Role and competence of the nurse working at the PACU

After surgery the patient is cared for at the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). The patient is closely monitored to detect changes and events related to surgery or anesthesia. To enhance a safe recovery after surgery the nurse working at the PACU should have special training in postoperative care. In Sweden there is little described about guidelines for postoperative care and there is no consensus regarding the competence needed for nurses working in the PACU. Simmilar is also described internationally. This issue has also been raised in the International Collaboration for PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ICPAN). This project is an international and national collaboration with the aim to describe and explore the role and competence of the nurse working at the PACU.