Current Status and Future Prospects of Postoperative Rounds by Anesthesiologists and a Perianesthesia Nurse

The number of surgeries conducted at our hospital has increased in recent years, and the accompanying severe workload for anesthesiologists has made it difficult to provide appropriate postoperative anesthesia rounds. From April 2018, a perianesthesia nurse joined the operating room staff and began postoperative rounds together with the anesthesiologists. The day after surgery was performed, the nurse checked patients’ postoperative condition on electronic medical records before conducting the above-mentioned rounds. This let anesthesiologists perform their rounds more efficiently during regular working hours. In addition to reducing anesthesiologists’ burden, this approach increased hospital profits. The future aim for perianesthesia nurses at our hospital is for them to serve as coordinators among anesthesiologists, surgeons, and ward nurses. The hospital also aims to provide patients with an environment for receiving sufficient postoperative analgesia and prompt recovery.