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I’m writing this “Day in the Life” post a little differently because it includes not just my work as a PACU nurse, but also my life as a mom to a 2-year-old in Los Angeles.
I’ve been a PACU nurse since 2018 and honestly have no plans to move into another nursing specialty anytime soon. I really love where I work.
I work part time now after switching from per diem. The main reason wasn’t burnout or wanting to work less. It was actually to save money on health insurance premiums.
Read: Is Per Diem Nursing for You?
With this benefitted part time position I’m only required to work two 10-hour shifts per week.
My scheduled days are Monday and Friday. Not exactly my choice. It was simply the only opening available when I was transitioning from per diem to part time. No complaints though.
I also pick up one extra shift every week, usually Tuesday or Thursday, because let’s be honest… I wouldn’t be able to afford life in Los Angeles working only 20 hours a week.
Because I no longer work in a primarily same-day surgery center, my PACU is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
That means every 6 weeks, I have to work:
- One weekend shift (Usually a Sunday)
- Two call shifts
- Holiday coverage if needed
Overall, my schedule feels very manageable with a toddler.
I get to spend most weekends with my family and still have two weekdays mostly to myself while my son is at daycare.
Even the call requirement isn’t that bad.
I know most nurses hate taking call, but I actually think it’s kind of a blessing. Even if you don’t get called in, you still get paid. And if you do get called in… you get paid a lot of money!
It’s definitely better than working every other weekend like I did back when I worked Med Surg, Stepdown, and ICU and only be getting $2-3/hr differential.
Part Time PACU RN Work Day Routine
7:00 AM — Wake Up
My shift starts at 10:00 AM, so my alarm goes off at 7:00.
Is it just me, or does anyone else wake up exactly five minutes before their alarm every single day?
I quietly get out of bed so I don’t wake my toddler, who still sleeps in our bed.
My morning routine is pretty simple:
- Boil water for instant coffee
- Drink water before coffee
- Put on my refrigerated eye mask
- Make breakfast for my son
- Sit and enjoy my coffee
While drinking coffee, I usually wear my red light cap for 10–20 minutes.
Apparently it’s supposed to help grow hair. Whether it’s working or not is still up for debate.
Also, I don’t eat breakfast. On weekdays I usually fast for about 16–17 hours.
At around 8:00 AM, I wake up my son and get him started on breakfast.
Thankfully at 2½ years old, he can mostly feed himself now.
While he’s eating, I:
- Pack my lunch
- Pack his daycare meals
- Get dressed for work
- Gather all the random toddler items required to leave the house
8:50 AM — Out the Door
We’re usually out the door by 8:50.
It takes about 10 minutes to get to daycare.
I drop him off, hang out for a few minutes, then head to work around 9:20.
One of the biggest quality-of-life improvements I’ve made in the last year was transferring to a closer work location.
I used to spend ridiculous amounts of time sitting in Los Angeles traffic just to get to work.
Now my commute is so easy that I almost don’t think about it anymore.
The stress of fighting traffic before and after work has basically disappeared from my life.
And honestly, that’s priceless.
I arrive at work about 10 minutes before my shift starts.
10:00 AM — Arriving at Work
Like most nurses I know, I’d generally rather be off than at work.
But once I actually get there, I’m usually glad I came.
I get to:
- Feel productive
- Work with coworkers I genuinely enjoy
- Take care of mostly pleasant patients
- Use skills I’ve spent years developing
As soon as I see my favorite coworkers, I know the day will probably be more fun than stressful.
First thing I do is check the assignment board to see whether I’m in Pre Op or PACU.
Most days I’m in PACU.
A lot of mornings I’m assigned to relieve other nurses for breaks until I receive my own patients.
Read: Day in the Life of a PACU Nurse in an Outpatient Surgery Center (Pre-Op & Recovery Room)
What I Actually Do as a PACU Nurse
The most common things I do include:
Pain Management
Usually administering:
- Fentanyl
- Dilaudid
- Other post-operative pain medications
Nausea Prevention
Helping patients avoid becoming nauseated after anesthesia.
Orthopedic Recovery
Preparing hip and knee replacement patients for physical therapy.
Bariatric Recovery
Getting bariatric patients up and walking to help reduce gas pain after laparoscopic surgery.
Family Communication
Calling family members and responsible parties regarding medications, transportation, and discharge plans.
Discharge Teaching
Reviewing instructions, medications, and follow-up care.
Transfer of Care
Giving report to floor nurses when patients are staying overnight or being admitted.
Take a Break: We actually get it here in PACU.
Around noon, my charge nurse usually offers me my first 15-minute break.
Sometimes I take it.
Sometimes I don’t.
On days when I’m feeling productive, I skip it and take a longer lunch later instead.
Lunch is usually around 2:00–3:00 PM for about 30 mins or 45 if I skipped my first break.
