Perianesthesia nursing is a nursing specialty practice area concerned with providing nursing care to patients undergoing or recovering from anesthesia. Perianesthesia nursing encompasses several sub-specialty practice areas and represents a diverse number of practice environments and skill sets.
Work Environments
ASPAN, the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses states in its core iedology that it serves nurses "practicing in all phases of preanesthesia and postanesthesia care, ambulatory surgery, and pain management."
Preoperative assessment
Nurses are responsible for a large amount of the assessment done in pre-operative clinics where patients are assessed for their ability to tolerate anesthetic and any factors which may affect the course of the anesthetic experience.
Post anesthesia care unit
Nurses provide extensive care to patients in the early stages of emergence from anesthetic and in the immediate post-operative period until they are deemed stable enough to safely transfer to other areas.
Ambulatory care
A large number procedures are performed on an outpatient basis where the patient is not expected to require hospitalization after the procedure. Examples include dental, gynecological, and diagnostic imaging clinics.
Pain management
Pain management nurses are sometimes considered to be perianesthesia nurses given the collaborative nature of their work with anesthetists and the fact that a large proportion of acute pain issues are surgery related. However, separate certifications specifically in pain management exist through the American Society for Pain Management Nurses.
Training and Certification
Both Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses work in perianesthesia nursing areas. Beyond active registration in good standing, educational and specialized training requirements vary by jurisdiction and practice setting. Many institutions require specialized training in areas such as cardiac and invasive monitoring, administration of intravenous push medications, as well as CPR and ACLS. In the United States RNs can receive specialty certification through the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) as either Certified PostAnesthesia Nurses (CPAN) or Certified Ambulatory PeriAnesthesia Nurse (CAPA). In Canada, the Canadian Nurses Association does not currently recognize Peri- or Post-Anesthesia Nursing as a certified specialty.
Work Environments
ASPAN, the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses states in its core iedology that it serves nurses "practicing in all phases of preanesthesia and postanesthesia care, ambulatory surgery, and pain management."
Preoperative assessment
Nurses are responsible for a large amount of the assessment done in pre-operative clinics where patients are assessed for their ability to tolerate anesthetic and any factors which may affect the course of the anesthetic experience.
Post anesthesia care unit
Nurses provide extensive care to patients in the early stages of emergence from anesthetic and in the immediate post-operative period until they are deemed stable enough to safely transfer to other areas.
Ambulatory care
A large number procedures are performed on an outpatient basis where the patient is not expected to require hospitalization after the procedure. Examples include dental, gynecological, and diagnostic imaging clinics.
Pain management
Pain management nurses are sometimes considered to be perianesthesia nurses given the collaborative nature of their work with anesthetists and the fact that a large proportion of acute pain issues are surgery related. However, separate certifications specifically in pain management exist through the American Society for Pain Management Nurses.
Training and Certification
Both Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses work in perianesthesia nursing areas. Beyond active registration in good standing, educational and specialized training requirements vary by jurisdiction and practice setting. Many institutions require specialized training in areas such as cardiac and invasive monitoring, administration of intravenous push medications, as well as CPR and ACLS. In the United States RNs can receive specialty certification through the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) as either Certified PostAnesthesia Nurses (CPAN) or Certified Ambulatory PeriAnesthesia Nurse (CAPA). In Canada, the Canadian Nurses Association does not currently recognize Peri- or Post-Anesthesia Nursing as a certified specialty.