Post-anesthesia care unit nurse vs critical care nurse

Differences between post-anesthesia care unit nurse and critical care nurse duties and responsibilities

Post-anesthesia care unit nurse example responsibilities.

• Manage patients' pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions and monitoring patients' responses.
• Do preop teaching, draw labs and perform EKG's prior to surgery.
• Maintain and care for arterial/venous sheaths sites, as well as medication titration pre and post op.
• Provide leadership in improving and sustaining the quality and effectiveness of the care provide by PACU nursing and ancillary staff.
• Assess post-operative surgical patients for anesthesia complications
• Monitor for hemorrhagic changes and lingering affects of anesthesia.
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Critical care nurse example responsibilities.

• Interpret laboratory results, EKG readings, cardiac monitors, managing medication drips, and ventilator settings.
• Monitor chemotherapy and administration of oral chemo medication, obtain laboratory specimens to manage client status via central lines.
• Work on the general units of rehabilitation, geriatrics, and telemetry.
• Work in critical care floors ranging from MICU to SICU to regular ICU.
• Perform emergency medical procedures such as BLS, ACLS, and other condition stabilizing interventions.
• Care for patients with a wide variety of critical illnesses and are CCRN certify for many years.
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