Perioperative nursing is a fascinating field within the nursing profession. This field of nursing entails providing patient care during three different stages. These stages consist of providing preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. Many nurses and nursing students have an interest in this field, and even choose to specialize in the field due to various reasons. It is most often due to a desire to work in a fast-paced environment, experience camaraderie amongst staff, provide compassionate care to those in need, and focus their care on the surgical patient at hand. It is expected that all nurses and nursing students want to be most successful in this specialty field and provide high-quality, optimal care. In order to do this, …show more content…
The AORN has already developed courses such as PERIOP 101: A CORE CURRICULUM™ OR, which is based on best evidence-based practices, and is currently used in healthcare facilities when training novice perioperative nurses. Some individuals that can range from novices to experts may seek additional education to enhance their knowledge. With membership, the AORN provides free continuing education courses which can help ensure nurses reach that goal. These continuing education courses can be focused on aseptic techniques, equipment and product safety, proper sterilization and disinfection, and more. By taking advantage of the educational opportunities made available for nurses, whether it is through one’s healthcare facility or for free with membership in the organization, this will enhance the nurse’s knowledge and make him or her more suitable for entrance or continuation in the perioperative field. It is critical to receive proper education to maintain safety of self as well as patients in this dynamic …show more content…
In all aspects of nursing, guidelines for evidence-based practice have been put into place which helps direct nurses in their clinical decision making. “AORN's Guidelines for Perioperative Practice are divided into five main topic areas: Aseptic Practice, Equipment & Product Safety, Patient & Work Safety, Patient Care, and Sterilization & Disinfection. AORN’s Guidelines are the official evidence-based position on questions regarding perioperative practice” (AORN). In addition to these guidelines, there are other resources available such as the AORN Journal, digital newsletters, Journal alerts, Journal article podcasts, and more. These resources are available with membership and keep members up to date each month with the latest evidence-based clinical best practices. By utilizing these resources and following the guidelines put into place for perioperative nurses, it will allow nurses to provide high-quality patient care, improve patient experience, and help to improve the outcome of patients during their invasive and non-invasive surgical
Education is imperative in improving quality and safety in patient care. Nurse educators must now implement a curriculum that is designed to teach pre and post-license nursing students the skills, knowledge, and attitude that is necessary to ensure the safety of the patients. Obtaining knowledge in how to
This essay will discuss the risks for patients during the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative stages of the perioperative journey and how both patients and healthcare professionals involved in the perioperative stages can work together to prevent perioperative hypothermia.
Ignatavicius, D. D., & Workman, M. L. (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: patient-centered collaborative care (7th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.
As a medical / surgical RN, I provided care for the elderly, the infirm, the mentally challenged, the young, and the psychologically disturbed. The wide variety of patients exposed me to the effects of life style choices, health care choices, and the resulting impacts to the patient as well as to the family of the patient. This experience has fully matured my view of the awesome responsibility that we, as health care professionals, have been charged with, and it has furthered my desire to obtain the skills necessary to provide more advanced care for my patients. In addition to exposure, maturity and experience, my career as a medical / surgical RN has also sharpened my critical thinking abilities and provided insight on observing signs and symptoms that a patient may be unware of. Furthermore, as a charge nurse I learned the importance of collaborating with other health care professionals in order to provide the highest level of care available. In summary, my career as an RN has provided valuable experience, maturity, exposure to impact and outcome, enhanced my critical thinking abilities, and improved my collaboration
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company, 1994. Print.
Works Cited Ackley, B. & Ladwig, G. (2010) Nursing diagnosis handbook: an evidence-based guide to planning care. Maryland Heights, MO: Mosbey, MO. Ignatavicius, D. D., & Workman, M. L. (2013). Care of Intraoperative Patients.
Licensed practical nurses (LPN 's) fill an important role in modern health care practices. Their primary job duty is to provide routine care, observe patients’ health, assist doctors and registered nurses, and communicate instructions to patients regarding medication, home-based care, and preventative lifestyle changes (Hill). A Licensed Practical Nurse has various of roles that they have to manage on a day to day basis, such as being an advocate for their patients, an educator, being a counselor, a consultant, researcher, collaborator, and even a manager depending on what kind of work exactly that you do and where. It is the nursing process and critical thinking that separate the LPN from the unlicensed assistive personnel. Judgments are based
Davenport, Joan M., Stacy Estridge, and Dolores M. Zygmont. Medical-surgical nursing. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008, 66-88.
Ignatavicius, D.D. & Workman, M.L.(2010). Medical-Surgical Nursing: Patient-Centered Collaborative Care. (6th ed.). St. Philadelphia PA: Saunders Elsevier
Brunner, L.S. & Suddarth, D. S Textbook of Medical- Surgical Nursing, 1988 6th ed. J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia
It is one I know I will love and will be much more than just a job. It gives ordinary people the opportunity to be a proponent for every patient especially those who may fall through the cracks of the health care system. With that being said, I established important goals to remain on this path for success. By the end of my career I hope to be ultimately satisfied with my choices and following the realistic and clear career goals I have put out with myself, I hope to acquire the characteristics needed to become a successful perioperative nurse and become not only a healthcare provider, but an advocate for my patients and to have the education needed to give them the care and dedication each patient
Westhead, C. (2007). Perioperative Nursing Management of the Elderly Patient. Canadian Operating Room Nursing Journal, 25(3), 34-41. Retrieved from http://gateway.library.qut.edu.au/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/docview/274594603?accountid=13380.
The role of the nurse in the preoperative area is to determine the patient’s psychological status to help with the use of coping during the surgery process. Determine physiologic factors directly or indirectly related to the surgical procedure that may cause operative risk factors. Establish baseline data for comparison in the intraoperative and postoperative period. Participate in the identification and documentation of the surgical site and or side of body on which the procedure is to be performed. Identify prescription drugs, over the counter, and herbal supplements that are taken by the patient that may interact and affect the surgical outcome. Document the results of all preoperative laboratory and diagnostic tests in the patient’s record
Although the importance of aseptic technique has been continually reiterated, I have realised its substantial role in the perioperative environment. Aseptic technique refers to the practice of creating and maintaining a sterile environment used for sterile procedures (Laws, 2010a). This is incredibly important as repetitive minor breaches of the sterile environment is one of the major factors increasing the risk of surgical site infection (Harrop et al., 2012).
I went to the operating room on March 23, 2016 for the Wilkes Community College Nursing Class of 2017 for observation. Another student and I were assigned to this unit from 7:30am-2:00pm. When we got their we changed into the operating room scrubs, placed a bonnet on our heads and placed booties over our shoes. I got to observe three different surgeries, two laparoscopic shoulder surgeries and one ankle surgery. While cleaning the surgical room for the next surgery, I got to communicate with the nurses and surgical team they explained the flow and equipment that was used in the operating room.