- Email: [email protected]
Come in from the cold
editorial opinion Come in From the Cold VALLIRE D. HOOPER,
I
LOVE OCTOBER! Football season is in full swing; Halloween is just around the corner; the leaves are beginning to change; and finally, here in Augusta, GA, we are beginning to get some relief from the dog days of summer. Regardless of whether you live in the “arctic North” or the “sunny South,” there are preparations to be made as the days get shorter and temperatures drop. Mother Nature is telling us, “Change is here. Winter is coming. Prepare to come in from the cold.” It is appropriate that this issue is full of topics addressing current practice, changes in practice, and dealing with the cold. Current and past research practice is reviewed in “A Profile of Perianesthesia Nursing Patient Outcome Research, 1994-1999.” This study provides a detailed overview of perianesthesia nursing research over a recent 6-year period. It provides an excellent profile of current research practices, and more importantly, provides direction as to where perianesthesia research needs to go in the future. In essence, it is an overview of the past with a clear direction for future change. “CAMPing in the PACU: Using Complementary and Alternative Medical Practices in the PACU” addresses what for many of us will be a change in practice: the use of holistic healing in the everyday care of perianesthesia patients. This article provides an excellent summary of various holistic healing techniques organized around a case study in which these techniques are successfully applied in the practice setting. Application of these techniques in the clinical setting will be, for many, a change of practice. The effects of these techniques on patient outcomes will also provide many with a ripe, new field of perianesthesia research. The end result is an overview of changing practice with clear indications for future change and evaluation. And finally, this issue presents an article with clear directions for dealing with the cold— or
MSN, RN, CPAN
rather, with the cold patient. ASPAN is proud to present the Clinical Guideline for the Prevention of Unplanned Perioperative Hypothermia. This guideline represents 3 years of development, consensus forming, and testing among 7 professional nursing and medical organizations all driven by one clear goal: improving the care of the patient in the perioperative setting through the maintenance of normothermia. ASPAN has been the leader and coordinator of this historic process because it is now specialty organizations, and not the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (now known as the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality), who are directed to be the leaders in the identification and development of guidelines that address topics of clinical need and relevance. This Guideline is research based and has been tested for its effects on cost, resources, and practicality of implementation on a total of 193 subjects at 6 institutions. Results showed that the Guideline is easy to follow and use, and most importantly, that implementation of these guidelines in the practice setting results in improved patient satisfaction and improved patient care.1 It is now up to you, the perianesthesia nurse, to implement these guidelines and improve patient care. Clear guidelines for assessment, intervention, and evaluation are provided for every perianesthe-
The ideas and opinions expressed in this editorial are those solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ASPAN, the Journal, or the publisher. Vallire D. Hooper, MSN, RN, CPAN, is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Surgical Services at St Joseph’s Hospital, Augusta, GA, and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA. Address correspondence to Vallire D. Hooper, MSN, RN, CPAN, 10 Park Place Circle, Augusta, GA 30909; e-mail address: [email protected]. © 2001 by American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. 1089-9472/01/1605-0001$35.00/0 doi:10.1053/jpan.2001.28451
Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, Vol 16, No 5 (October), 2001: pp 301-302
301
VALLIRE D. HOOPER
302
sia and/or perioperative phase. Share these guidelines with the OR nurses, surgeons, and anesthesia providers in your practice setting. Emphasize that the guidelines were developed as a joint effort between our various specialty organizations and that official endorsements have been obtained or are pending from every professional organization involved. Join ASPAN as the leader in perianesthesia nursing care. Evaluate your current practice, change that practice as indicated to meet the recommendations of the guideline, and advocate for
improved patient care that is research based. Make a difference in the lives of your patients. Come in from the cold!
REFERENCE 1. Jeran L, McAuliffe M, Hooper V, et al: Pilot study: Evaluation of the clinical guideline for the prevention of unplanned perioperative hypothermia. Poster presentation at the 20th National Conference of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, Boston, MA, April 1-5, 2001
ERRATUM
In the article, “Evaluation of ASPAN’s Preoperative Patient Teaching Videos on General, Regional, and Minimum Alveolar Concentration/Conscious Sedation Anesthesia,” by Dina A. Krenzischek, MAS, RN, CPAN, Linda Wilson, MSN, PhD(c), RN, CAPA, CPAN, and Ellen L. Poole, DNSc(c), RN, CCRN, CPAN (Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing 16:174180, 2001) there is a correction. The acronym MAC was expanded incorrectly in the title and in the article. The correct title is “Evaluation of ASPAN’s Preoperative Patient Teaching Videos on General, Regional, and Monitored Anesthesia Care/Conscious Sedation Anesthesia,” with MAC expanded as Monitored Anesthesia Care. In the article, “A Study of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice: The Foundation for Newly Revised CPAN and CAPA Certification Examinations,” by Bonnie S. Niebuhr, MS, RN, CAE, and Patricia Muenzen, MA (Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing 16:163-173, 2001) there is one correction. The affiliation for Patricia Muenzen is not ABPANC. Her correct affiliation is as follows: Patricia Muenzen, MA, Assistant Director of Research Programs for Professional Examination Service, New York, NY.
MEMBERSHIP
ASPAN membership information, including membership applications and a Willingness to Serve form may be found at the ASPAN Web site: www.aspan.org.
