A new dimension of the PACU: the dilemma of the ICU overflow patient.

With the increase in the number of critically ill patients needing extended periods of time in the ICU and the subsequent shortage of ICU beds, hospitals have examined ways to use the PACU as an alternative for the short-term critically ill patient. This article identifies common problems encountered by the PACU staff, and the author suggests criteria for establishing and implementing guidelines for successful integration of these short-term critically ill patients without losing sight of the PACU's goals and compromising patient care. The criteria for establishing guidelines were based on the personal experience of the author in developing a program for ICU overflow patients, as well as from experiences of other PACU nurses working in PACUs where successful guidelines currently are used.