Which unit is an overall better to work on...Pre-Op/PACU or SICU??

sungrl01 · Apr 15, 2011

I got to shadow in the Pre-Op area and liked it because some of my OR experience carried over into that. I would be more comfortable in Pre-Op than in the PACU. The SICU and PACU are a WHOLE new ball of wax for me because I have NO experience with that area of nursing...in school I only spent Two days in an SICU and that was it! I use to be a tech on a oncology floor but never all critical care experience. Is the ICU setting good for new nurses to learn?

RNKPCE · Apr 15, 2011

Pre-op/PACU in a ambulatory surgery center(ASC) would be very different from the same in an acute hospital. The patient's are generally healthy or low to moderate risk in ASC. Early on in your career you might be better off in the surgical icu. If you worked at the surgery center for a year or so and lost your job or wanted to leave it might be harder to get back into the acute setting.

I work acute care medical and part time at an ASC. They are worlds apart. I feel challenged every day at the hospital not so much at the ASC. However my long term plan is to retire from the acute care in 10 years but continue to work at the ASC.

Every ASC is different but there is a lot of orthopedics , ENT, eyes, podiatry, some plastics, pain injections, some general surgery and sometimes endo/colonscopy.

sungrl01 · Apr 15, 2011

Oh the Pre-Op/PACU is in the actual hospital setting but it is Ambulatory Surgery...sorry if I am confusing people :)