Discharge readiness of patients from the post anaesthetic care unit (PACU) is often determined by specific discharge criteria. This quantitative, descriptive national study aimed to survey discharge criteria used in the PACU. Data from 45 hospitals nationally with a response rate of 77.8% (n = 35) was gathered. Specific discharge criteria were used by 71.4% (n = 25) of the PACUs in the determination of fitness of patients for discharge from the PACU.