After ensuring a client's airway is patent in the PACU, what should the nurse check next?

Once the client's airway has been confirmed as patent in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), the next critical step is to assess the pulse oximetry readings. Monitoring oxygen saturation is vital in ensuring that the patient is receiving adequate oxygenation following anesthesia. Adequate oxygen levels are essential for preventing complications such as hypoxia, particularly as the effects of anesthesia can cause respiratory depression or compromise airway function.

While factors like vital signs, urine output, and orientation are important, they come after confirming oxygenation as a priority. Proper oxygenation is foundational to both the safety and recovery of the patient, which is why it takes precedence immediately after airway management. Vital signs can provide additional important information about the patient's overall physiological status, but the pulse oximetry specifically assesses the effectiveness of ventilation and oxygen delivery, which is critical immediately after surgery.