Biology Forums - Study Force

A patient had a hiatal hernia repair earlier today and is now in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). The family asks the nurse why the patient is in the PACU rather than back in his room on the postsurgical unit.
 
  The nurse should inform the family that:
  a. Patients who have had surgical complications are observed in the PACU until they are stable enough to return to the floor
  b. Patients recover from the effects of anesthesia in the PACU and then return to the postsurgical unit for further care
  c. The PACU is a holding area for patients awaiting a surgical unit bed or awaiting adequate staff to provide care on the postsurgical unit
  d. The nurse will ask the surgeon to explain to them why the patient is not on the postsurgical unit as per usual procedure

B
A client remains in the PACU until he has recovered from the effects of anesthesia. In the PACU, the client is assessed every 5 to 15 minutes so that the nurse may quickly identify surgical or anesthesia-related problems. Most surgical units routinely admit patients to the PACU for a period of observation. Admission to the PACU does not indicate surgical complications nor imply that a holding area is required. There is no reason the surgeon would need to explain this to the family, as the nurse could communicate the procedure. It is not usual procedure for a patient to be transferred directly from surgery to the postsurgical unit.