Nurses at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center’s post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) work with patients as they recover from surgery and anesthesia. They play an important role in their patients’ transitions from the operating room through recovery and release.

   Patient population: surgical post-operative patients

   Number of beds: 16

   Nurse/patient ratio: 1:2

   Rotation/shifts: variable day/evening rotation, 8-, 10- or 12-hour
   shift lengths, on-call every fifth weekend and one weeknight every
   two-week period

   Orientation: eight weeks, or as needed based on experience,
   every orientee has a preceptor