How do you staff your PACU overnight?

Specialties PACU

Published

Wondering how other PACUs handle staffing overnight. Currently, our unit staffs one RN overnight 2130-0700 Mon-Thurs. Our managers want to eliminate the in-house night shift RN position and cover the unit with overnight call shifts instead. Currently, we only take call Friday-Sunday night and between the 30 of us, it isn't a problem. Wondering how other units have full-time employees working Monday-Friday pick up that much call overnight during the week.

How does this work if your normal hours are 4 days a week and then you have to take a weeknight call shift that week?

Appreciate your input!

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Thread has been moved to the PACU forum for more responses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We have one RN 2300ish-0700 (our 1100-2300 RN may stay later depending on what's going on at 2300 or may leave early and be on call) Monday through Friday and there's someone on call (the same person) 1900-0700 Saturday and Sunday. Because we have a smaller PACU, it ends up being weekend once every 11 or 12 weekends.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

One overnight PACU nurse who is responsible for stocking the bays, recovering any patients that come through, and if done stocking and no patients, goes to the short stay unit as an extra set of hands.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

We don't have a night shift (100 bed hospital) but keep one RN on call from the end of the surgical day until 0700 the following morning. That nurse is then typically scheduled to be the 0700 nurse following their call night. They do try to schedule them the following day off if they work less than 5 days/wk, but it doesn't always work out. The post-call nurse is also always offered the low census day off first. Our weekends are Sat 0700 - Mon 0700 every 9th weekend.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, ED.

We have Night nurses with overlapping shifts during the week. Call covers one shift Thursday, Friday, and Sunday nights with two call shifts Saturday night. I am getting ready to float to nights for a couple of weeks to cover vacations for the reason you have touched upon. It is not realistic to ask a Nurse to work one day, cover night call, and then work the next day. It is not safe.

Check to to see if your facility has any policies covering hours they can work a nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, CVICU, ED, PACU.

We have 2 nurses on call from 11-0630 on weekdays(don't have a night shift PACU nurse), and 2 nurses on call on the weekends. Works out to about 7 call shifts per month.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in RN.

Level 2 trauma center, but they call in nurses 30 minutes before close of surgery...no one is in PACU all night..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU.

We cover on call from 7pm-7am and on the weekends and holidays (7am-7am). During our monthly meeting the calendar goes around the room and everyone takes a call shift until they are all filled. Ends up being 1-2 per week. IF you're there all night and you're the working the next day, you'll be the first one called off.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow really WOW most of the comments don't have NIGHT shift :)

I need to suggest that during our monthly meeting

for our hosp. it's only one staff covering night shift; and our duties are recover any emergency cases ; checking the crash cart and refill the warmer( blankets LOL! ); cuz all restocking deep cleaning will be done by Evening shift staff in addition to that we have our on call list!

my question for those who do not do night shift: What about the ( NARCOTICS KEY) during NIGHT shift?

\I mean for us we need to check the narcotics med. and handed over the keys to the coming shift

Thanks ( 6 AM - my second night shift - bored and freezing =))

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.
Wow really WOW most of the comments don't have NIGHT shift :)

I need to suggest that during our monthly meeting

for our hosp. it's only one staff covering night shift; and our duties are recover any emergency cases ; checking the crash cart and refill the warmer( blankets LOL! ); cuz all restocking deep cleaning will be done by Evening shift staff in addition to that we have our on call list!

my question for those who do not do night shift: What about the ( NARCOTICS KEY) during NIGHT shift?

\I mean for us we need to check the narcotics med. and handed over the keys to the coming shift

Thanks ( 6 AM - my second night shift - bored and freezing =))

Cases don't occur during the night too frequently where I am, just once or twice a week usually, though sometimes the days run late until around 2100 or so due to add-ons. Staffing a night shift would be pointless.

We have a pyxis, so no narcotics key. Our pca keys are kept locked in the pyxis as well & removed/returned as needed. Do you have pharmacy on site 24/7? Perhaps keys could be signed out from there in the morning & returned at night when the unit is closed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, ED.
Level 2 trauma center, but they call in nurses 30 minutes before close of surgery...no one is in PACU all night..

I guess anesthesia stays with the patient when timing is off. I got called in once when they were closing, 10 minutes she said. I just laughed and told her I'd be there as soon as I could, about 30 minutes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment