Are you part of an interdisciplinary team that delivers great care? How do you measure outcomes? Has your practice changed over the last 5 to 10 years? Orthopaedic nurses are everywhere and continue to treat patients with musculoskeletal conditions in a variety of settings. Roberts, Pirri, and Hanes (2019) described the results a role delineation study (RDS) performed by the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB) with the purpose of identifying current orthopaedic nursing practice patterns and determining content for future certification examinations. The survey of orthopaedic certified registered nurses and nurse practitioners reported that the most common conditions treated were patients with degenerative disease, orthopaedic trauma, and sports injuries. The patient conditions have not changed dramatically since the previous RDS performed in 2010, but there have been changes within the practice setting where the care is provided.
Think of all the changes in preoperative optimization, surgical techniques, pain management and the impact of satisfaction, reimbursement, and length of stay that occurred over the last few years. Each orthopaedic nurse has experienced many of these changes and should have access to resources that can empower them to make significant contributions to their own patient care system for the present and future. Empowerment can be described as giving official authority or allowing influence. Structural empowerment is one of the five key components that make up the American Nurses Credentialing Center (2019), Magnet Recognition Program. Is your organization on the Magnet journey? I am fortunate to work in a Magnet-designated facility and look forward to disseminating my team's work during the poster presentations at the 2019 Magnet Conference in Orlando, Florida.
The National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) can provide a solid foundational structure that supports orthopaedic nurses and specifically those who practice in a Magnet environment. The Magnet model is conducive to building relationships and enhancing professional growth that enables improved outcomes.
NAON membership and the active engagement of your orthopaedic team can demonstrate mutually beneficial outcomes specifically in the structural empowerment domain:
* Adoption of best practices and integration into organizational policies and procedures
* Community involvement and service
* Networking and shared decision-making
* Professional development through education and volunteer opportunities
* Image of nursing through leadership and communication
* Certification and maintenance of recertification rates
NAON can be the foundation that supports your orthopaedic nursing team. Engage your core: Empower your team to make significant contributions to orthopaedic nursing practice.
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