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Sacred Cows
DECEMBER 1993, VOL SX. N O
AORN JOURNAL
Letters to the Editor
Defining Nursing Roles
Sacred Cows
I
was happy t o read the September 1993 “Editorial.” It never ceases to amaze me how many sacred cows we hold onto without justification. In particular is the practice of setting temperature-regulating equipment at 39” F (3.89” C). Older machines required this setting because they allowed a patient’s body temperature to fluctuate by three or more degrees. New technology makes i t possible to set the machines at 42” F (5.56” C ) and have a patient’s temperature regulated within one tenth of one degree. Additionally, old temperature-regulating blankets were rigid; patients had to be padded beneath these blankets to prevent pressure sores. Even though new blankets do not require padding to protect patients, many nurses continue to pad patients, which insulates them from the blankets. We might as well not use temperature-regulating equipment and blankets if we are going to set the machines at 39” F (3.89” C) and insulate the patients from the blankets. I believe it is nurses’ responsibility to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapies we provide and update our policies accordingly. No longer can we say, “If it was good enough for my grandparents, it is good enough for me.” Technology marches on, and sacred cows must be put to pasture. NANCYANNCOYNE, RN, BS CONSULTANT DEBARY, FLA 1104
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at continues to disturb me about the September 1993 “President’s Message” is the belief that technicians can circulate in ORs and provide the same quality care as RNs provide. As RNs, we have delegated many of our duties, including our scrub positions, for budgetary reasons to allied health personnel. As an RN for more than 16 years, I have witnessed the filtering of our duties and am distressed at the thought of relinquishing my “hands-on” patient care further. Are we going to allow ourselves to be pushed out of roles in which we serve well strictly to keep C O S ~ S down? NANCYCONLEY, RN STAFF NURSE SHANDS
HOSPITALAT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, GAINESVILL.E
The Journal welcomes letters for its “Letters to the Editor.” column. Letters must rcfer to Journal usticles or cdunins published within the preceding two months. All letters are subject to editing bejow publicution. Authors of urticles or columns referencd in the letter to the editor may be given the opportunify to respond. Euch letter that i s included i n the “Letters to the Editor” c d u m n must contuin the reader’s name. credentials if upplicuhlc (ex, R N , B S N , C N O R ) . position o r title. eniployes, and employer’s uddress. Submit all c w w s p o n d t w e i o AORN Journal, Letters to the Editor, 21 70 S P wkcs Rd, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231-571 1 .
AORN JOURNAL
Letters to the Editor
Defining Nursing Roles
Sacred Cows
I
was happy t o read the September 1993 “Editorial.” It never ceases to amaze me how many sacred cows we hold onto without justification. In particular is the practice of setting temperature-regulating equipment at 39” F (3.89” C). Older machines required this setting because they allowed a patient’s body temperature to fluctuate by three or more degrees. New technology makes i t possible to set the machines at 42” F (5.56” C ) and have a patient’s temperature regulated within one tenth of one degree. Additionally, old temperature-regulating blankets were rigid; patients had to be padded beneath these blankets to prevent pressure sores. Even though new blankets do not require padding to protect patients, many nurses continue to pad patients, which insulates them from the blankets. We might as well not use temperature-regulating equipment and blankets if we are going to set the machines at 39” F (3.89” C) and insulate the patients from the blankets. I believe it is nurses’ responsibility to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapies we provide and update our policies accordingly. No longer can we say, “If it was good enough for my grandparents, it is good enough for me.” Technology marches on, and sacred cows must be put to pasture. NANCYANNCOYNE, RN, BS CONSULTANT DEBARY, FLA 1104
w
at continues to disturb me about the September 1993 “President’s Message” is the belief that technicians can circulate in ORs and provide the same quality care as RNs provide. As RNs, we have delegated many of our duties, including our scrub positions, for budgetary reasons to allied health personnel. As an RN for more than 16 years, I have witnessed the filtering of our duties and am distressed at the thought of relinquishing my “hands-on” patient care further. Are we going to allow ourselves to be pushed out of roles in which we serve well strictly to keep C O S ~ S down? NANCYCONLEY, RN STAFF NURSE SHANDS
HOSPITALAT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, GAINESVILL.E
The Journal welcomes letters for its “Letters to the Editor.” column. Letters must rcfer to Journal usticles or cdunins published within the preceding two months. All letters are subject to editing bejow publicution. Authors of urticles or columns referencd in the letter to the editor may be given the opportunify to respond. Euch letter that i s included i n the “Letters to the Editor” c d u m n must contuin the reader’s name. credentials if upplicuhlc (ex, R N , B S N , C N O R ) . position o r title. eniployes, and employer’s uddress. Submit all c w w s p o n d t w e i o AORN Journal, Letters to the Editor, 21 70 S P wkcs Rd, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231-571 1 .