Brand New Nurse, California Dreamin'
I moved to California from the Philippines when I was 21 years old. My first nursing job was at a nursing home in Los Angeles.
The pay was low, the benefits were practically nonexistent, and the nurse-to-patient ratio was overwhelming. But I was thrilled to be working, earning my own money, and starting my nursing career in America.
Eventually, I transitioned into hospital nursing, working in med-surg, telemetry, oncology, step-down, and eventually critical care.
My goal back then? Work three 12-hour shifts, pick up another job, and make lots of money. Yay! Lol!
Burnout and Learning the Hard Way
My hospital nursing years taught me a lot clinically, but they were also some of the most difficult years of my career.
I experienced firsthand the anxiety, stress, and burnout that can come with nursing. There were shifts when I felt completely overwhelmed and days when I dreaded going back to work.
Eventually, I realized that being a nurse didn't have to mean being miserable at work.
I still loved being a nurse. I just needed to find the right kind of nursing for me.
And Then I Found PACU Nursing!
In 2018, I started working as a per diem PACU nurse at an ambulatory surgery center in Los Angeles.
I didn't have previous PACU experience, but my critical care background helped me transition into the recovery room.
And honestly? It was one of the best career decisions I've ever made.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could provide quality patient care without constantly feeling overwhelmed.
Since then, I've worked in both outpatient and hospital-based PACU settings. I'm still learning, still asking questions, and still grateful that I found this specialty.
I genuinely enjoy going to work. And after all those years of nursing, that's something I don't take for granted.
So, What Is HENRY Nurse?
I started HENRY Nurse in 2024 as a personal finance blog. HENRY stands for High Earner, Not Rich Yet. Lol!
But somewhere along the way, I realized that what I really enjoyed writing about was PACU nursing.
Today, HENRY Nurse is where I share my experiences, practical clinical insights, career advice, and honest stories about working in PACU.
I'm not here to pretend I know everything. Even after all these years, I'm still the nurse who asks lots of questions!
My hope is that what I've learned can help other nurses who are interested in PACU or are already working in the recovery room.
