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

Abstract

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. 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. 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. 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). 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.