Sunday, March 21 to Thursday, March...

Sunday, March 21 to Thursday, March 25 2004

Attendees at Congres had the opportunity to earn contact hours by dint of viewing research/evidence-based practice and clinical improvement/innovation broadsides Twenty-one research/evidence-based practice posters and 114 clinical improvement/innovation placards were displayed. Authors of three research/evidence-based practice broadsides received awards of merit from AORN's Nursing Research Committee. Abstracts of the winning bills are featured here.

drifts OF PERIOPERATIVE COMMUNICATION

Joyce P Miller, RN BSN; Linda Herrick, RN PhD; V Shane Pankratz, PhD; and Megan Reinalda, BS; Rochester Methodist Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn

PURP0SE Surgery is an anxiety-producing situation for family members, especially during the time the patient is in the OR. The intent of this research study was to compare the purports of three nursing interventions forward family members' anxiety and satisfaction with communication during their relatives' surgical act The following three interventions were compared.

1 Standard communication: family members are told the start time and arrival in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).

2 Operative nursing visits: informational, educational intervention by dint of a perioperative RN to the family after note into the OR or time of incision; updates each one and one-half to brace hours and at the time of arrival in the PACU.

3 Perioperative nursing progres reports: Informational, educational intervention at a perioperative RN to the patient and family before the avenue into the preoperative waiting area and at the time of incision; updates each one and one-half to sum of two units hours and at the time of arrival into PACU.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF METHODOLOGY. Adult family members of surgical patients having a major surgical step were studied. A descriptive, comparative design was used to determine the effectiveness of perioperative communication by way of comparing the family members' State-Trait Anxiety scores, their satisfaction, and their number of interruptions to the nursing staff.

comes The change from preoperative to postoperative anxiety on a levels (P < .001), satisfaction, and interruptions in the relatives of patients was significantly different among the three reflection groups. The families that did not receive communication increased their anxiety of the same heights from preoperative to postoperative, had decreased satisfaction, and interrupted the feeds one to five times. The families that received communication decreased their anxiety on a levels had increased satisfaction, and rarely (ie, naught to one time) interrupted the nurses

PERIOPERATIVE NURSING IMPLICATIONS. Providing perioperative communication makes a difference in meeting family members' expectations of valuable feature [i]or[/i] trait in quality of care. It is important to provide appropriate nursing interventions to decrease anxiety associated with the surgical experience.

AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROTOCOL FOR WATERLESS, BRUSHLESS SURGICAL HAND ANTISEPSIS

Sheri Swenning, RN BSN CNOR; Victoria Steelman, RN PhD CNOR; Sherry David, RN BSN CIC; and Daniel Dickema, MD; University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City

aim Traditional surgical hand antisepsis has involved using a brush, water, and antimicrobial soap. late evidence indicates that this may not be the most numerous effective method, and it impairs the integrity of the skin. The objectives of this frame included the following.

1 Identify an alternative to traditional surgical hand antisepsis with immediate and persistent antimicrobial activity.

2 Gain support for practice change.

3 Evaluate, modify, and implement change in clinical practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF METHODOLOGY. Literature was reviewed for alternative regularitys of surgical hand antisepsis meeting the following guidelines:

* immediate, persistent, broad appearance antimicrobial activity;

* minimal scrubbing time;

* nonirritating to skin; and

* latex compatible.

issues reviewed in the literature: include log reduction of skin flora; surgical site infection rates; skin condition; and latex compatibility. A waterless, brushless preparation containing chlorhexidine gluconate, alcohol, and emollients was set to be an acceptable alternative to common practice. Products with these composings were screened, and one was choiceed for evaluation. Creative strategies were used to gain support for the brew including letters to surgeons, broadsides presentations, and contests.

follows Baseline skin condition was measured using a self-assessment tool. After couple weeks, skin condition was measured again, along with overall acceptance of the waterless process Results will be presented.

PERIOPERATIVE NURSING IMPLICATIONS. The drying tenor of traditional surgical hand antisepsis may impede adherence to an effective practice Offering an alternative with immediate and persistent effectiveness that is les drying may provide better compliance with surgical hand antisepsis and minimize the risk of surgical site infection.