anasarca2

Phase 2 is when the patient no longer requires phase 1 level of nursing care. The Anesthelogist has signed off on the patient's care and the surgeon's post operative orders are now to be implemented. Delaying phase 2 care because of transfer of bed delays has negative outcomes on patient care. This is a real challenge for PACU RNs because when you have a mix of phase 1 and phase 2 patients, your attention is always going to be focused on the phase 1 patient who is "by definition" the most vunerable patient within the hospital setting.