TDNet Discover

Introduction: Since the American Society of Anesthesiologists established standards requiring end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂) monitoring in 2011, anesthesia-related mortality has significantly decreased. While pulse oximetry is now the standard of care in all hospital settings, EtCO₂ waveform monitoring, also known as capnography, remains underutilized outside the operating room (OR). Despite its known advantages in early detection of hypoventilation, airway obstruction, and opioid-induced respiratory depression, many PACU nurses receive minimal formal training on capnography use and interpretation. The educational gap leads to inconsistent monitoring, delayed detection of respiratory compromise, and potential adverse patient outcomes. This project addresses the gap in EtCO₂ utilization within the PACU, where nurses often lack formal training in capnography monitoring. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to assess whether nurse education influences the use of EtCO₂ monitoring and improves confidence and knowledge among PACU nurses.