Roles and Responsibilities Flashcards

A PACU nurse assesses a patient 30 minutes post-operatively and finds increasing agitation and confusion. The most appropriate initial nursing responsibility is to:

Answer: Perform a systematic assessment to identify the underlying cause

Agitation and confusion in the PACU can result from hypoxia, pain, or emergence delirium, requiring systematic assessment to identify and treat the cause.

Which of the following best describes the PACU nurse's responsibility regarding informed consent for a procedure ordered post-operatively?

Answer: Ensure the ordering provider obtains consent; the nurse's role is to witness the signature

Informed consent must be obtained by the proceduralist; the nurse may witness the signature but is not responsible for the informed consent discussion.

A PACU nurse is caring for an obese patient with a history of obstructive sleep apnea following general anesthesia. Which nursing intervention is most reflective of this patient's specific risk?

Answer: Elevating the head of bed 30-45° and applying CPAP as ordered

OSA patients are at high risk for airway obstruction; head-of-bed elevation and prescribed CPAP reduce upper airway collapse in the post-anesthesia period.

After administering IV morphine to a PACU patient, the nurse notes respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min and SpO2 of 89%. The nurse's responsibility includes:

Answer: Stimulating the patient, applying oxygen, and preparing naloxone per protocol

Respiratory depression after opioid administration requires immediate intervention including stimulation, oxygen, and readiness to administer naloxone.

Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the PACU nurse during the immediate post-anesthesia period regarding thermoregulation?

Answer: Assessing core temperature and implementing rewarming measures if hypothermic

Post-operative hypothermia is common and the PACU nurse must assess temperature and initiate rewarming to prevent complications such as shivering, coagulopathy, and cardiac events.

A PACU nurse's patient is being discharged to home after ambulatory surgery. The patient states he will drive himself home because his ride cancelled. What should the nurse do?

Answer: Explain that driving after anesthesia is unsafe and arrange alternate transportation before discharge

ASPAN and anesthesia guidelines prohibit patients from driving for 24 hours post-anesthesia; the nurse must facilitate safe transportation before discharge.

Which scenario best illustrates the PACU nurse fulfilling a leadership responsibility on the unit?

Answer: Identifying a recurring equipment malfunction and initiating a quality improvement report

Identifying system issues and initiating quality improvement processes reflects nursing leadership and professional accountability beyond direct patient care.