Extension of the role of the postanesthesia care unit specialist: problem or plus?

The scope of services and responsibilities of the nursing staff in the PACU are expanding. The flexibility of the PACU and the diversity of the usual postanesthesia population, along with the availability of monitoring technology and nursing expertise, make the unit vulnerable to expansion of its mission. Even with all of its advantages, the PACU is not the ideal environment for many patients. The implications of extended use of the PACU are discussed in the following article.