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Specialty Surgical Teams
AORN JOURNAL
FEBRUARY 1994, VOL 59, NO 2
Letters to the Editor
Specialty Surgical Teams
T
his letter is in response to the article “Specialty surgical teams: Results of a study” in the December 1993 issue of the Journal. Although I agree that the use of specialty teams for complex surgical procedures can enhance patients’ quality of care, I do not agree with the authors’ statement, “With specialty teams, perioperative nurses are not expected to be experts in all specialty areas.” I work the evening shift at a large university hospital, and I am responsible for every surgical service. When I report to work, I do not know to which OR or to what type of procedure I may be assigned. One day I may be assigned to circulate in a coronary artery bypass graft procedure, and the next day I may be assigned to a total hip arthroplasty case. In addition to elective cases, my evening-shift coworkers and I also are responsible for staffing emergency room cases; therefore, we must be experienced in every surgical service. I have worked with the day-shift specialty teams and consider many of them to be experts in their surgical specialties, but I also have experienced the negative aspect of surgical specialty teams. I have witnessed elective cases being delayed and have seen ORs not being used because the OR staff scrub person and circulator were not willing to work in a surgical service that was not their specialty. Some OR staff nurses have honed their skills to one particular surgeon, and when asked to work with other surgeons in the same surgical specialty, the nurses often resist 364
such assignments. Also, in regards to specialty surgical teams, nurses taking call must be considered. Are they only to be used in their particular surgical specialties regardless of the urgency of perioperative patients coming to the OR? Specialization in perioperative nursing and the use of specialty surgical teams may be a viable alternative for complex surgical procedures because it may enhance patients’ quality of care, but specialization also has its downfalls. Nurses who are capable of performing in a variety of surgical services need to be recognized. Remember, our perioperative nursing practice should be patient centered, not focused on a particular surgeon or surgical procedure. DOUGRIDER,RN, BSN, CNOR STAFF NURSE SHANDS HOSPITAL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GAINESVILLE The Journal welcomes letters for its “Letters to the Editor” column. Letters must refer to Journal articles or columns published within the preceding two months. All letters are subject to editing before publication. Authors of articles or columns referenced in the letter to the editor may be given the opportunity to respond. Each letter that is included in the “Letters to the Editor” must contain the reader’s name, credentials if applicable (eg, RN, BSN, CNOR), position or title, employer, and employer’s address. Submit all correspondence to AORN Journal, Letters to the Editor, 21 70 S Parker Rd, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231 -571I .
FEBRUARY 1994, VOL 59, NO 2
Letters to the Editor
Specialty Surgical Teams
T
his letter is in response to the article “Specialty surgical teams: Results of a study” in the December 1993 issue of the Journal. Although I agree that the use of specialty teams for complex surgical procedures can enhance patients’ quality of care, I do not agree with the authors’ statement, “With specialty teams, perioperative nurses are not expected to be experts in all specialty areas.” I work the evening shift at a large university hospital, and I am responsible for every surgical service. When I report to work, I do not know to which OR or to what type of procedure I may be assigned. One day I may be assigned to circulate in a coronary artery bypass graft procedure, and the next day I may be assigned to a total hip arthroplasty case. In addition to elective cases, my evening-shift coworkers and I also are responsible for staffing emergency room cases; therefore, we must be experienced in every surgical service. I have worked with the day-shift specialty teams and consider many of them to be experts in their surgical specialties, but I also have experienced the negative aspect of surgical specialty teams. I have witnessed elective cases being delayed and have seen ORs not being used because the OR staff scrub person and circulator were not willing to work in a surgical service that was not their specialty. Some OR staff nurses have honed their skills to one particular surgeon, and when asked to work with other surgeons in the same surgical specialty, the nurses often resist 364
such assignments. Also, in regards to specialty surgical teams, nurses taking call must be considered. Are they only to be used in their particular surgical specialties regardless of the urgency of perioperative patients coming to the OR? Specialization in perioperative nursing and the use of specialty surgical teams may be a viable alternative for complex surgical procedures because it may enhance patients’ quality of care, but specialization also has its downfalls. Nurses who are capable of performing in a variety of surgical services need to be recognized. Remember, our perioperative nursing practice should be patient centered, not focused on a particular surgeon or surgical procedure. DOUGRIDER,RN, BSN, CNOR STAFF NURSE SHANDS HOSPITAL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GAINESVILLE The Journal welcomes letters for its “Letters to the Editor” column. Letters must refer to Journal articles or columns published within the preceding two months. All letters are subject to editing before publication. Authors of articles or columns referenced in the letter to the editor may be given the opportunity to respond. Each letter that is included in the “Letters to the Editor” must contain the reader’s name, credentials if applicable (eg, RN, BSN, CNOR), position or title, employer, and employer’s address. Submit all correspondence to AORN Journal, Letters to the Editor, 21 70 S Parker Rd, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231 -571I .