An Educational Intervention to Improve Comfort with Applying and Interpreting Transcutaneous CO₂ and End-tidal CO₂ Monitoring in the PACU

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an educational program about measuring ventilation using devices that assess carbon dioxide levels in patients recovering from a surgical procedure.

Design: A pre-post survey of knowledge attainment from an educational intervention about measuring ventilation using end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂) and transcutaneous carbon dioxide (tcPCO₂) devices in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) was distributed to current members of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses.

Methods: Participants received a 12-question pre-intervention (five were related to demographics) and a five-question post-intervention survey. Non-demographic survey questions used a one to five Likert scale to assess comfortability or confidence. The intervention created was a voice-over presentation designed to improve PACU RN's comfort and confidence with using and interpreting tcPCO₂ or EtCO₂ in the PACU.

Findings: PACU RNs (N = 108) reported they 'never' or 'rarely' used EtCO₂ (n = 57, 52.7%) monitoring or tcPCO₂ (n = 93, 86.1%) monitoring in the PACU. A paired t test revealed statistically significant differences in the PACU RN's pre-survey and posttest comfortability of applying and interpreting EtCO₂ or tcPCO₂ monitors (P < .05).

Conclusions: Capnography monitoring should be considered a standard of care for PACU patients. Education of registered nurses working in the PACU is critical before implementing EtCO₂ or tcPCO₂ monitoring.