Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
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The new ASPAN Standards of PeriAnesthesia Nursing Practice, 1995 continue to recommend a minimum of two nurses in the PACU during phase I recovery. During the 1995 midyear meeting of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, a position paper was passed in support of two nurses in the PACU during phase I recovery. Throughout the country, on some occasions, nurses continue to work alone in the PACU. This article suggests strategies for planning safe and competent care while working alone in the PACU.
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A project is described in which a standard in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) for managing patients with acute pain was implemented. The nurses' documentation and their perceptions concerning pain management were assessed. ⋯ The pre-audit of PACU nursing documents showed that the assessment of pain was noted in terms of presence or absence but not quantified by the use of a measurement standard. After the implementation of a pain standard, results of the post-questionnaires showed changes in behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge that showed significant increases in the use of a numerical or visual pain tool, and an increase in documented evaluation of pain.