The nurse from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is giving report to the unit nurse at the bedside of a patient who just had surgery for a total hip replacement. Approximately 20 minutes after the patient’s admission to the unit, the patient experiences a period of respiratory depression that was later attributed to medication received in the PACU. What error that occurred during the nurse-to-nurse handover may have contributed to this patient’s problem?

1 The PACU nurse was giving report while helping to transfer the patient into bed.

2 The PACU nurse arrived with the patient 15 minutes later than was expected.

3 The unit nurse was not available for the nurse-to-nurse handover for 5 minutes after the PACU nurse arrives.

4 The unit nurse was familiar with the patient from previous hospitalizations.

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