"I earned a BS in Elementary Education from Penn State and a BSN from the University of Pennsylvania. I have over 30 years nursing experience working at a Level II Trauma Center. I maintained ACLS and PALS Certifications while working in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit for over 20 years.

As a PACU Rn, I learned new skills as more responsibilities were added to my job description. I mentored new RN’s when they were moved from orientation on day shift to their permanent shift. New staff members ranged from ages of 25 to 40 years old. Some had medical/surgical experience and others had critical care experience. Mentoring meant helping them become proficient in physical assessment skills and teaching them to become proficient in learning how to prioritize.

I became proficient performing EKG’s on post operative patients. I taught this skill 1:1 to PACU RN’s explaining while demonstrating then talking them through a return demonstration. The physical assessment is more important and necessary to understand the reason for the EKG i.e. monitor changes, chest pain, or post op order. The PACU Rn had to learn to assess the patient, understand why the EKG was necessary, interpret it and what to do with the information. Mentoring also means stressing the importance of ABC’s and patient education and safety. I also taught PACU RN’s to apply physical assessment skills to monitoring arterial lines, assisting with regional blocks and other post op procedures. Before performing any procedure it’s important for the PACU Rn to ask themselves why are we doing this and what outcomes are we looking for. I have also taught how to assess post op pain and how to intervene.

The initial physical assessment performed by the Rn done in a PACU, on a medical/surgical floor, ER, or ICU is done quickly and thoroughly. Teaching new RN’s to look at the patient not the monitor is very important. Looking at the patient can tell you skin color, breathing, movement, and pain. Then the physical assessment is done according to systems" less...