Why are PACU jobs so hard to get? A PACU nurse explains why this specialty is so competitive and what nurses can do to eventually break into PACU.
What exactly is the PASS Score, and how do PACU nurses use it? As a working PACU nurse, I explain the seven scoring categories, how we assess recovery from anesthesia, and why a passing score doesn’t always mean a patient is ready for discharge or transfer.
Read about my adventure as an ambulatory surgery PACU nurse floating to my hospital’s main inpatient PACU, where cases are longer, more complex, and way outside my comfort zone as an ASC nurse. It was quite the shift, and I had lots to learn along the way! First published December 2024.
Starting as a new PACU nurse? Here’s what to expect during your first 90 days in PACU, from learning the workflow and recovering patients after anesthesia to recognizing complications and building confidence. Practical tips and real experiences from a working PACU nurse.
Thinking about working in an ambulatory surgery center or inpatient PACU? I’ve worked in both. Here’s how ASC and inpatient PACU nursing differ in patient acuity, workload, schedule, resources, pay, and overall day to day experience.
Want to become a PACU nurse but don’t have ICU experience? Learn what qualifications, nursing experience, skills, and certifications you really need to work in PACU, plus my personal experience transitioning from ICU to PACU nursing.
Read about my typical workday as a Pre-Op and PACU RN working in a busy ambulatory surgery center. From preparing patients for surgery to managing recovery, discharge instructions, and the constant flow of cases, here’s what my shift in outpatient PACU nursing looks like, as I see it.
Read the actual PACU nurse job interview questions I was asked and how I answered them. From clinical scenarios to questions about my nursing experience, I share what happened during my interview, how I prepared, and what I learned to help you feel confident at your own PACU interview.
After years working in Pre Op and PACU, I’ve picked up a few habits that make my shifts easier and help keep patients safe. From wasting narcotics promptly to checking discharge orders, here are 14 practical PACU nursing tips I’ve learned along the way, with a little humor included.
Learn what a PACU nurse does, daily duties, required skills, salary, schedule, career path, and what it’s really like working in the recovery room.
