Postoperative Services
Description of Patient Population
- Approximately 1,350 patients of all ages have surgery per month
- Kentucky Surgery Center (KSC), generally outpatient procedures
- Critical Care Center (CCC), generally inpatient procedures
- Approximately 88% of cases are scheduled, and 12% are emergent or urgent
Number of Beds
- One 15 bed Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
- One 10 bed PACU
- 5 bed postoperative Outpatient Observation Unit
- 4 bed Cardiac Catheterization Recovery Room
Special Certification Requirements
- BCLS
- ACLS
- PALS for RNs in:
- CCC PACU
- Cardiac Catheterization Recovery Room
- Encouraged for the KSC PACU
- TNCC for RNs in CCC PACU
- ENPC for RNs in CCC PACU
Special Programs
- Registered nurses orienting to PACU are assessed for ICU work experience or successfully complete high acuity courses offered by the Department of Nursing.
- Departmental orientation sessions are offered on an as needed basis. Orientation is individualized based on an employee’s past experiences.
- Competency check-offs are completed as deemed necessary for specialized equipment or procedures.
Staffing patterns
- Staffing patterns vary in Perioperative Services based on the day of the week, the area of practice, and the needs of the unit.
- The postoperative areas are staffed proportionately to the number of OR suites in use.
- Shifts generally are 8-12 hours in length. Also, during times of high-volume in the PACU, assistance may be obtained by accessing the Department of Nursing pool.
