Orthopaedic nursing
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Orthopaedic nursing · May 2014
Total joint replacement discharge brunch: meeting patient education needs and a hospital initiative of discharge by noon.
In 2009, our facility established the goal that 70% of patients with discharge orders would be discharged by noon. The orthopaedic unit was not meeting this goal but saw an opportunity to standardize the discharge process for total joint replacement patients. ⋯ Nursing units with standardized discharge teaching should consider implementing a discharge brunch for groups of patients to help achieve goals of discharging patients before noon.
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Orthopaedic nursing · Jan 2014
Evidence-based clinical audit criteria for the prevention and management of delirium in the postoperative patient with a hip fracture.
Delirium is a frequent, yet often unrecognized, occurrence in elderly hospitalized patients. In patients with hip fracture, the incidence of delirium is reported to be as high as 62% and even greater if over 65 years of age. One approach to the prevention and management of postoperative delirium in elderly patients with hip fracture is the clinical audit. ⋯ The use of measurable, objective criterion, with an agreed standard of performance is the hallmark of an audit. The clinical audit criteria presented in this article for the prevention and management of delirium in hospitalized elderly with hip fracture were determined by a compilation of systematic reviews and existing evidence-based clinical guidelines. The following 5 audit criteria are discussed: (1) All elderly patients with a hip fracture are assessed for risk factors for developing delirium daily using a valid and reliable tool; (2) the environment of the patient with hip fracture is assessed daily for conduciveness to maintaining sensory orientation; (3) all patients with hip fracture receive essential nursing care; (4) appropriate clinical criteria are applied to confirm a diagnosis of delirium in patients with hip fracture; and (5) nonpharmacologic interventions are employed before pharmacologic interventions in patients with hip fracture with a diagnosis of delirium.
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Orthopaedic nursing · Nov 2013
Promoting safety of postoperative orthopaedic patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Orthopaedic patients with obstructive sleep apnea are at risk for postoperative complications related to administration of pain medications, anxiolytics, and antiemetics. They are more likely to experience respiratory and cardiac complications, be transferred to an intensive care unit, or have an increased length of stay in the hospital. This informational article is for nurses who care for postoperative orthopaedic patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The focus is on promoting patient safety through communication, vigilant postoperative sedation assessment, and nursing interventions that include appropriate patient positioning, patient education, and involving patients and their families in care.
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Orthopaedic nursing · Nov 2013
Young people's experiences with scoliosis surgery: a survey of pain, nausea, and global satisfaction.
Scoliosis surgery is one of the most extensive elective surgical processes performed on young people. Although there is a great store of knowledge of surgical techniques, patients' experiences of going through surgery have not been extensively studied. ⋯ Young people who underwent scoliosis surgery reported severe postoperative pain and nausea during the hospitalization period and persistent and recent onset pain after discharge, although they did not indicate global dissatisfaction with the hospital stay.