Week 1: Responsibilities of a PACU Nurse

1. The PACU nurse is responsible for assessing the patient every 15 minutes for two hours or depending upon doctors orders: checking vital signs, pain, and site of incision, temperature and respiration upon arrival in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). 2. Administration of oxygen. 3. ECG monitoring. 4. The PACU nurse should be knowledgeable of the possible physiologic complications. 5. The PACU nurse should have a thorough knowledge of pain medication and be able to use his own judgment of a patients pain, vomiting or trouble breathing. 6. The PACU nurse is also responsible for rousing a patient from anesthesia after the patient has been admitted into the PACU. 7. The patient is either discharged to go home after the PACU nurse has assessed his recovery status, the patient is kept in the PACU under the supervision of the nurse, or the patient is allowed to go to a hospital room. 8. A PACU nurse must be a quick thinker and is able to stay calm in emergencies. 9. The PACU nurse must be organized and be able to prioritize issues with patients. 10. Other responsibilities include: changing of dressings, turning a patient, breathing exercises and pain management.