I get another 15 min break around 6:00 PM.
Whew… 10-Hour Shifts Feel Long for this elder millenial PACU Nurse…
Some days fly by.
Some days feel like they last approximately 47 hours.
Either way, I don’t mind.
Most of my patients spend about 2–2½ hours recovering before I wheel them out to their car.
I enjoy steady busy days where the clock suddenly says 8 PM before I know it.
But I also don’t mind the occasional slow day where its takes hours before we get a patient.
To be honest, I’d never go back to working 8-hour shifts.
They’re too short.
I’d have to work an extra day every week just to get the same hours.
I think I could still tolerate 12-hour shifts, but now that I’m in my early 40s, they’re definitely starting to feel longer than they used to.
8:30 PM — Clock Out
I say goodbye to my coworkers and head home.
Every single day I’m thankful that my commute is easy.
In my previous position, the drive home could easily take 1½ hours.
That’s Los Angeles traffic for you.
PACU Nurse Mode: OFF, Mom Mode: ON
I get home around 9:00 PM.
The first thing I do is run to change clothes.
Otherwise my toddler will sprint toward me and hug me while I’m still wearing hospital scrubs.
While my partner gets dinner ready, I spend a few minutes decompressing on my phone before beginning the nightly battle of convincing a toddler to take a bath.
Around 9:30 PM, my partner and I eat dinner.
My son already ate at 8 PM, so he’s usually busy playing or watching TV while we eat.
At 10:00 PM, I brush my teeth, wash my face, and put on pajamas.
By 10:05 PM, my son and I are in bed.
Thankfully he usually falls asleep pretty quickly these days.
And honestly?
Most nights I do too.
Off Duty PACU RN Mom Routine
One of the biggest perks of working part time is having weekdays off.
After speech therapy and daycare drop-off, I usually spend my day doing some combination of:
- Grocery shopping then meal prep if I have time
- Running errands
- Doctor appointments
- Browse/shop at Goodwill or Salvation Army
- Trying a new coffee shop
- Trying out cafe’s/coffee shops I have saved on my Insta/Reddit. I love drinking mocha or matcha and croissants lol.
- Try to get in a 40 min work out.
- Cleaning the house
- Paying bills
- Checking investment accounts
- Writing for this blog
Although let’s be honest… I barely have time to write nowadays.
5:15 PM — Daycare Pickup
I pick up my son around 5:15 PM.
Most days we stop at a nearby park so he can run around for an hour before heading home.
Since daylight lasts longer now, I often go for a one-hour walk around the neighborhood after we get home.
I try to cook dinner when I’m not working.
At around 8 PM we sit down for dinner as a family.
Sometimes my son eats what I cooked.
Most of the time?
Chicken nuggets win.
Off-Duty PACU Nurse Mom: Weekend, Here I Come!
On weekends I’m usually up by 7:00 AM, maybe 8:00 if I’m feeling wild.
While everyone is still sleeping, I start a load of laundry.
Sometimes I break my fast early and make my son:
- Waffles
- Pancakes
- French toast
He loves helping in the kitchen.
By helping, I mean cracking eggs, stirring batter, and creating a level of mess that shouldn’t be scientifically possible.
After breakfast we usually walk to the park.
It’s about a 20-minute walk from our house.
Sometimes we stop at Bristol Farms on the way home for lunch.
After lunch, my son naps around 1 PM.
And if I’m being honest, I frequently end up accidentally napping too.
Beach Days and Family Time
In the afternoons we often:
- Go to the beach
- Visit a playground
- Explore a new park
- Have a picnic
- Cook something nice at home
We live only about 2 miles from the beach, so we try to take advantage of that.
Even though Los Angeles is incredibly expensive, there are so many free things to do:
- Parks
- Beaches
- Playgrounds
- Hiking trails
- Museums
- Splash pads
You don’t actually need to spend a fortune to have fun with a toddler.
Lately, my favorite activity has been finding a nice park and having a picnic.
The vibes are excellent.
And it’s a lot cheaper than eating at a restaurant.
Every now and then we also do mini staycations using my collected credit card points to stay at places like Terranea or San Diego hotels for almost free.
Credit Card Affiliate:
Finding Work-Life Balance as a Part Time PACU Nurse and Mom
When I first decided to work less and earn less, I honestly felt a little lost.
For a long time, making good money as a nurse had become part of my identity.
But becoming a mom changed my definition of success.
These days I’m much more intentional with my time.
I’ve cut back on some lifestyle creep so I can comfortably live on a lower income while still saving for the future.
Read: Lifestyle Downgrades I’m Making as a 40 Year Old Per Diem PACU Nurse
Even though I’m making less than before, I have something I value more:
Time with my family.
For this season of life, that’s worth far more than an extra shift.
