Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the ASPAN Perianesthesia Practice Exchange Page
Designed for nurses in the PACU and perioperative settings, this resource offers detailed guidance, expert commentary, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing to support safe, high-quality patient care. Here, you can browse frequently asked questions, explore best practices, and submit your own clinical inquiries to ASPAN content experts. This is your space to connect, learn, and ensure the highest standard of care for your patients.
If you do not find the answer to your question, please feel free to submit it to ASPAN's Clinical Practice Network.
Question of the Month:
Q: Our facility has told us that the pre-op RNs are going to give moderate sedation in the OR for our eye cases. We have not had any training in moderate sedation. Should we be concerned?
A: Nurses must be trained and competent before performing new tasks. ASPAN’s Practice Recommendation 4 addresses this issue in demonstrating “the knowledge of anesthetic agents, adjuncts and reversal agents.”
Q: What constitutes a proper handoff in the PACU? How should breaks be managed?
Q: What is a stable airway?
Q. If I have an ICU patient, can I take another patient?
Q. How often does the Aldrete scoring need to be done?
Q. What is the minimal amQ: What is a stable airway?ort from the PACU to the receiving unit?
Q. What is best practice for a preoperative skin assessment for preprocedure/ preoperative patients?
Q. Can we put preop patients in the same area that we have patients recovering from anesthesia?
Q. What are the critical elements when accepting a patient from the anesthesia?