Pre Op pts in PACU

Specialties PACU

Published

Our OR has a preop holding area that is staffed by an RN 7a-3p then the circulator(s) manage that area. Now we are told that in-patients needing surgery after 3pm will be held in the pacu, not in the holding area which is right across the hall. Reason: no one to staff it and pts can't stay in holding alone. While I understand the reasoning, I don't think it's fair to the patient to see the goings on in pacu with pts waking up in pain, or vomiting, or whatever. To me that would just compound my preoperative stress. Not to mention the family members who are always allowed to be with the pt until they go to OR.We'll have to deal with them as well.

Am I wrong to be against this idea?? My co-workers don't think it's a good idea as well but it seems like the higher ups already decided without input from us worker bees.

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Specializes in NICU, PACU, Pediatrics.

not only is it not good I don't think it meets standards

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Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.

yeah, we "hold" pre-op CABG & valves, neuro cases, & some general stuff in PACU since the latest constuction landed our holding area with 6 less beds. Hey, the xray dept is even larger...

but I get to "baby sit" until the OR nurses, CRNA's & teams arrive to take over. No way would I leave them alone. They are here for surgery after all. No, we didn't really have any input to this, it just happened & it's what is now. Granted I am 3rd shift so it's early a.m. that these come through the PACU before we really get churning with all bays full.

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How about a real drastic measure, like, um, say hiring a 7A-1930 preop holidng nurse?

We hold after hours but generally the unit is quiet. I also wont babysit, I page the OR nurse if needed to come check the patient in. If they are unstable they stay in their unit until OR is ready for them, then we bring them down.

I also belive holding and PACU should be separate, just by the way

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Specializes in ER/SICU/Med-Surg/Ortho/Trauma/Flight.

What about hiring an LPN for the extra time?? We have LPN's all over my hospital, they would be capable of doing a preop.

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Specializes in ICU, Pedi, Education.

As a nurse who has had multiple surgeries, I would not want to be in this situation as a nurse or a patient. Surgery is stressful enough...I would not let them stick me in PACU during the pre-op period. I get anxious enough and this would definately push me over the edge.

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TXRN,

As a nurse who works in one and having been a patient pre-op as well I would be very p.o'd if they put me in a full blown phase I PACU.

It is scary and can be loud and one doesn't need that at that time.

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Specializes in ICU, Pedi, Education.
TXRN,

As a nurse who works in one and having been a patient pre-op as well I would be very p.o'd if they put me in a full blown phase I PACU.

It is scary and can be loud and one doesn't need that at that time.

I'm having surgery on Monday and would not be a happy person if they did this. Unfortunately, I would not put it past the facility I am going to. Fortunately, my anesthesiologist knows me well enough to either stop this from happening or completely SNOW me if it does :bugeyes:

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Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.

As for LPN's in holding/PACU, my hospital employees no LPN's in surgery except under the heading of Scrub tech. They have their own reason's probably the case of if they are the only one with the patient then an LPN can't push emergency IV meds, intubate, etc. I am only the messenger here...

It is annoying for those whom I must hold all night or all morning who get an eyeful of my recovering a Phase I. It happens. I am not able to wave my magic wand & solve the problem. Our PACU is small, 16 bays, NO bathroom for staff or patients. Only a hopper in dirty utility room. So patients must potty the yucky way. I have to grab a staffer to make my own potty runs in the OR proper.

Aside from all the negatives, it still WAY less stressful than my jobs charge nursing a 12 bed CCU or an ER which I've done both. BUT not as fun or fulfiling as running my own private practice! yup, I do that too!

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Specializes in Surgical, PACU.

They have started doing this to us as well, we have no holding area in our new theatre suite, stable patients wait in the surgical day unit, if they are unstable we have to hold them in PACU. Personally I don't like it one bit, but as usual, the choices we were given in the matter were none!!

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Specializes in NICU, PACU, Pediatrics.

In our PACU we do this occasionally but each patient has their own room and the doors can be shut...on Saturday's we have 2 RN's and we are expected to preop as well as recover the patients so we have no choice but to intermingle them...

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As for LPN's in holding/PACU, my hospital employees no LPN's in surgery except under the heading of Scrub tech. They have their own reason's probably the case of if they are the only one with the patient then an LPN can't push emergency IV meds, intubate, etc. I am only the messenger here...

It is annoying for those whom I must hold all night or all morning who get an eyeful of my recovering a Phase I. It happens. I am not able to wave my magic wand & solve the problem. Our PACU is small, 16 bays, NO bathroom for staff or patients. Only a hopper in dirty utility room. So patients must potty the yucky way. I have to grab a staffer to make my own potty runs in the OR proper.

Aside from all the negatives, it still WAY less stressful than my jobs charge nursing a 12 bed CCU or an ER which I've done both. BUT not as fun or fulfiling as running my own private practice! yup, I do that too!

Same situation where I work. Admin. considers RNs to be more versatile b/c of the limited scope of practice of an LPN, esp. in an emergency situation w/a pre or post op patient. So we do watch pre-op patients sometimes- we try to put them in the quietest spot available, but they see what's going on in PACU & it's not ideal, but it's not up to us.....

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