Perioperative Care

Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

RNs tending patient in PACU Immediate post-operative care is provided in the Post-Anesthesia Care Units (PACUs), located next to the ORs on both the Mt. Zion and Parnassus campuses (the Children's Surgery Center within the PACU cares specifically for pediatric patients). Patients recover from anesthesia in the PACU where they are closely monitored for one hour or longer. Nursing care in this area focuses on maintaining vital functions and pain control. When discharged from PACU by the anesthesiologists, inpatients are transferred to their assigned beds, and outpatients are discharged after receiving detailed instructions on their continuing care. In addition, outpatients will receive a follow-up phone call from PACU nurses.

Nursing care in the PACU is based on professional standards of practice derived from both the American Nurses Association Standards of Care and the Association of Post Anesthesia Nurses Standards of Care. Nursing skills include patient assessment, airway management, cardiovascular assessment, pain management, and patient education. The PACU serves a diverse patient population. Many same-day surgical patients are discharged from the unit; these patients require excellent patient education prior to discharge and then review during a follow-up phone call.

Both PACUs have active interdisciplinary quality improvement programs, fully integrated with the Department of Nursing Quality Improvement program, and using departmental performance indicators and unit specific measures. PACU staff members participate in the Multidisciplinary Collaborative Practice Committee and the CQI Pain Committee. They also have the opportunity to be members of many institution-wide committees, including the infection control, pain management, and nursing recognition committees.




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