Innovations in Care: The Nurse Practitioner in the PACU

Recognizing the advantages of the advanced practice nurse (APN), an urban medical center of 500+ beds created an innovative position. The decision was made to hire a nurse practitioner to manage patients seen in the busy PACU. This article is a description of the program. The article includes background, objectives, qualifications of the practitioner, collaborative practice agreement, delineation of privileges, and educational plan. The role description and daily practice plan of the practitioner are also discussed.