Safety of patients transferred from the operating room to the intensive care unit

Abstract

On the basis of the physician's preference or the intraoperative course, patients may be admitted directly from the operating room to the intensive care unit (ICU). Therefore, ICU nurses must be familiar with standards of care for patients in the immediate postoperative period, anesthetic agents, and management of potential complications. By focusing on the following aspects of postanesthesia care, patient safety and optimal outcomes can be achieved. © 2013 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.