maggie77

We start PCA's in PACU, also. If we send the patient to the floor without it, they have to call the IV team to start the PCA and it is not in the best interest of the patient or the nurse. It's quick and easy during "regular" hours but takes longer for the pharmacy to get it to us on nights.

Hi, rn2bn07. I think new grads should always start out with med/surg and build on that knowledge and experience. Lots of new grads start out in ICU and ER and that is GREAT experience, but if you don't get a proper orientation can really cause lots of stress and heartache. Having said that, PACU is, in my opinion, the best place to work. The scenery (patients) changes every hour, minimal bedpans and linen changes, minimal problems with family members. But, I think you will miss alot if you go straight into PACU unless you have experience as a PCA or something beforehand. Good luck with whatever decision you make and congrats on graduation in May!

1. Does your PACU allow visitors? Yes, our manager has encouraged us to be more open to visitors. It does help both patient and families, in most instances. I try to put myself in their place. Some of our patients have come through the ED as traumas and their families have not seen them at all. 2. If so, under what circumstances? i.e. peds cases only, special needs, ect. Peds, special needs, delay in getting a bed. 3. Is the visit just for a quick minute or is it unlimited to stand in there and see everything? Quick visit unless peds or special needs patient. They are allowed to stay the entire PACU stay if they are helping, not hindering. 4. How many people can be in there per patient at a time? 1 or 2. 5. How do you handle privacy issues, giving report when a visitor is in the room, etc. or when patients go bad or code in front of visitors, etc. We try to not have visitors for our own patients when we have two patients in our spot. If we have called the waiting room for visitation, we will pull curtains around other patients before the visitor comes back. If there is an emergencey situation going on, we do not call for visitors to come back. Most family members are grateful (it is reassuring for them and our patients) and understand the restrictions and the need for privacy for our patients.

Our anesthesiologists are developing a new Beta blocker protocol that we will have in place in the near future. It involves preop administration (PO) of drugs for patients that meet the criteria (patient history, vascular case, etc).

Greetings, fellow PACU nurses! Just wondering if any of you are using Vistaril in your practice (anesthesia postop orders)? What about Droperidol? In my facility, we use neither and have had good results when the anesthesia team uses prophylactic Zofran and Decadron (occasionally Reglan) intraoperatively. For rescue emetics, we use Phenergan (which we give IVPB in small doses - 6.25 to 12.5 mg). Just curious what others are doing and how effective the treatment of PONV is. Thanks for your responses!