New Member
Posts:1  
| 05 Feb 2024 02:02 PM |
|
|
Our PACU nurses do not currently receive any specialty pay, while the OR nurses do at our hospital ($3/hr extra). We are a Phase 1 Recovery and accept all patients that come out of the OR except open heart patients. I am trying to gather data if other PACU RNs receive specialty pay on top of their base pay to work in PACU (a specialized area). We do not accept new grads, all are ACLS, BLS and PALs certified, we can extubate in PACU, take ICU patients, take peds patients. We also discharge patients after 8P when our outpatient (Phase 2) unit closes. On top of this we have only ONE night nurse that works by themselves from midnight-7A on weekdays and 7P-&A on weekends. There rest of the staff pick up call to back these nurses up if needed but the night shift nurses are constantly by themselves taking care of patients in the PACU. Would love to hear if other PACUs are receiving specialty pay and/or if there are always 2 RNs specifically designated for PACU staffed 24/7 in your units. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
New Member
Posts:36
| 06 Feb 2024 06:08 PM |
|
|
Where I am at right now, I do not get specialty pay. However, they do reimburse me when I rectify. The last facility that I was at, did pay specialty pay. It was considered a critical care area (which all PACUs are!).
|
|
|
|
New Member
Posts:1
| 19 Feb 2024 01:42 PM |
|
|
Hi - We do not receive specialty pay, either. It has been a topic of contention with the team, as we recover ICU and IR patients who do receive it. As for the lone night nurses, that is not compliant with ASPAN guidelines of caring for patients. No PACU nurse in any phase of care should be alone. There should always be another RN in Phase I or in Phase II at least a tech that can call for help.
|
|
|
|
New Member
Posts:36
| 27 Feb 2024 09:55 PM |
|
|
I am upset that you are alone recovering patients! Have you tried contacting your integrity line? You may want to contact your board of nursing, state insurance commission. This is not safe.
|
|
|
|
New Member
Posts:2
| 18 Mar 2024 12:52 PM |
|
|
Our PACU nurses do not receive "specialty" pay, I believe the idea is almost every nurse works in some kind of specialty with their own struggles and challenges. We do have a different pay for acute vs non-acute care nurses however with acute care nurse having a higher pay scale. I know there are PACUs who have 1 nurse on nights and weekends with a second nurse on call. The 2nd nurse must arrive prior to the patient being brought to the PACU for phase 1 care. If they meet phase 2 criteria when coming out to the PACU, then there could be 1 nurse and a PCA depending on acuity.
|
|
|
|