PACU Exam Questions and Answers with
Verified Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
What is the first step before Notify PACU personnel to ensure
transferring a patient to the readiness.
PACU?
What essential equipment should Ventilators, nebulizers, invasive monitoring
be equipment, pharmacologic infusions,
prepared in the PACU? capnography.
What factors should be The patient's acuity to assign appropriate
communicated to PACU staff? care
providers.
What are the criteria for a patient Stable and patent airway, adequate
to ventilation,
leave the operating room? hemodynamically stable.
What should be evaluated upon Respiratory and circulatory adequacy.
PACU admission?
What are signs of inadequate Tachycardia, shallow breathing,
oxygenation? tachypnea, low
oxygen saturation, anxiety, altered
responsiveness,
diaphoresis, cyanosis.
, What is an early sign of Tachycardia.
incomplete
oxygenation?
What should be done immediately Begin monitoring cardiac rate, rhythm, and
upon PACU admission? blood
pressure.
What is the purpose of a detailed To ensure patient safety and continuity of
anesthetic report? care.
What information should be General info, patient history, intraoperative
included management, PACU plan.
in the PACU report?
What is the Aldrete scoring system To assess post-anesthetic recovery in the
used for? PACU.
What criteria are assessed in the Level of consciousness, pain, PONV,
Aldrete scoring system? blood
pressure.
What major body systems are Cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological,
assessed in PACU? renal.
What does the cardiovascular Heart sound auscultation, rate, rhythm,
assessment include? and ECG.
What does the respiratory Rate, depth, oxygen saturation, and
assessment focus on? end-tidal CO2
levels.
Verified Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
What is the first step before Notify PACU personnel to ensure
transferring a patient to the readiness.
PACU?
What essential equipment should Ventilators, nebulizers, invasive monitoring
be equipment, pharmacologic infusions,
prepared in the PACU? capnography.
What factors should be The patient's acuity to assign appropriate
communicated to PACU staff? care
providers.
What are the criteria for a patient Stable and patent airway, adequate
to ventilation,
leave the operating room? hemodynamically stable.
What should be evaluated upon Respiratory and circulatory adequacy.
PACU admission?
What are signs of inadequate Tachycardia, shallow breathing,
oxygenation? tachypnea, low
oxygen saturation, anxiety, altered
responsiveness,
diaphoresis, cyanosis.
, What is an early sign of Tachycardia.
incomplete
oxygenation?
What should be done immediately Begin monitoring cardiac rate, rhythm, and
upon PACU admission? blood
pressure.
What is the purpose of a detailed To ensure patient safety and continuity of
anesthetic report? care.
What information should be General info, patient history, intraoperative
included management, PACU plan.
in the PACU report?
What is the Aldrete scoring system To assess post-anesthetic recovery in the
used for? PACU.
What criteria are assessed in the Level of consciousness, pain, PONV,
Aldrete scoring system? blood
pressure.
What major body systems are Cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological,
assessed in PACU? renal.
What does the cardiovascular Heart sound auscultation, rate, rhythm,
assessment include? and ECG.
What does the respiratory Rate, depth, oxygen saturation, and
assessment focus on? end-tidal CO2
levels.
