What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a PAT RN?

[Bmcase]

I have had two interviews for a PAT RN position and am looking for some feedback from nurses who do this full-time. Thanks!

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

When you post in the GENERAL nursing section, a lot of nurses are going to see it---not just PAT nurses.

PAT nurses where I work do lots of paperwork, not much else. Very little hands on. If bedside nursing isn't for you, this may be exactly what you'd like.

I am seeking advice from RN's who know what a PAT RN is...thanks!

[Sea.]

Our PAT dept sees 30 patients in person and interviews about 30 on the telephone each day The ones that come in person usually also get labs drawn and occasional EKG.

We have 5 RNs, 5 ARNPs and 2 PCTs. I find it very rewarding. The patients are very anxious and I hope I help with that. The PAT process is to get information entered into system that all staff will use throughout their admission like height, weight, medical history, medications, and to have the patient cleared by anesthesia in advance so only emergency surgeries need last minute anesthesia clearance. We have secretaries that get the documentation from the surgeon's office and put the charts together for the phone interviews. I love my job. After 20 years of working every other weekend, it's a nice change to work M-F.