The routine of post anaesthetic observations
Mari A Botti
School of Nursing, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne VIC
Jennifer O'Hunt
Associate Charge Nurse, Road Trauma Unit, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne VIC
PP: 052 - 057
Abstract
Fifty registered nurses were interviewed to determine how nurses view routine post anaesthetic observations (RPAOs). A structured interview established whether nurses routinely carry out post anaesthetic observations and if they believe that routine observations are part of ward procedure or hospital policy. Nurses' beliefs about the necessity for performing these observations and the rationales they use to justify them were also explored.
The results show that all the nurses sampled interpreted RPAOs to mean half hourly vital sign measurements for four hours, and believed that the regimen was prescribed by ward or hospital policy. Many believed that this frequency was necessary to detect complications of surgery or anaesthesia. A small number of nurses felt obliged to comply with perceived hospital policy despite an assessment that it was unnecessary. Procedure-driven assessment and tradition rather than individualized patient assessment appear to be directing post operative nursing actions.
Keywords
post anaesthesia care, post anaesthesia nursing, postoperative care, nursing role, attitude of health personnel, routine, vital signs
References
Beare P G, Myers J L (1990) Principles and practice of adult health nursing. CV Mosby, St Louis.
Chapman GE(1983) Ritual and rational action in hospitals. Journal of Advances Nursing 8: 13-20.
Davies C (1976) Experience of dependency and control in work: The case of nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing 1: 272-282.
Davis MJ and Nomura LA (1990) Vital signs of class 1 surgical patients. Western Journal of Nursing Research 12(1): 28-41.
Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (1989) Guidelines for the care of patients recovering from anaesthesia in the recovery area.
Hirsch AM (1990) Commentary by Hirsch. Western Journal of Nursing Research 12(1): 37-39.
Hunt M (1987) The process of translating research findings into nursing practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing 12: 101-110.
Kneedler JA and Dodge GH (1991) Perioperative patient care 2nd edn. Jones & Bartlett, Boston.
Kneisl CR and Ames SW (1986) Adult health nursing: A biopsychosocial approach. Addison-Wesley, Reading.
Luckmann J and Sorensen KIC (1987) Medical-surgical nursing: A psychophysiolgic approach 3rd edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia.
Menzies I (1970) The functioning of social systems as a defence against anxiety. Tavistock Pamphlet No 5.
Phipps WJ, Long BC, Woods NF and Cassmeyer VL (1991) Medical-surgical nursing: Concepts and clinical practice 4th edn. Mosby Year Book, St Louis.
Walsh M and Ford P (1989) Nursing rituals: Research and rational actions. Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford.
eContent Home
