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Discussion

What to do? Help?

Hello ALL! This is my first post and I really do need help! I'm currently a surgical technologist who is prepping to enter nursing school. I am a mother and wife who REALLY wants to finish nursing. I had to quit due to moving bc my husband was military and well, you know how life gets busy. Well. I want to go back and because I am already working in surgery, I would love to become a pre-op or PACU nurse. My Questions are as follows:

Will it help that I am already in the surgical specialty when it comes to being hired as an RN for Pre-Op or PACU?

Will it increase Pay?

What's the difference between the duties of Pre-op and PACU? I already start IV's and have been certified in phlebotomy as well.

Is it worth it to do LPN to RN or got straight through the ADN program?

Sorry for all the questions, I really do want advice from all the wonderful nurses that I can get. I live in NC and there seems to be a waiting list for going straight to the ADN PROGRAM SO I figured MAYBE doing LPN to RN would work. But if it;s not the best route, I'll do what's best! Thanks to all you wonderful nurses for all you do on a daily basis! Just in case no one told you today that you are appreciated! YOU ARE!

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    All I know of pre-op is from one day in a surgery center while in school. I remember them doing a lot of VS and preop questions, like when was the last time you had anything to eat/drink, are you allergic to any meds, etc. and helping them get into a gown. PACU is more intense since you're recovering and extubating people. In fact, I know of several former SICU nurses at my hospital who transitioned to PACU.

    Doing your LPN first could get you working faster if the wait lists for the ADN programs are very long. Be aware though, that job prospects for LPNs can be limited. In my area anyway, they are mostly hired for LTC and clinics. There was a handful at an LTACH (long-term acute care hospital) that I used to work at, and they were given a deadline to earn their RN by if they wanted to keep their jobs.

    Something to be aware of though, is depending on how busy you are w/ your kids and how financially secure you are, you might not WANT to work a whole lot during the last few semesters of nursing school (say, at the point where you as an LPN would join an ADN program for completion.) If you want to work part-time or not at all at that point, it would be tough to have student loans from a PN program lingering over your head. Just a thought.

    Thanks for the words of appreciation--they mean a lot! :)

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    Thank you so much Here I stand! I appreciate any words of wisdom given!

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