Environmental safety: an essential element of quality care

Quality care results when nurses conform to standards of practice. Health care providers are accountable for compliance with laws that set standards for environmental safety, standards set by accrediting bodies, state practice acts, and community and institutional standards. Conformance with standards requires continuous monitoring, updating of information, and staff education. The PACU is a busy place with rapid changes in patient census, patient status, and staffing needs. It may seem difficult to allot time for safety education and practice sessions. The authors offer suggestions, using fire safety as an example, for providing a safe environment for patients and personnel in the PACU.