Perioperative nursing experience wi...

Perioperative nursing experience within a required course or as an elective of a nursing program is scarce in the United States. This turn began in the 1970s when education mov to a generalist focus, and the number of clinical hours required in nursing curricula was reduc Clinical aspect to specialty areas, such as perioperative nursing, was shortened or delet from many nursing programs. (1)

The curriculum of the corporation of Nursing at Brigham Young University, Provo Utah, always has included a brief two- to four- day experience in the perioperative setting. lately a six-week perioperative nursing elective was added to this curriculum. The elective has been fortunate in teaching perioperative nursing contented and providing clinical experience that has enhanced baccalaureate nursing bookish man preparation. In addition, the elective has encourageed students' interest in perioperative nursing, which has issueed in graduates being placed in perioperative nursing positions in Utah and from top to toe the United States.

The faculty member who teaches the elective lately learned of a local humanitarian cluster that travels to Guatemala yearly to perform plastic and reconstructive surgery onward children with burns or birth faults such as cleft lip and palate, syndactyly, and polydactyly. The Hirsche Smiles Foundation (HSF) headed by the agency of Blayne Hirsche, MD, provides experience in humanitarian service to health care providers, with the additional goal of educating as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but nursing and medical students in plastic and reconstructive surgery

The faculty member make knowned a cooperative arrangement with HSF that allowed scholars from the Brigham Young University body of Nursing to gain clinical perioperative experience during a 10-day mission to a small rural hospital in Chiquimula, Guatemala. The mission was beneath the auspices of the Pediatric Foundation of Guatemala.

PREPARATION

bookish man preparation for this experience was extensive and included a didactic portion and clinical hours in perioperative nursing. In addition, bookish mans were required to become familiar with Guatemalan improvement and health care, attend HSF meetings, and assist with preparation and packing supplies (eg instruments, gown drapes, materials, equipment).

Perioperative nursing.

Assigned readings were taken from Berry and Kohn's Operating latitude Technique, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery other surgical and pediatric nursing relations and journal articles related to international perioperative nursing. (2) Topics masked in class included

* the history of perioperative nursing,

* AORN Standards and commended Practices,

* preoperative patient assessment and preparation,

* aseptic technique,

* circulating suckle and scrub person roles and responsibilities,

* anesthesia and medications,

* disinfection and sterilization,

* instrumentation, and

* postanesthesia and postoperative care.

Additional preparation included 20 hours of clinical experience at a local hospital, where scholars were able to observe surgical proceedings and practice the skills learned in class. learners were taught the "gold standard" of perioperative nursing, knowing that many adaptations would be stand in want ofed in the Guatemalan hospital.

Cultural education. Education about Guatemalan agriculture was similar to that

taught in other international bookish man nursing experiences. (3) Culture classes were taught through the faculty member and by means of other nurses who had lived in Guatemala. Topics included the history of Guatemala, ethnic origins and cultural traditions of the the community safety precautions for visitors, transmission from hand to hand and exchange rates, clothing requirements, and commited personal hygiene items. Students, if not ready in the language, were encouraged to gain a beginner's knowledge of conversational and medical Spanish. The combination of cultural and language classes provided of the highest order preparation and a realistic expectation of the mission.

Foundation meetings.

Approximately three month before the trip, bookish mans were required to attend monthly HSF meetings, where they were oriented to the processe of the upcoming trip and given additional cultural training. The meetings also provided HSF members and observers with information about the organization's financial goals and expectations. observers became involved in fund-raising activities to counterpart the donations already received. the two HSF members and students were required to pay their allow expenses for the trip and were asked to donate approximately $150--the splendor of one child's surgery in Guatemala. Funding for pupils was supplemented by scholarships.

Packing and preparation.

learners and team members learned space-saving techniques to be paid to airline weight and baggage restrictions. Each participant carried united personal piece of luggage and was responsible for sum of two units large military surplus duffel bags or plastic shipping containers as part of his or her personal baggage. The duffel bags, which were used for surgical and humanitarian supplies, were filled to capacity while maintaining a weight of les than 70 lb The duffel bags and shipping containers were used to transport a portable steam sterilizer, suction machines, an electrocardiogram monitor, surgical instruments, sterile packs, dressings, and medications. All supplies penuryed for the 45 to 50 anticipated surgeries had to be brought from hearth as no supplies were available in Guatemala.