% day in and day out, this one's for you!

Yes, I am an RN and male

Another one here. Nurse for 23 years and male all my life!

Another one here. Nurse for 23 years and male all my life!

Greetings DavidFR from Ohio USA. I looked at your Bio. What is an english nurse doing in france. I am very interested in nursing practice in other countries. Where did you obtain your nursng education? I hope to establish you as a potential forum pal to discuess nursing if you are willing