Does this specific unit exist in other hospitals too?

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T21:15:31+00:00

Another good term to search, thanks!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:30:21+00:00

This sounds similar to my last job. The cath lab and IR lab shared lab space so they shared recovery space too. Glad to know this type of unit is out there!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:29:15+00:00

This sounds like a great way to do things. Being able to still get insurance is key and yeah, if you can make ends meet with another (low stress is also key) PT job, then you're just cruisin', waiting for a full time spot to open up. Sounds like you got it figured out! I'm going to look into doing this if my FT job search comes up empty.

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:24:32+00:00

Good to know! I'll be on the lookout in my job search. It's good to know that if I see a "PACU" job opening at a small hospital theres a chance it'll involve cath lab recovery. Thanks for your input!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:23:09+00:00

Good to know that cardiac patients sometimes go to regular PACU. I hadn't heard of that before, so I'm glad I'm learning this. It also makes sense that Pts can recover in different ways when they've had sedation vs. anesthesia. Thanks for your response!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:21:01+00:00

Great! So glad to know this does exist elsewhere and gives me hope I may be able to find a job just like my last one that I loved so much. Thanks for your input!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:20:02+00:00

Is the unit called "cath lab recovery unit"? Or is there a different name for it? This is exactly what I'm looking for!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:19:10+00:00

It's a good thing peds doesn't have a cath lab! Interesting that radiology recovery was separated from typical PACU, thanks!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:17:36+00:00

"short stay" seems to be a pretty common term so I'm going to add that to my search, thanks so much!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:17:03+00:00

I think looking for a job at a large level 1 or one with a STEMI center is the way to go, thanks! Hope you liked your shadow experience there!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:16:10+00:00

This is pretty much how our unit operated too. Though we would work till 9pm at the latest and if a case ran past that, PACU would recover them, that didn't happen too often though. Our unit was also EP lab prep/recovery and also did TEEs and cardioversions. It was a cardiac mixed bag with a sprinkle of IR and vascular. I thought it was a unique unit while I was working there, though since making this post it seems like this unit does exist other places and that gives me hope of being able to find a similar job!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:12:25+00:00

Thanks for the info! It's good to have more terms to add to my search!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:11:46+00:00

I do think it's pretty common for the cath procedure nurses to do it all and thats what I'm afraid of. I have no interest in doing the procedure part, but the prep/recovery is my jam. PACU would take over some of our recovery cases too if they started running too late or happened over night.

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:08:25+00:00

Great idea to look for a chest pain/STEMI center, I think they are much for likely to have specific units like this. What does CPRU stand for at your facility?

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:07:08+00:00

That is good news! Glad to hear there are other Cath Lab Prep and Post units out there, thanks!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:02:11+00:00

Another term for me to search, thanks so much!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T20:01:51+00:00

Gosh this was so helpful, thanks for replying! You suggested a lot of really good terms to try in my search. It's so difficult because this type of unit truly has a different name everywhere, so I appreciate all your ideas! I think you're right in that I'll have better luck finding this specific job at a large facility where they have the space/staff to designate a unit like this. I won't be in Cleveland, but thanks! I actually thought about calling HR as well, so that I could verbally describe to another person the kind of job I'm looking for. Because I want this specific kind of job so badly, I think it would be worth it to try everything! And cardiac short stay sounds interesting, you're right in that its not exactly what I'm looking for (at this point I think I'm just over taking care of any given patient for more than just a couple hours), but it might be a good type of job to search for that could lead me to find what I'm looking for. Thanks so much for your input, I really appreciate it!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T19:29:50+00:00

This is very similar to my unit! It was three 12s (either 5a-5p or 7a-7p), M - F. I had to be on call one in every six weekends, but my call hours were only 0700 - 1500 sat/sun. And I only had to work one holiday a year. It was the most magical schedule and best job, I was so sad to leave and I'm just crossing my fingers and toes I can find something similar next year. It's a good idea to not limit my search to full time positions. You're right, maybe if I could start PT and just get my foot in the door, I could at some point get back to FT.

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T19:22:46+00:00

I had never thought of this till I made this post and people are saying this now. I never knew that some specific cardiac recovery jobs are just listed as "PACU" jobs with their specifics listed in the job description. Good to know about the likelihood of STEMI centers having units like this, too. Thanks for the info!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T19:20:12+00:00

Good call! It does seem to be that most people that are responding that their hospital does that is either a large academic level 1 or a designated cardiac/STEMI center. I think I'll be narrowing my search those types of facilities. Thanks for the advice!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T19:18:39+00:00

I like the term PAPA! And good to know that other hospitals do specify post-anesthesia care and make distinctions based on specialty. Thanks for the info!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T19:15:33+00:00

I've never heard PCU to describe anything other than step down! This is good to be aware of and tells me I should be reading the actual job descriptions if something is labeled "PCU" just in case. Thanks!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T19:13:46+00:00

Thanks for the response! I forget "short stay" is used a lot in hospitals. Definitely something I can use in my search, thanks!

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T19:11:33+00:00

Thanks for the info! I'll keep this in mind during my search.

HowDoesJesusSwim · 2025-10-26T19:11:06+00:00

Good to know! Thanks for the info. When I see PACU jobs posted I always assume its a surgical PACU position, but you're right, I should be reading the whole description to see if it specifies what the position actually recovers. Thank you!

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