1. patient’s condition is stable. Parents will be
Family-Centered Care in PACU
Team Leader: Barbara David, RN, BSN
Team Members: Melinda Burks, RN, BSN, CPHON; Lisa Early, RN, BSN, CCRN, CPAN; Rachel Findley, RN, CCM; Louis Tiscia, RN, BSN, BA
Background
Objectives
Methods
Results
Conclusion
Nursing Surgical Services Council recommended development of task force.
~ Task force consisted of representatives from OR, Sedation, Procedures, Child Life, and Family Advisory Council
~ Collected data reflecting current practice
~ Surveyed parents for satisfaction of current practice
Task force recommendation to NSS Unit Council adopted
“Practice change: Reunite the parent with the patient once the nurse has determined the
patient’s condition is stable. Parents will be
notified upon arrival to PACU and updated or reunited within 30 minutes.”
Staff educated on change of process
New education created for parents.
4 PACUs - Same Patients – Differing Practices
Unique Setting/Patient Population
“The central premise of family-centered care in pediatrics is that the child’s family is a constant and is comprised of the most important people in the child’s life” (Kamerling, et al, 2008).
“The St. Jude Professional Practice Model for Nursing demonstrates that the patient and family is the center of all concerns. We understand the family is the child’s primary strength and support. Together we partner with families as essential allies in providing the best physical and psychosocial care for their children” (St. Jude, 2010).
83.7% of PACU nurses report they would want to visit their family member in the PACU while only 47% feel it is appropriate for families to visit in their own PACU. (Walls, 2009)
Standardize practices in all PACUs within Nursing Surgical Services to appeal to the needs of this unique patient population
Promote family-centered care
Allow for uniqueness of each area:
~ Operating Room PACU
~ Procedures PACU
~ Diagnostic Imaging PACU
~ Radiation Oncology PACU 
PRE-PRACTICE CHANGE
  Table below reflects the timeframe, in minutes, from
patient arrival to PACU to the time he/she was
reunited with the parent.
In our initial parent survey, we collected 35 surveys
and all were “Completely Satisfied”.
POST-PRACTICE CHANGE
The next table shows that the time between patient
arrival to PACU and being reunited with the parent
was decreased by an average of 2.7 minutes.
The results of the survey we conducted after the family
visitation practice changes reflected that our parents
remain 100% Completely Satisfied!! We collected
90 surveys. The survey validated that our changes in
parent visitation did not negatively impact our patients
and families.
The family visitation practices throughout Nursing Surgical Services was standardized. Family-centered care principles were recognized and supported. Patients were reunited with parents more quickly and parents remained 100% completely satisfied.
References
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. Position
Statement Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice. Cherry Hill, NJ: ASPAN; 2008.
Kamerling, S. N., Lawler, L. C., Lynch, M., & Schwartz, A. J. (2008). Family-centered care in the pediatric post
anesthesia care unit: Changing practice to promote parental visitation. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing,
23, 5-16.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (2010). Professional
Practice Model (Volume I, 3.1). Retrieved from Mission_Philosophy_Goals/3.1.pdf.
Walls, M. (2009) Staff attitudes and beliefs regarding family
visitation after implementation of a formal visitation policy in the PACU. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 24,
Benchmarks
ASPAN’s Position Statement
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Children’s Hospital of St. Louis
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
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