In celebration of National Nurses Week from May 6 to 12, I wanted to recognize our colleagues in perianesthesia nursing. Perianesthesia nursing encompasses the preanesthesia phase (preadmission testing unit and same day procedure unit), the phase I and phase II postanesthesia care units (PACUs), ambulatory surgery units, and the special procedure areas (such as endoscopy and interventional radiology).
I recently interviewed two nurses who support patients in the PACU setting: clinical nurse Judy Sogla, RN and her nurse manager (NM) Tammy Bergan, RN, MSN.
Sogla has worked in the PACU since 1974 and says her greatest reward is working with children and trying to relieve some of their anxiety.
One of the greatest challenges Sogla has seen over the years is charting. When she started, charting consisted of vital signs. Now, charting is very detailed and time consuming, and she believes it detracts from patient care. Sogla went on to share that "change" happened occasionally when she first started, and now, change happens every day. I asked Sogla what keeps her in perianesthesia nursing, and she was eager to respond: "My manager." She shared some of the qualities she sees in her manager (Bergan): fairness, kindness, compassion, the ability to listen to the staff, shared decision making, and simply her presence.
Some of the most significant changes Bergan has seen as an NM include:
* higher level of patient acuity
* responsiveness to the patients' and families' needs
* more outpatient procedures
* increased preparation of the patient before and after the surgical procedure-patient teaching and specific instructions for patients discharged to home
* the transition to the electronic documentation, tools for tracking patient flow, calculations, and reports
* pace of change, especially as it relates to enhancement of efficiencies, streamlining, managing to reimbursement
* nursing staff numbers and role delineation-right person, right job
* building a culture of nursing leaders, fostering shared governance, mutual respect, teamwork across the profession, and partnering with fellow disciplines, such as medicine.
A special thanks
Bergan continues to say "The biggest challenge is keeping pace with the changing world of healthcare so we may best serve those in need. We must remember that we are here to serve humanity, and it is a privilege to be a professional nurse. We are a trusted profession that needs to continue to evolve, and we should never walk away from our commitment of service. The greatest reward is working with the patients and staff. To make a difference in the life of another human being, whether large or small, is a cherished moment."
And in response to Bergan's thoughts, I must say that it's a privilege to work with two passionate and dedicated nurses. I would like to thank Judy Sogla, Tammy Bergan, and perianesthesia nurses everywhere.
Elizabeth M. Thompson, MSN, RN, CNOR
Editor-in-Chief Nursing Education Specialist Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. [email protected]