Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses
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Obese patients are seen in every practice setting. Obesity is a chronic disease that may lead to physical and emotional problems, which may have an impact on the social and psychological functioning of the patient. With appropriate preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative precautions; monitoring; and restructuring the environment to promote care and safety, the incidence of poor surgical outcomes can be minimized. This paper will address the significance of obesity, related diseases, and proper care of the obese patient.
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As time goes on, more professional societies and individual states are mandating stricter standards for office surgical facilities to ensure quality of care. As the nurse is often the person who coordinates accreditation efforts within the facility, he or she needs to be "savvy" regarding the implementation and maintenance of these standards. The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) criteria are discussed with strategies and rationale for implementation.
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Advancements in technology and pharmacology, as well as improved techniques and instrumentation have allowed for much greater flexibility in how and where surgical and anesthesia care can be provided safely. Many procedures now take but a fraction of the time they used to take to complete and can be performed with minimal risk of blood loss and far less postoperative pain. Office-based surgery has emerged as a safe and viable alternative to traditional in-hospital surgery. This article provides an overview of the comprehensive "Standards for Office-Based Anesthesia Practice" developed by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).