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In post-anesthesia care, you don't get assignments.ÌýSurgeries come in and out of the unit, the room ebbs and flows.ÌýPACU (post-anesthesia care unit)Ìýis considered a critical care area as it is ICU backup.ÌýMost nurses in the area consider themselves to be generalists as we care for patients who have all different kinds of surgeries and health issues.ÌýÌý

When COVID first started, PACU staff were busy preparing for the worst-case scenario, especially because the unit is ICU backup.ÌýAll elective surgeries were cancelled and oneÌýwhole floor of ORs andÌýa PACU were closed. ThisÌýallowed nurses to get extra training as we were not asÌýbusy as we hadÌýbeen pre-COVID.ÌýA handful of nurses from PACUÌýwith currentÌýICU experience were redeployed to theÌýICU.Ìý

Other staff, like myself, were givenÌýeducation packagesÌýto "brush up" on their critical care knowledge and skills.ÌýPACU staff also trained nurses from otherÌýunits in caseÌýmany people became sick and those nurses needed to be redeployedÌýto PACU.ÌýThere was alsoÌýextra education andÌýtraining done on the unit with staffÌýthat was tailored toward caring for the COVID patient.

It was aÌýbit of a tenseÌýtimeÌýas someÌýof myÌýcolleagues had not worked in an ICU environmentÌýand the thought of being thrown into that area during a pandemic was stressful.ÌýNo one knew what was going to happenÌýwith theÌývirusÌýandÌýplans changed hourly, daily and weekly.Ìý

Now that we are nearing four months of our new "normal," things are settling on the unit.ÌýPlans have been put in place to care for COVIDÌýand potential COVID patients.ÌýThe number of surgeries being done on a daily basis remains below what it was pre-COVID as many patients remain hesitant to come to the hospital at this time due to the ongoing threat of the virus.Ìý

Many of us are still concerned how this virus will affectÌýpeople who are waiting longer to get their surgeries as well as for what the fall will bring when experts say there will be another spike in cases.

On a personal note, COVID has been a stressful time in and out of work as IÌýwas recentlyÌýdivorcedÌýand whenÌýschool was cancelled, I was scrambling for care for my three young children. WorkÌýhad its stressorsÌýand my Dad wasÌýpalliative —Ìýhe passed away two weeks ago.Ìý

I am hoping for the best for the opening up of the cityÌýas summerÌýand nicer weather are hereÌýand the situation we are inÌýhas been stressful for most.

Kathryn Kurylo, BN'03 is a Post Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU) nurse who currently works in the recovery room at the Foothills Hospital.ÌýShe started as an undergrad nurse in vascular surgery at the Peter Lougheed Centre and worked there as an RN before working in California on a medical cardiology floor for a year.ÌýShe also worked in CICU (cardiac intensive care)Ìýuntil 2014 and has been in PACU for the last six years.

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UCalgary resources on COVID-19

For the most up-to-date information about the Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ's response to the spread of COVID-19, visit theÌý