Intensive Care Unit Patients in the Postanesthesia Care Unit: A Case Study Exploring Nurses' Experiences

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of postanesthesia nurses caring for intensive care unit (ICU) patients in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).DesignQualitative interpretive description.MethodsSix PACU nurses participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Quality of the data collection and analysis process was maintained through constructing codes and themes jointly by several investigators and taking interpretive accounts back to participants.FindingThree main themes were constructed: expert mind-set, specialty practice, and identity and relationships. The expert mind-set described knowing but not doing and straddling concurrent foci and duties. Specialty practice entailed doing but not knowing and the unsupportive context that perpetuated this. Identity and relationships described the lost identity of postanesthesia nursing and tension in the relationships with ICU.ConclusionsFindings illuminate the challenges expert nurses face when an unplanned practice change is implemented.