Time to change specialties...

[airwin.rnc]

Hello all-

First, some background. I am considering a PACU internship as a way to change specialties (currently have done L&D for the last 9 years, a couple years telemetry before that) I like L&D but am ready for a change, one of the reasons I went into nursing is the aspect of it being such a versatile career. The internship appeals to me in that I would get proper training to refresh what I've lost with my focus being maternal medicine for so long, plus I've enjoyed the OR aspect of L&D (we do our own C-sections).

Now for my questions (Yeah, I'm requesting a 2 for 1 deal..)

I requested a shadow day to get a real feel for life in the PACU, thought it would save time (for myself and the directors) if I discovered that it would not be a good fit. They were reluctant to schedule it until they had set up an interview. I understand that they don't want to waste time with someone who may not be considered; guess it all depends on your perspective. That being said, if I do not have time to get a shadow day in prior to my interview, would it be considered inappropriate to ask for a description of a typical day in the unit? Or would that be construed as not having enough knowledge of PACU nursing to be accepted (this is a specialty internship set up for experienced RNs.) I have spent a lot of time lurking this forum, but the experiences from hospital to hospital seem to be quite varied. If you were doing the hiring, how would you feel about someone wanting to wait until doing a shadow day to make a decision about accepting the internship?

2nd question (okay, technically the third ) One of the things that appeals to me is the limited time you are with the patient, but for those of you that used to deal with patients more long term and less sedated, do you miss the reward of feedback from patients and/or their families?

Thanks in advance for any input/advice-Love that I have so many brains to pick!

[brownbook]

I would think is was quite appropriate for a nurse to shadow. Is this the same OR hospital you currently work in? I don't know why they are reluctant? Did you want to shadow with pay or were you going to shadow on your own time?

Seems very appropriate to ask what a typical day in PACU entails. It really varies from large trauma hospital PACU, organ transplants, open heart surgeries, etc., to smaller hospitals with "routine" scheduled surgeries and few emergencies or traumas.

Now days, (again depends on the type of surgeries) many cases are done quickly, laparoscopically, minimal sedation, the patient often comes from OR to PACU awake, alert, and oriented.

If the patient is mostly sedated while in PACU, your reward, feedback, comes from co-workers, surgeons, and anesthesiologists, about how the patient, and you, are doing.

[airwin.rnc]

Thanks for your reply, brownbook. I thought it odd, too, that the shadow day would be an issue, perhaps she didn't understand that I was coming in on my own time. I did receive a reply back from another hospital within my system yesterday (there are 4) who was more than welcoming. Could go a long way in influencing (if I get a choice) as to what unit I'd prefer.

Wish me luck, without a doubt whatever is meant to happen, will happen!