Covid-19 changes to post anaesthesia care unit nursing practices

Abstract

The pandemic year of 2020 brought unparalleled and swift changes to health care processes within Australia. All registered nurses in the Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) of a regional tertiary referral hospital had to make changes to routine personal protective equipment (PPE) practice to accommodate a safer environment for both staff and patients. Changes to PPE practices included the addition of heat moisture exchange (HME) filters to laryngeal mask airways (LMAs), and the use of Level 3 surgical masks during aerosolising procedures such as extubation and nebulisation. Changes were also made to the structured handover from anaesthetic nurse to the PACU to increase compliance with PPE practice.