I
LOVE OCTOBER! Football season is in full swing; Halloween is just around the corner; the leaves are beginning to change; and finally, here in Augusta, GA, we are beginning to get some relief from the dog days of summer. Regardless of whether you live in the “arctic North” or the “sunny South,” there are preparations to be made as the days get shorter and temperatures drop. Mother Nature is telling us, “Change is here. Winter is coming. Prepare to come in from the cold.” It is appropriate that this issue is full of topics addressing current practice, changes in practice, and dealing with the cold. Current and past research practice is reviewed in “A Profile of Perianesthesia Nursing Patient Outcome Research, 1994-1999.” This study provides a detailed overview of perianesthesia nursing research over a recent 6-year period. It provides an excellent profile of current research practices, and more importantly, provides direction as to where perianesthesia research needs to go in the future. In essence, it is an overview of the past with a clear direction for future change. “CAMPing in the PACU: Using Complementary and Alternative Medical Practices in the PACU” addresses what for many of us will be a change in practice: the use of holistic healing in the everyday care of perianesthesia patients. This article provides an excellent summary of various holistic healing techniques organized around a case study in which these techniques are successfully applied in the practice setting. Application of these techniques in the clinical setting will be, for many, a change of practice. The effects of these techniques on patient outcomes will also provide many with a ripe, new field of perianesthesia research. The end result is an overview of changing practice with clear indications for future change and evaluation. And finally, this issue presents an article with clear directions for dealing with the cold— or
MSN, RN, CPAN
rather, with the cold patient. ASPAN is proud to present the Clinical Guideline for the Prevention of Unplanned Perioperative Hypothermia. This guideline represents 3 years of development, consensus forming, and testing among 7 professional nursing and medical organizations all driven by one clear goal: improving the care of the patient in the perioperative setting through the maintenance of normothermia. ASPAN has been the leader and coordinator of this historic process because it is now specialty organizations, and not the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (now known as the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality), who are directed to be the leaders in the identification and development of guidelines that address topics of clinical need and relevance. This Guideline is research based and has been tested for its effects on cost, resources, and practicality of implementation on a total of 193 subjects at 6 institutions. Results showed that the Guideline is easy to follow and use, and most importantly, that implementation of these guidelines in the practice setting results in improved patient satisfaction and improved patient care.1 It is now up to you, the perianesthesia nurse, to implement these guidelines and improve patient care. Clear guidelines for assessment, intervention, and evaluation are provided for every perianesthe-
The ideas and opinions expressed in this editorial are those solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ASPAN, the Journal, or the publisher. Vallire D. Hooper, MSN, RN, CPAN, is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Surgical Services at St Joseph’s Hospital, Augusta, GA, and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA. Address correspondence to Vallire D. Hooper, MSN, RN, CPAN, 10 Park Place Circle, Augusta, GA 30909; e-mail address: [email protected]. © 2001 by American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. 1089-9472/01/1605-0001$35.00/0 doi:10.1053/jpan.2001.28451
Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, Vol 16, No 5 (October), 2001: pp 301-302
301
VALLIRE D. HOOPER
302
sia and/or perioperative phase. Share these guidelines with the OR nurses, surgeons, and anesthesia providers in your practice setting. Emphasize that the guidelines were developed as a joint effort between our various specialty organizations and that official endorsements have been obtained or are pending from every professional organization involved. Join ASPAN as the leader in perianesthesia nursing care. Evaluate your current practice, change that practice as indicated to meet the recommendations of the guideline, and advocate for
improved patient care that is research based. Make a difference in the lives of your patients. Come in from the cold!
REFERENCE 1. Jeran L, McAuliffe M, Hooper V, et al: Pilot study: Evaluation of the clinical guideline for the prevention of unplanned perioperative hypothermia. Poster presentation at the 20th National Conference of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, Boston, MA, April 1-5, 2001
ERRATUM
In the article, “Evaluation of ASPAN’s Preoperative Patient Teaching Videos on General, Regional, and Minimum Alveolar Concentration/Conscious Sedation Anesthesia,” by Dina A. Krenzischek, MAS, RN, CPAN, Linda Wilson, MSN, PhD(c), RN, CAPA, CPAN, and Ellen L. Poole, DNSc(c), RN, CCRN, CPAN (Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing 16:174180, 2001) there is a correction. The acronym MAC was expanded incorrectly in the title and in the article. The correct title is “Evaluation of ASPAN’s Preoperative Patient Teaching Videos on General, Regional, and Monitored Anesthesia Care/Conscious Sedation Anesthesia,” with MAC expanded as Monitored Anesthesia Care. In the article, “A Study of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice: The Foundation for Newly Revised CPAN and CAPA Certification Examinations,” by Bonnie S. Niebuhr, MS, RN, CAE, and Patricia Muenzen, MA (Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing 16:163-173, 2001) there is one correction. The affiliation for Patricia Muenzen is not ABPANC. Her correct affiliation is as follows: Patricia Muenzen, MA, Assistant Director of Research Programs for Professional Examination Service, New York, NY.
MEMBERSHIP
ASPAN membership information, including membership applications and a Willingness to Serve form may be found at the ASPAN Web site: www.aspan.org.