Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
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Whenever the human body is subjected to anesthesia and an invasive surgical procedure, the potential for complications exists. A goal of perioperative care is to minimize that risk while providing the safest care available for the patient. ⋯ The evaluative process must be cost-effective and efficient without compromising reliability. This article familiarizes and updates the perianesthesia nurse on management issues for the surgical patient.
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Plasma cholinesterase (PCE) is an enzyme necessary for the metabolism of certain anesthetic-related medications. Individuals with abnormal cholinesterase activity (e.g., insufficient quantity of functional PCE or atypical PCE genotypes) may exhibit a prolonged paralytic response to the muscle relaxants succinylcholine and mivacurium. A review of perianesthesia nursing considerations and treatment modalities relating to patients presenting with this interesting clinical picture will be offered.
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J. Perianesth. Nurs. · Oct 1996
ReviewStrategies for success: preparing for the certification examination.
Preparing for one of the certification examinations in perianesthesia nursing can be as challenging as taking them. For many, a certification examination will be the first test taken since graduation from a nursing education program. Identifying and practicing successful testing behaviors will assist the candidate in organizing an approach to learning and reviewing for examination. ⋯ Test anxiety often is a major obstacle to effective test performance. Strategies to deal with anxiety can be learned and used to successfully prepare for and take the examination. A confident approach to the certification examination is the candidate's greatest asset.
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J. Perianesth. Nurs. · Oct 1996
Engineering for quality in the postanesthesia care unit: an outcomes approach.
For the past 18 months, we have been monitoring three categories of outcome indicators. This process has aided us in decreasing overall patient length of stay (LOS) and improved the quality of care we provide our PACU patients. Using a local area network (LAN) computer program, we track the following: a set of sentinel indicators, a set of proximate clinical outcome indicators, and a set of system indicators based on nonclinical issues that prolong PACU LOS. ⋯ Quality improvement tools to facilitate further scrutiny of processes and aspects of care felt to be of particular relevance to perioperative nursing have also been developed. We are entering an era in which external accrediting agencies and third-party payers are placing an increasing emphasis on measuring and optimizing patient outcomes. This overall program will position the PACU at an advantage in meeting such challenges.