As the charge nurse, you assign a float nurse from PACU. Which patient is best for this nurse to take?

• A. 30-year-old with thalassemia major on deferoxamine
• B. 43-year-old with multiple myeloma needing discharge teaching
• C. 52-year-old with chronic GI bleeding after colonoscopy with sedation
• D. 65-year-old with pernicious anemia admitted

Answer: (C)

Acute instability takes priority, and a float nurse from PACU is best placed with someone who may require rapid assessment and intervention for post-procedure complications. The patient who has chronic GI bleeding after a colonoscopy with sedation represents ongoing bleeding and potential hypovolemia, needing close monitoring, IV access, and readiness to respond to signs of deterioration or transfusion needs. This fits the PACU float nurse’s skill set in airway, breathing, circulation, and rapid response to changing status. In contrast, the other patients are more stable or focused on education or chronic disease management, which do not require immediate post-anesthesia–level monitoring or quick intervention.