Cardiac Arrest in the PACU: An Analysis of Evolving Challenges for Perianesthesia Nursing

Cardiac arrest in the PACU is a rare and poorly described event, with attendant limitations to experiential learning for the perianesthesia nurse. Good outcome from in-hospital cardiac arrest events differs partly because of variability in direct causes and clinical responses. Development of in-house training programs tailored to retain basic and advanced life support skills and enhance perianesthesia nurse responses to PACU arrests are essential to improving outcomes.