what is the difference between the PACU and the post operative care unit?

I was viewing job postings on a hospital's website and they had job openings in both the PACU and the Post Operative Care Unit.

What are the differences between the two?

10 Answers

Specializes in teaching, research, and evidence-based practice.

The PACU, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, is where patients go directly after surgery. They are closely monitored by the nurse as they wake up from anesthesia and are then transferred to another unit once they are stable. It's a specific type of unit specializing in promoting a smooth transition from anesthesia to full consciousness. PACU nurses typically monitor vital signs, manage pain, and assess surgical sites for one or two patients. 

Check with the recruiter about what they mean by postoperative care unit. It is most likely a medical/surgical type of unit where patients further recover from surgery AFTER they are transferred out of the PACU. So, they could be on the unit anywhere from a day or two to several weeks. Nurses on medical/surgical units typically provide ongoing postoperative care for a group of five or more patients to promote recovery, prevent complications, and plan for discharge from the hospital. 

You will probably need more specialized training and skills to work in the PACU such as ACLS and critical care experience. 

Specializes in ED.

In my hospital, the PACU is a post operative subunit of the OR. The patient comes here directly after surgery while still groggy from anesthesia and usually in a good bit of pain. In some cases, the patient may go home from the PACU if not admitted to a medical floor.

A post surgical unit is more of an ambulatory unit - so to speak. Usually patients come here after they are d/c from the PACU. They are typically an overnight or two stay for a basic general medical operation or ortho surgery. They may have wound vacs, drains, etc that need more continues irrigation or assessment, etc.

m

Specializes in PACU, OR.

It might be one and the same, but it might also possibly be referring to a phase 2 recovery area. Are there specific job experience and/or qualifications required? Phase 1 requires either some knowledge of critical care, or alternatively the hospital may offer an extensive orientation period.

Specializes in L&D, Antepartum, Adult Critical Care.

PACU is Post Anesthesia Care Unit. The hospital may have varying levels of post surgical care or post anesthesia. Some procedures such as endoscopy, require only conscious sedation and are not considered a surgical procedure but still require post anesthesia care. As stated above, there may be a difference from outpatient and inpatient recoveries.

Asking for clarification is your best bet.

Specializes in PACU.

Honestly, there's no way to tell other than to ask someone who works at that facility. All of the different names hospitals use for departments can be incredibly confusing. My guess would be that they're using the term PACU for their phase 1 PACU (immediate post-op, with patients requiring the most support and often coming out with airway adjuncts still unconscious), and post-operative care unit for either phase II PACU (generally stable patients preparing for discharge) or a surgical inpatient/observation floor. Or perhaps they're even in the same department and the HR person, who likely typed up the job description, doesn't really understand the terminology.

My first job was in a PACU, I loved it and learned a lot. After about 8 months they let me start taking students for their observation day.

I used to tell them that we did exactly what you do anywhere else, just faster and more often: airway, breathing, circulation, dressings/drainage, comfort.

Once they started looking at it that way it wasn't so scary, they just needed to know what to focus on. I did lose some hearing, though in the higher frequencies, PACUs are among the noisiest areas of a hospital!

In my hospital, the PACU is a post operative subunit of the OR. The patient comes here directly after surgery while still groggy from anesthesia and usually in a good bit of pain. In some cases, the patient may go home from the PACU if not admitted to a medical floor.

A post surgical unit is more of an ambulatory unit - so to speak. Usually patients come here after they are d/c from the PACU. They are typically an overnight or two stay for a basic general medical operation or ortho surgery. They may have wound vacs, drains, etc that need more continues irrigation or assessment, etc.

m

hi,

you were right about the postoperative care unit. do you think this would be a good place for a new grad to start? thanks

Specializes in ED.
hi,

you were right about the postoperative care unit. do you think this would be a good place for a new grad to start? thanks

I do!! In my hospital the post-surg units are usually pretty busy but you would see a lot of different cases. I personally would like it because the patients are not usually long-termers. I personally like to see different people during my work day. If you prefer a more long-term relationship w your patients you might not like it as well but it would still be a great place to start.

What do nurses do in a post-op unit?

i was looking at job postings on a hospital's website and they had job openings in both the pacu and the post operative care unit. i thought they were the same thing. are they not?
Where I am from PACU is post anesthesia care unit and is synonymous with post operative care unit. Our POCU is pre-operative care unit.
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