Published
I work in a Pacu where we often have to funtion as the outpatient are so we do vital signs q15 as long as they are in recovery phase when they are recieving IV meds or are having any post anesthesia problems ie b/p problems only after that phase do we do anything different. Of course if our patient needs closer monitering we do and document more freqent vitals.
Where I work we do Q10 min for the 30 mins that they remain in pacu [so thats 4x sets of obs]. Of course if necessary we keep the pts for longer periods, or do more frequent observations as well. Following IV narcotic injections we keep pts a further 20mins following last dose given, half an hour in the rare occasion we give IMI narcotics. [but still doing the same Q10 min obs]
not you again
9 Posts
I would like to know the frequency that you do vital signs in your phase I PACU. I currently work at 2 different hospitals and one does them every 5 min. and records, and the other does theirs every 15 min. and records. I used to work at one that did them every 5 min., but you only had to record every 10 min., unless there was a prob.
Obviously, even at the one where we do them every 15 min., if there is a problem, we do them more freq. and record.
What is your policy?