The PACU team at Saddleback Medical Center is not just a team but a beacon of exceptional teamwork. Their ability to communicate effectively and collaborate seamlessly with all interdisciplinary teams is a testament to their unique contributions to our hospital's success. They embody our professional practice model, setting a high standard for all.    

Clinical excellence: Most PACU team members are certified nurses participating in the APPLs program.  They are cross trained in multiple departments. Our leadership team invests in the PACU team. It provides opportunities for educational courses, mentorship programs, department transfer programs, and PACU “TED Talks” from physicians to help the nurses continue to develop their skills and gain knowledge, which reflects in their job performance, job satisfaction, competency, and confidence in reaching their career goals. 

Transformational leadership:  The PACU Team is represented on every hospital committee.  One PACU nurse graduated from the Nurse Leadership Academy, and another is currently enrolled.  

Quality: PACU Team is currently working on an A3 QI Project.  In daily huddles, the team prioritizes patient-centered care and ensures that every patient receives the highest quality of care.

Research: PACU EBP projects have been presented at National Conferences.  The PACU nurses are dedicated to continually integrating evidence-based practices into their care routines. They implement established protocols and take on the challenge of developing new projects to improve patient outcomes and streamline processes within the unit. Projects such as decreasing narcotic use by implementing multi-modal therapies, noise reduction, and improving patient education are just a few projects currently being worked on and integrated to optimize patient recovery at SMC. Their commitment to ongoing learning and improvement puts SMC PACU at the forefront of healthcare excellence and provides patient and family-centered care.

Professionalism: SMC PACU has a higher acuity PACU than surrounding hospitals.  The PACU Team recovers ICU patients and plays a crucial role in recovering open-heart surgical patients. Their specialized training and expertise allow them to closely monitor the patients post-operatively, keeping the patients hemodynamically stable and addressing any complications that may arise. In addition, PACU nurses also play a key role in educating and training other nurses on the specific needs and protocols for caring for patients recovering from anesthesia. Through their mentorship and guidance, the PACU nurses help ensure that all patients receive the highest quality patient-centered care at SMC.

Healthy Work Environment: Our nurses work hard and know the importance of building strong relationships with their colleagues. This often includes celebrating each other’s successes, milestones, and birthdays. They enjoy having fun together by organizing potlucks, theme days, or team-building activities. These opportunities for camaraderie and bonding help create a supportive and positive work environment where nurses feel like they are part of a close-knit family. PACU Team fully supports one another through and through. Each member of our team understands their role and works together cohesively to achieve outstanding results. Their shared vision and commitment to excellence create a solid foundation for their teamwork.

In all, the PACU team’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and navigate complex situations as a team sets them apart as an exceptional group. They are quick to problem solve, innovate, and support the entire hospital and support any department through obstacles that may arise. The PACU team deserves recognition and praise for their outstanding work in improving patient outcomes, patient and family overall satisfaction and first-class patient and family centered care at SMC.