PeriAnesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum
Preprocedure, Phase I and Phase II PACU Nursing
- 5th Edition - March 6, 2026
- Latest edition
- Author: ASPAN
- Editor: Pamela E. Windle
- Language: English
ASPAN’s PeriAnesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum: Preprocedure, Phase I and Phase II PACU Nursing is a comprehensive reference that includes the fundamentals and standards of practi… Read more
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ASPAN’s PeriAnesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum: Preprocedure, Phase I and Phase II PACU Nursing is a comprehensive reference that includes the fundamentals and standards of practice for patient assessment and care of all ages and in all settings. Written by respected experts in the field, the book also provides a resource for clinical orientation of new staff and new perianesthesia nurses, a map for creating unit-based competencies, and guidance for nurses preparing for the CPAN or CAPA examination.
- Coverage of ASPAN’s full scope of perianesthesia nursing practice for every practice setting
- Organized by competencies, it provides a guideline to perianesthesia competencies for the PACU nurse or student nurses rotating through the PACU
- Easy-to-use outline format for quick review and reference of important nursing considerations
- Objectives at the beginning of each chapter allow the reader to focus on key content and use the book more effectively
- Boxes, tables and illustrations throughout highlight important information and enhance the book’s utility as a reference
- Appendices on the Certification of Perianesthesia Nurses and Testing Concepts and Strategies provide tools for nurses preparing for CPAN or CAPA certification
- A bibliography at the end of every chapter provides additional research resources
Practicing perianesthesia and ambulatory surgical nurses Nurses studying for the CPAN or CAPA certification exams
SECTION ONE: PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
1. Evolution of Perianesthesia Care
2. Standards, Legal Issues, and Practice Settings
3. Safety, Quality Improvement, and Regulatory and Accrediting Agencies
4. Research and Evidence-Based Practice
SECTION TWO: PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT COMPETENCIES
5. Preoperative Evaluation
6. Preexisting Medical Conditions
7. Transcultural Nursing and Alternative Therapies
8. The Developmentally and Physically Challenged Patient
SECTION THREE: LIFE SPAN COMPETENCIES
9. The Pediatric Patient
10. The Adolescent Patient
11. The Adult Patient
12. The Geriatric Patient
SECTION FOUR: PERIANESTHESIA COMPETENCIES
13. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
14. Anesthesia, Moderate Sedation/Analgesia
15. Thermoregulation
16. Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
17. Pain and Comfort
SECTION FIVE: SYSTEM COMPETENCIES
18. Respiratory
19. Cardiovascular
20. Neurological
21. Endocrine
22. Gastrointestinal
23. General Surgery
24. Hematology
25. Renal/Genitourinary
26. Obstetrics and Gynecology
27. Ophthalmology
28. Oral/Maxillofacial/Dental
29. Orthopedics and Podiatry
30. Otorhinolaryngology
31. Peripheral Vascular Disease
32. Plastic and Reconstruction
33. Bariatrics
34. Trauma
35. Interventional Radiology and Special Procedures
36. Perianesthesia Complications
SECTION SIX: EDUCATION AND DISCHARGE COMPETENCIES
37. Postoperative/Postprocedure Assessment
38. Discharge Criteria, Education, and Post-procedure Care
Appendix
A. Certification of Perianesthesia Nurses: The CPAN® and CAPA® Certification Programs
B. Testing Concepts and Strategies
- Edition: 5
- Latest edition
- Published: March 6, 2026
- Language: English
PW
Pamela E. Windle
Affiliations and expertise
Perianesthesia Nurse Consultant,Nursing Program Manager,Harris Health System,Houston, Texas