Abstract
Post-Anesthesia Care Units (PACUs) require nurses to rapidly assess and manage patients emerging from anesthesia, often responding to airway concerns, hemodynamic instability, and unexpected clinical deterioration. Walter 3 PACU is a high-acuity, 24/7 unit caring for 45–55 postoperative cases daily across multiple surgical specialties. When staffing is supported by on-call staff including RNs from other PACUs during nights and weekends, nurses may experience anxiety and uncertainty when working outside their home environment. To strengthen confidence and essential clinical skills, Walter 3 launched its Back-to-Basics Bootcamp, an annual education initiative focused on reinforcing core emergency management competencies in a supportive learning atmosphere. The 2025 bootcamp was delivered as a 4-hour, multi-station experience offered over four dates to accommodate scheduling needs. Approximately 115 nurses from six PACUs within the Houston Methodist system, including a few staff from two sister hospitals, attended. Stations combined brief didactic instruction with hands-on practice, including airway management with anesthesia providers, tracheostomy and arterial line interventions, two complex case scenarios, “Complex Surgeries in PACU” and “It’s All About Neuro”, and a mock code using high-fidelity mannequin. A gamified PACU Jeopardy review added an element of friendly competition while reinforcing key knowledge. Post-event surveys were completed by 98 participants (85%). Ninety-three percent reported being very satisfied with the program, and none expressed dissatisfaction. Ninety-four respondents reported improved confidence in managing PACU emergencies. Participants emphasized the value of psychological safety, educator expertise, and the engaging learning environment. All stations were rated as relevant and helpful to clinical practice. Overall, the Back-to-Basics Bootcamp demonstrated meaningful improvements in preparedness, collaborative problem-solving, and skill reinforcement. Future directions include increased scenario complexity, interdisciplinary involvement, and digital learning. This bootcamp could be adopted into a standardized competency program to support onboarding, cross-training, and ongoing professional development for PACU nurses throughout the organization.
Notes
References:
Alrashidi, N., Pasay An, E., Alrashedi, M. S., Alqarni, A. S., Gonzales, F., Bassuni, E., Pangket, P., Estadilla, L., Benjamin, L. S., & Ahmed, K. (2023). Effects of simulation in improving the self-confidence of student nurses in clinical practice: a systematic review. BMC Medical Education, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04793-1
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. (2025). 2025–2026 Perianesthesia nursing standards, practice recommendations, and interpretive statements. ASPAN
Peran, D., Kodet, J., Pekara, J., Mala, L., Truhlar, A., Cmorej, P. C., Lauridsen, K. G., Sari, F., & Sykora, R. (2020). ABCDE cognitive aid tool in patient assessment - development and validation in a multicenter pilot simulation study. BMC emergency medicine, 20(1), 95. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-020-00390-3
Saffari, M., Bashar, F. R., Vahedian-Azimi, A., Pourhoseingholi, M. A., Karimi, L., Shamsizadeh, M., Gohari-moghadam, K., & Sahebkar, A. (2021). Effect of a Multistage Educational Skill-Based Program on Nurse’s Stress and Anxiety in the Intensive Care Setting: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Behavioural Neurology, 2021, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8811347
Schick, L., & Windle, P. E. (Eds.). (2020). PeriAnesthesia nursing core curriculum (4th ed.). Saunders
Tabriz, E. R., Sadeghi, M., Tavana, E., Miri, H. H., & Nabavi, F. H. (2024). Approaches for boosting self-confidence of clinical nursing students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon, 10(6), e27347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27347
Sigma Membership
Alpha Gamma Gamma
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Competence, Continuing Education, Simulation, Simulation Methods & Models, Recovery Rooms, Clinical Competence
Recommended Citation
Khadka, Rona, "Recharging PACU Essential Skills Through an Annual Back-to-Basics Bootcamp" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 305.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/305
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-25
Recharging PACU Essential Skills Through an Annual Back-to-Basics Bootcamp
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Post-Anesthesia Care Units (PACUs) require nurses to rapidly assess and manage patients emerging from anesthesia, often responding to airway concerns, hemodynamic instability, and unexpected clinical deterioration. Walter 3 PACU is a high-acuity, 24/7 unit caring for 45–55 postoperative cases daily across multiple surgical specialties. When staffing is supported by on-call staff including RNs from other PACUs during nights and weekends, nurses may experience anxiety and uncertainty when working outside their home environment. To strengthen confidence and essential clinical skills, Walter 3 launched its Back-to-Basics Bootcamp, an annual education initiative focused on reinforcing core emergency management competencies in a supportive learning atmosphere. The 2025 bootcamp was delivered as a 4-hour, multi-station experience offered over four dates to accommodate scheduling needs. Approximately 115 nurses from six PACUs within the Houston Methodist system, including a few staff from two sister hospitals, attended. Stations combined brief didactic instruction with hands-on practice, including airway management with anesthesia providers, tracheostomy and arterial line interventions, two complex case scenarios, “Complex Surgeries in PACU” and “It’s All About Neuro”, and a mock code using high-fidelity mannequin. A gamified PACU Jeopardy review added an element of friendly competition while reinforcing key knowledge. Post-event surveys were completed by 98 participants (85%). Ninety-three percent reported being very satisfied with the program, and none expressed dissatisfaction. Ninety-four respondents reported improved confidence in managing PACU emergencies. Participants emphasized the value of psychological safety, educator expertise, and the engaging learning environment. All stations were rated as relevant and helpful to clinical practice. Overall, the Back-to-Basics Bootcamp demonstrated meaningful improvements in preparedness, collaborative problem-solving, and skill reinforcement. Future directions include increased scenario complexity, interdisciplinary involvement, and digital learning. This bootcamp could be adopted into a standardized competency program to support onboarding, cross-training, and ongoing professional development for PACU nurses throughout the organization.
Description
Through hands-on practice, realistic simulations, and playful competition, our ‘Back to Basics’ Bootcamp reboots PACU skills and education and builds nurse’s confidence. This approach proves that education can be engaging, practical, and fun.