Canadian operating room nursing journal
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Approximately one to three per cent of pregnant women undergo surgery that is unrelated to their pregnancy. In Canada this represents about 5,000 patients each year that present unique challenges to the perioperative nurse and the entire surgical team. Approximately five to ten per cent of these patients are involved in trauma, which causes 46.3% of maternal deaths. ⋯ This decreases to less than five per cent in the second and third trimesters. Pre-term labor presents the greatest risk in the second and third trimesters. The most common need for surgery in pregnancy is associated with appendicitis, biliary tract disease, intestinal obstruction, urinary calculi and trauma.
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This article explores the concepts of bullying and harassment, defines the terms and their implications, and explores similarities and differences between the two. It also examines pertinent legislation and identifies strategies to raise awareness and optimise a bullying and harassment-free perioperative environment. Bullying and harassment in the workplace was the focus of this presentation at NATN Congress 2002. Challenging behaviours involving patients and careers is another topic in itself.
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The surgical count plays a vital role in enabling perioperative nurses to provide a safe environment to surgical patients. Counting errors are preventable. ⋯ This article will discuss the risk factors for retained items, rate of occurrence, what objects are being left in patients, role of x-rays and consequences of leaving an object in a patient. It will also highlight points to be considered when implementing new count policies.
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The current social trend towards personal esthetics has come into conflict with safe perioperative care practices. While artificial nails have become very popular they pose a significant risk to patients. Surgical personnel who scrub while wearing artificial nails are putting their patients at higher risk for post-surgical wound infection. ⋯ We cannot rely on surgical gloves to always contain these hand organisms. There are reported cases where artificial nails have been the cause of post-surgical infections and even death. OR personnel who scrub should not wear artificial nails.
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Perioperative educators mostly conduct orientation, in service and continuing education to perioperative staff. Their role can be expanded to improve the quality and efficiency of perioperative care. To this end, an organizational communication model can be used to identify weaknesses and guide intervention. To be effective with this approach, perioperative educators have to work closely with perioperative managers.