A nurse in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) is evaluating a patient following general anesthesia using the Aldrete Score. Which five physical criteria are evaluated to determine readiness for discharge from the PACU?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Activity (motor), Respiration, Circulation (blood pressure), Consciousness, and Oxygen Saturation

  1. Step 1: The modified Aldrete Scoring System evaluates five physiological recovery parameters: Activity (voluntary movement of limbs), Respiration, Circulation (BP relative to pre-op baseline), Consciousness, and Oxygen Saturation.
  2. Step 2: Each domain is scored from 0 to 2; a total score >= 9 is standardly required for safe discharge from the PACU to the general surgical ward.
Answer
Activity (motor), Respiration, Circulation (blood pressure), Consciousness, and Oxygen Saturation.
Why not the others: 'Pain level, urinary output...' are general postoperative nursing concerns, but are not the five core domains of the Aldrete scoring rubric; 'Body temperature, bowel sounds...' evaluate GI function, not acute emergence; 'Heart rate, capillary refill...' do not represent the Aldrete criteria.

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